When Columbus Crew SC fans arrived at MAPFRE Stadium for the team’s much-anticipated Major League Soccer season opener against the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, they noticed something was different. The atmosphere wasn’t the only thing that wasn’t same, as supporters were joyful with the team’s permanence in Columbus instead of strained due to last year’s uncertainty, but the stadium itself, the team’s home until the new venue is built downtown, had a few different traits.
The changes are part of the strategy of club’s new ownership, as team owner Dr. Pete Edwards anticipated during the week.