Columbus Crew’s Lower.com Field to Serve as the “Home of Soccer in Central Ohio” During 2022 FIFA World Cup
October 27, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Columbus Crew SC News Release
COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew today announced that the Pub at Lower.com Field will be the place to gather with friends, for free, to watch electric action during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. With 22 days of World Cup match viewing — including discounted beverages and globally themed, culinary dishes throughout the morning and afternoon – the Pub at Lower.com Field creates an unmatched location for soccer action as well as an awesome “work from home” spot for catching the excitement during the World Cup.
Soccer fans supporting countries from across the world are welcome. As part of the more than three weeks of match viewing at the Crew’s home in Astor Park, the Black & Gold unveiled “Pride & Glory | A Global Soccer Celebration” presented by Nationwide. “Pride & Glory” will be a celebration of the global game during the World Cup. “Pride & Glory” will be highlighted by three massive events: a Community Kickoff event to celebrate youth soccer, Gold Friday, and the World Cup Final.
All of the details for “Pride & Glory | A Global Soccer Celebration” presented by Nationwide, including a schedule of all the World Cup matches that will be shown at Lower.com Field, can be found here.
Throughout the duration of the tournament, the Black & Gold will hold a variety of community events in central Ohio, including a Community Kickoff event on Nov. 20 and a soccer ball drive to benefit the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. Lower.com Field, the Crew’s modern and dynamic home located in Astor Park, will serve as the “Home of Soccer” for sports fans in Columbus. Kicking off with the opener on Nov. 20 and concluding with the final on Dec. 18. Following the conclusion of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, the attention turns to World Cup action as Lower.com Field’s Pub and Community Plaza will be open to show 54 World Cup matches, giving soccer fans of all nations a place to cheer on their teams. The 54 matches encompass all tournament play, minus matches played on Thanksgiving Day or with 5 a.m. ET kickoffs.
With excitement for the global game at its peak, soccer fans are encouraged to secure their 2023 Columbus Crew Season Ticket Memberships now. Fans interested in purchasing Season Ticket Memberships for the 2023 MLS season are encouraged to visit www.columbuscrew.com/tickets/memberships, call 614-447-2739 or email [email protected] to get connected with a Season Ticket Member representative.
54 matches shown at Lower.com Field, including all U.S. Men’s National Team games
Throughout the World Cup, 54 matches will be shown in the Pub at Lower.com Field. The Crew Shop at Lower.com Field will also be open during the World Cup and is your home for USMNT gear.
The Plaza at Lower.com Field will be open for all United States matches, during weekends, and during the knockout stage. The Stars and Stripes begin with group stage action on the following dates:
Monday, Nov. 21: US vs. Wales (2:00 p.m. ET)
Friday, Nov. 25: US vs. England (2:00 p.m. ET)
Tuesday, Nov. 29: US vs. Iran (2:00 p.m. ET)
Community Kickoff – November 20
“Pride & Glory” kicks off on Nov. 20 with a Community Kickoff. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET, the Crew will host a Family Resource Fair on the Community Plaza and concourse, joining together with its corporate partners to provide various health and wellness resources for the future generation.
Children from the club’s community partners will be invited to play on the Lower.com Field pitch, and the opening match of the World Cup featuring hosts Qatar taking on Ecuador will be show in the Pub and on the Plaza.
Additionally, the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions Crew 2 will be on-hand with the trophy for photo opportunities.
Gold Friday – November 25
The Crew will celebrate Gold Friday when the United States take on England in their second match of the group stage. Soccer fans are invited to Lower.com Field for a full day of World Cup action. The Pub is scheduled to open at 8 a.m. ET for the Qatar vs. Senegal match, with the Plaza opening at 10 a.m. prior to Netherlands vs. Ecuador, with the headliner of USA vs. England kicking off at 2 p.m. ET.
Fans in attendance will be treated to live music on the Plaza stage, with food and beverage available for purchase in the Pub and via various food trucks including Broke Johnny Food Truck, which specializes in breakfast fare.
Following the U.S. vs. England match, fans in attendance will be treated to a special screening of the first episode of Good Rivals, a three-part docuseries from Prime Video about one of the most unique and intense competitions in international sports: The rivalry between the Mexican and American national men’s soccer teams.
Good Rivals will peel back the political, social, and sporting layers of a rivalry that has become must-see TV over the past 30 years. Far more than just a sports documentary, Good Rivals spotlights the personal and professional arcs of stars from each nation, like Landon Donovan (U.S.) and Rafa Márquez (Mexico), who became symbols of their country’s cultures during their respective careers in the early and mid 2000s. Good Rivals will also examine the passionate, international battle for on-field talent and fan support that has made the U.S.-Mexico border one of the most fascinating soccer frontiers in the world, with players- and families- from both countries becoming the focus of recruiting battles between these two deeply interconnected nations.
Highlighted in Good Rivals will be the city of Columbus, a crucial part of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry. Columbus has hosted 12 World Cup Qualifiers since 2000, with the USA posting a 9-1-2 record during that span. The Stars and Stripes hold an all-time record of 10-1-3 across all competitions when playing in Columbus, dating back to a 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Costa Rica (October 11, 2000). 12 of those 14 contests have been FIFA World Cup qualification matches, famously including five consecutive matches against Mexico in the Hexagonal Round, with the U.S. winning the first four by a 2-0, “Dos a Cero,” scoreline.
World Cup Final – December 18
The month-long global soccer celebration will culminate with the World Cup Final on Sunday, Dec. 18. The Pub and Plaza will open at 8:30 a.m. ET, prior to the 10 a.m. ET kickoff.
Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to join fellow soccer fans to watch the world champion be crowned while enjoying live music on the Plaza and indulging in food from the Pub and a variety of different food trucks.
At the heart of “Pride & Glory” is supporting the Columbus community in our love for the global game. During the World Cup, the Club will hold the month-long donation drive with the goal of collecting 500 soccer balls for the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, to be distributed to the local rec centers. Donation bins will be located in Lower.com Field’s Pub and Crew Shop, with fans having the additional option to add a soccer ball to their purchases at the Crew Shop. Additionally, a rolling 50/50 Raffle will be held during the entirety of the World Cup, with proceeds benefitting On Our Sleeves.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Soccer message board…
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
