Representatives with the Columbus Crew SC Major League Soccer (MLS) team announced yesterday that a secondary development team will be launched, to be known as “Columbus Crew 2”. The team will be a part of the newly announced “MLS NEXT Pro” league that will kick off an inaugural 2022 season.
“The Columbus Crew is the original club in Major League Soccer and we are proud to be one of the original and founding members of MLS NEXT Pro,” stated Crew President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “We aspire to be an innovative Club – a Club that aims to be at the forefront of soccer development at all levels, and we believe the creation of the Second Team allows us to continue pursuing that endeavor. Crew 2 will provide Crew Academy players with a more well-defined pathway into the professional ranks while also providing opportunities for First Team players to earn minutes. Moreover, Crew 2 will be a platform to develop top talent across the technical staff.”
Matches will be held in the Historic Crew stadium, which was previously announced as a community sports park, practice center for the Columbus Crew and a venue for musical concerts and festivals. No work on on that 17-acre project has broken ground.
For more information, visit https://www.columbuscrew.com/crew2/.