Columbus Crew have all but secured a deal to purchase land in the city's Arena District for their new stadium, after the club and real estate developers National Realty Investors both agreed to waive all contract contingencies on the stadium's land, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

The announcement paves the way for the land purchase to be completed by the end of October as the club target a July 2021 completion date for the new US$300 million venue.

A joint statement from Columbus Crew and Nationwide Realty Investors read that "all contract contingencies have been waived and the pending purchase of the land will close by the end of the month. Crew SC continues to have full access to the site, and remains on schedule for a summer 2021 opening in the new Arena District stadium."

The news came hours before the ground breaking on the new stadium, which sees the franchise move from the Mapfre Stadium back into the heart of the city.

Club ownership are paying US$186.1 million towards the new build, while the City of Columbus will contribute US$113.9 million. Much of that public money will be used to cover infrastructure development around the stadium and converting Mapfre Stadium into the Crew's training facility as well as a community sports park.