Columbus Crew Sale Values Club at $900M Amid MLS Ownership Shuffle

Haslam Sports Group has sold 10% of its stake in the Columbus Crew, valuing the MLS franchise at $900 million, according to Sportico, which cited a source familiar with the private deal. The Edwards family, already a minority partner, now holds 30%, while HSG maintains 70% of the reigning MLS Cup champions.

In 2018, the Haslams and Edwards acquired operating rights for $150 million after the team’s original owner moved the franchise to Austin. Since then, the Crew have undergone a major transformation, including the opening of Lower.com Field in 2021, a $314 million stadium mostly funded privately.

Despite Columbus ranking as the 35th-largest media market in the U.S., the Crew consistently rank in the league’s top quartile for ticket and sponsorship revenue. The stadium has sold out nearly every game and hosted major events like the 2023 MLS Cup, 2024 Leagues Cup final, and the 2024 All-Star Game.

In April, the club set a franchise attendance record of 60,614 fans when Inter Miami and Lionel Messi visited Cleveland. The Haslams' ownership agreement grants them control over Northeast Ohio, which includes the larger Cleveland market. They also own the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and a share of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks.

MLS club valuations continue to rise. By contrast, Real Salt Lake and the Utah Royals were sold for under $600 million. Two franchises remain on the market: the San Jose Earthquakes and the Vancouver Whitecaps.