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| Lower.com Field | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lower.com Field |
| Location | Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| Broke ground | July 2019 |
| Opened | July 3, 2021 |
| Owner | City of Columbus |
| Operator | Barrett Sports Group |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 20,371 |
| Tenants | Columbus Crew (Major League Soccer) |
| Construction cost | $300 million (estimated) |
| Architects | Gensler (architecture firm); HNTB |
Lower.com Field Lower.com Field is a soccer-specific stadium in Columbus, Ohio that serves as the home venue for Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. The stadium replaced Mapfre Stadium as the primary venue for Crew home matches and opened during the 2021 MLS season. Its development involved partnerships among municipal authorities, private investors, and sports organizations to site a modern arena within the Arena District riverfront redevelopment.
The stadium project emerged amid the high-profile 2017–2018 effort to retain the Columbus Crew after a proposed relocation prompted the "Save the Crew" movement, which involved stakeholders such as Anthony Precourt, Jimmy Haslam, and Dana L. & Anita H. Rinehart among others advocating preservation. In 2018, an ownership group led by Steve Clark-affiliated local interests and Drake-area investors negotiated with the City of Columbus and Franklin County for a new downtown stadium. Groundbreaking took place in July 2019 with public statements from officials including Andrew Ginther and representatives of the club, occurring before disruptions tied to the COVID-19 pandemic slowed construction schedules across the United States. Naming rights were acquired by Lower.com, a financial technology company, in a commercial agreement that followed precedents set by deals like those for CenturyLink Field and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Architectural design teams including Gensler (architecture firm) and HNTB produced plans emphasizing sightlines, acoustics, and a steep-banked bowl similar to Stamford Bridge-era sightlines adapted for Major League Soccer standards. Structural engineering coordinated with contractors experienced on projects like PNC Arena and Bank of America Stadium. The facility incorporates elements responsive to Scioto River constraints and the Arena District urban fabric, requiring coordination with the Ohio Department of Transportation for access and with Columbus Recreation and Parks for adjacent public spaces. Construction employed local firms and unions affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and United Association trade groups.
The stadium features a natural grass pitch meeting FIFA-adjacent dimensions, premium hospitality suites, and club-level amenities comparable to those in venues such as Providence Park and Exploria Stadium. Fan-focused features include a safe-standing supporters' section akin to those at Sporting Kansas City and Seattle Sounders FC, dedicated broadcast facilities for networks like ESPN and Fox Sports Ohio, and concession offerings that reflect Columbus culinary partners. The venue includes training facilities and locker rooms designed to MLS and United States Soccer Federation guidelines, press rooms used by outlets such as The Columbus Dispatch and national sports media, and a team store mirroring retail operations at Yankee Stadium and Madison Square Garden.
Primary usage centers on Columbus Crew regular-season and playoff matches in Major League Soccer, along with international friendlies featuring national teams under CONCACAF and FIFA windows. The stadium has hosted concerts and community events following practices established by venues like Riverbend Music Center and Nationwide Arena. Special matches have included rivalry fixtures versus FC Cincinnati and exhibition matches involving English Football League clubs during summer tours. The venue can be adapted for sporting events such as United Soccer League showcases and collegiate competitions under NCAA regulation with coordination from institutions including Ohio State University for select events.
Located near the Scioto River and adjacent to the Arena District, the stadium is accessible via multiple modes: surface streets linked to Interstate 70 and Interstate 71, public transit routes operated by Central Ohio Transit Authority, and bicycle infrastructure connected to the Ohio to Erie Trail. Event-day shuttles coordinate with parking facilities at surface lots and garages managed by Columbus Recreation and Parks and private operators in the Arena District. Planning included traffic studies filed with the City of Columbus and coordination with Franklin County officials to manage pedestrian flows and riverfront activation.
The stadium's listed capacity is 20,371, with standing-room adjustments used for high-demand matches and special events. Attendance records were established during inaugural-season matches and playoff fixtures, drawing crowds comparable to single-game peaks seen at CenturyLink Field and Toyota Stadium (Frisco) in MLS contexts. Broadcast audiences for marquee matches have been carried by networks such as ESPN and streaming partners, contributing to club revenue metrics reported to major league authorities.
Ownership and operational responsibilities are shared among private investors associated with the Columbus Crew ownership group, municipal stakeholders including the City of Columbus, and management partners like Barrett Sports Group. Day-to-day operations involve stadium management teams who coordinate with Major League Soccer offices on scheduling, with commercial partnerships managed under agreements similar to those seen between Brookfield Properties and sports franchises. Ongoing stewardship includes community engagement initiatives with local nonprofits and civic agencies to integrate the venue into broader Columbus urban development.
Category:Sports venues in Columbus, Ohio