A deal to keep the Columbus Crew in the Ohio capital and enable current owner Anthony Precourt to set up a team in Austin, Texas, is being negotiated by Major League Soccer, reports SportBusiness.
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and a group of local investors are in talks with MLS to purchase the Crew, which would involve building a soccer stadium in downtown Columbus.
According to Sports Illustrated, the new investor group would purchase the operating rights of the Crew from MLS – it is unclear for how much – while Precourt would maintain his equity stake in the league and Soccer United Marketing and transfer it to Austin.
It had appeared that the Crew would go out of business when Precourt announced his plans to relocate to Austin but the fans have been given a significant lifeline. The deal would also end a PR and legal nightmare for MLS.
MLS said in a statement: "Major League Soccer and the Columbus Partnership have been working together for several months on a plan to keep Crew SC in Columbus and we have made significant progress.
"MLS, the Columbus Partnership and the investor group all agree that for the club to be successful in Columbus, it requires strong local partners, long-term corporate support, a strong season ticket base and long-term plans for a stadium, practice facilities and associated sites.
"MLS is committed to keeping Crew SC in Columbus should we continue to make progress on these critical components and agree to key terms with the investor group.
"MLS also remains very committed to [Precourt Sports Ventures'] plan to launch an MLS club in Austin and is excited for Austin to become a great addition to MLS."
