Head Coach Wilfried Nancy on the atmosphere Crew supporters provide at Lower.com Field, given the club announced this weekend’s match will mark back-to-back sellouts and the third of the season overall including the home opener (during today’s media availability at OhioHealth Performance Center):

“I love it. One – you know the stadium is a sellout – we are proud because it is a good message from the fans. Like I told you, we play also for them. The atmosphere like this, we can see the connection. Our job is to maintain that. That is why all the time I tell my players that, ‘Guys, yes, you play for your contract and you play for your ego, but you play for the fans. You play for them. You want to create something with them. The way you are going to work, the way you are going to run, the way you are going to try to do things, you are going to provoke emotions.’ That is why they like it, and that is why also I am extremely demanding of my players because we have to respect that… Like I told you, I don’t know how many games that we are going to win, but what I know is I want my players to do everything on the pitch to create this kind of emotion.”

• Saturday’s match vs. Inter Miami is sold out, and limited SROs are available through columbuscrew.com.
• Sellouts thus far in 2023
  • Home opener vs. DC United (20,391, 3/4) – Crew’s first sellout in a home opener since 1999
  • vs. New England (20,562) – third-largest crowd in Lower.com Field history
  • vs. Intern Miami – third sellout of 2023 season, final number TBD
• With three sellouts through five of the 17 home matches in 2023, the club is currently on pace to break the record for most in franchise history (seven, most recently occurring last season).
• It marks the first time in club history that the Black & Gold have had capacity crowds for three of their first five home matches.
• The Crew have had 19,000+ fans at all five home matches this year. The only other time that has occurred in team history was in 1996, the club’s inaugural campaign.
• Heading into Saturday’s match, combined attendance at Lower.com Field through four matches is up more than 8.5% year over year.
  • First four in 2023: 79,826
  • First four in 2022: 73,456
  • First five in 2023: TBD
  • First five in 2022: 92,858

• Crew supporters have created an incredible home atmosphere, and the club is at the top of multiple categories on their home turf this year.
  • With a win or draw on Saturday, the Columbus Crew would be unbeaten through their first five home matches for only the fifth time in club annals, tied for the fourth-longest such streak (13 in 2009, 9-0-4; 7 in 2020, 7-0-0; 7 in 2021, 4-0-3; 5 in 2007, 1-0-4)
  • Entering Matchday 10, the Crew lead the league with 13 goals at home.
  • The Black & Gold have only allowed two goals at Lower.com Field this year, tied with four other teams (LA Galaxy, NE Revolution, SJ Earthquakes and Nashville SC) for the lowest in MLS for home goals allowed.
  • The Crew’s +11 GD through four home matches is a franchise record. The previous bests were +7 (twice, 2020 and 2015) and +6 (1997).
• The Crew on Saturday will be hosting their Military Appreciation Night, presented by AEP.
• Throughout Saturday’s pre-match and in-game moments, the Crew will recognize servicemen, servicewomen and their families for their commitment to the country.
• Ohio State women’s hockey defensemen Sophie Jaques, the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, will serve as the pregame Match Ignitor. The Match Ignitor was introduced to pre-match elements in 2023 to celebrate notable leaders of the Columbus community prior to the game.
  • Jaques is the first Ohio State player to earn the award, which is presented annually to the top player in Division I hockey.
  • She is only the second defenseman to win the award in its history.
  • She is the first Black woman to earn the accolade since its inception.
  • Jaques was a top contributor as OSU women’s hockey claimed the 2022 NCAA title and reached the finals in 2023.
• Single-match tickets are available now through ColumbusCrew.com for the club’s May home matches vs. Orlando City SC (May 13, On Our Sleeves Day, in partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital) and vs. LA Galaxy (May 17; Party by the Pitch theme).

COURTESY COLUMBUS CREW COMMUNICATIONS