Key facts
Club: Columbus Crew SC | Opening: 1999 | Capacity: 20,145 seats
History and description
Mapfre Stadium, previously called Columbus Crew Stadium, was the first soccer-specific stadium of the Major League Soccer. It opened on 15 May 1999 with a match between the Columbus Crew and New England Revolution. Construction of the stadium had cost $28.5 million.
The stadium hosts a permanent concert stage and regularly hosts open-air concerts.
In 2015, Crew Stadium got renamed Mapfre Stadium following a sponsorship deal with insurance company Mapfre Insurance.
Mapfre Stadium has been one of the most-used stadiums for the US national team and in particular the USA vs Mexico match-ups.
Over the last two decades, the quality of newly built soccer-specific stadiums in the USA has improved dramatically, making the Crew fall behind the commercial opportunities.
In 2018, the club therefore proposed building a new stadium in a more central downtown location. The new Columbus Crew Stadium, with a similar capacity, is expected to be completed in 2021.
How to get to Mapfre Stadium
Mapfre Stadium is located in the north of the city of Columbus, about 3.5 miles from downtown Columbus and not far east from the Ohio State University Campus.
The stadium lies adjacent to the I-71, which runs between Cleveland and downtown Columbus. From the I-71 take exit 111 toward 17th Avenue. Turn west onto 17th Avenue and directly right following the sign for Crew Stadium.
If arriving by public transport, Mapfre Stadium can be reached with bus 4. Take the bus from Capital Square (corner E Broad Street and S High Street) or further north from N High Street. The bus goes in the direction of Indianola. Get off after about 15 minutes at the corner of N 4th Street and E 17th Avenue. From there it’s an approximate 15-minute walk to the stadium. Buses run about once every hour.
Address: One Black and Gold Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43211
Columbus Crew Tickets
Columbus Crew tickets can be bought online via Ticketmaster, by phone +1 614 431 3600 (Ticketmaster), or at the ticket office at the stadium.
If tickets remain available, these can also be bought at the ticket booths of Mapfre Stadium on the day of the match.
Ticket prices range from $28.00 for a seat behind the goal to $70.00 for a central seat at the West Stand. Tickets can cost a few USD cheaper if bought in advance.
Email ticketoffice@columbuscrewsc.com for more information.
Photos of Mapfre Stadium
Relevant Internet links
Thecrew.com – Official website of the Columbus Crew.
Crewstadium.com – Official website of Columbus Crew Stadium.
Experiencecolumbus.com – Website of the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Cota.com – Columbus public transport information.