Title
To Declare October 12, 2019 ‘Saved The Crew Day’ in Columbus and to Commend the Save The Crew Movement for its efforts
Body
WHEREAS, on October 17, 2017, the former investor-operator and chairperson of Columbus Crew Soccer Club announced his intention to relocate the franchise; and
WHEREAS, on October 22, 2017, over 2,000 Crew fans gathered on the M.D. Portman Plaza of City Hall to show the world that the forthcoming saga wasn’t over and to tell everyone they knew that #SaveTheCrew had just begun; and
WHEREAS, #SaveTheCrew committed thousands of volunteer hours to the Community Shelter Board’s Van Buren Shelter to strengthen the bonds of community, created a ticket donation program for Community Refugee & Immigration Services to make Columbus a welcoming place for New Americans, and donated thousands of dollars for the Central Ohio area’s Stuff The Backpack initiative to further grow the roots of soccer in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the efforts of #SaveTheCrew drew the attention of Columbus’ political, social, and business leadership to marshal the collective energy of the massive Columbus community to keep the Crew in the only home it has ever known; and
WHEREAS, on October 12, 2018, the Haslam and Edwards families announced their intention to purchase the Crew, keep the team in Columbus, break ground on a new Downtown soccer-specific stadium, and revamp MAPFRE Stadium into a community sports park for the benefit of all Columbus residents; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That October 12, 2019, be declared ‘Saved The Crew Day’ in the City of Columbus.