COLUMBUS – MLS NEXT Pro today unveiled Columbus Crew 2’s 28-game schedule for the 2023 regular season. The inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions begin the defense of their title on the road against New York Red Bulls II on Sunday, March 26 and host New England Revolution II for the home opener at Historic Crew Stadium on Sunday, April 16.
Current 2023 Crew Season Ticket Members can add Crew 2 Season Ticket Memberships for $70, just $5 per match, via their account manager. Crew 2 Season Ticket Memberships for the general public are available for $112 here. Supporters also have the option to purchase Crew 2 season parking when purchasing Crew 2 Season Ticket Memberships. Single-match tickets for Crew 2 contests will go on sale on Monday, March 20.
The majority of regular season matches, plus all Decision Day matches, playoffs matches and MLS NEXT Pro Cup, will be available to watch live and on-demand on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. The remainder of regular season matches will stream live on mlsnextpro.com. MLS Season Pass is the subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer that is home to all MLS and Leagues Cup matches and hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT matches.
In their first year of play in 2022, Crew 2 finished with the best regular-season record (16-3-5, 55 points), and captured the Central Division Title and the Eastern Conference’s top seed in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. Crew 2 were first in the League in points, wins, goals for (62), goal differential (+40) and had the best record at home (11-1-0). The team also had the fewest losses and was tied for the fewest goals allowed (22).
Crew 2 secured several individual awards in 2022, as Head Coach Laurent Courtois was recognized as Coach of the Year, Jacen Russell-Rowe captured the Golden Boot and MVP awards, Patrick Schulte was named Goalkeeper of the Year, and Mo Farsi, Isaiah Parente and Russell-Rowe were selected to the Best XI.
On Oct. 8, 2022, Crew 2 were crowned the first ever MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions following a 4-1 win over St. Louis CITY2.
Three Crew 2 players, Farsi, Philip Quinton and Russell-Rowe, have signed First Team contracts. Farsi and Quinton have started the first three games of the Crew’s current MLS campaign. In January, the Club announced the promotion of Phil Boerger from Crew 2 to First Team Goalkeeper Coach.
The full season schedule and additional information on Crew 2 can be found here.
MLS NEXT Pro additionally announced today that the 2023 season will feature an expanded playoffs format that includes a pick-your-opponent element in the first two rounds.
Within each conference, the two division champions and the five clubs with the next highest points (seven clubs total) will advance to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. The Playoffs will consist of three rounds followed by MLS NEXT Pro Cup, taking place over four consecutive weeks beginning the weekend of September 29. The club with the most regular season points in each conference (#1 seed) will earn a first-round bye, automatically advancing to the Conference Semifinals.
In the Conference Quarterfinals, the next two teams with the most points in each conference (#2 and #3 seeds) will choose their opponent and host their match (one of two teams must be the other division champion).The two remaining teams that are not selected will play each other, with the higher seeded team hosting.
The Conference Semifinals will see the team with the most overall points in the conference (#1 seed) will choose its opponent from the remaining two lowest seeded teams and host the match. The second highest seed will host the remaining team. In the Conference Finals, the team with the most regular season points (higher seed) will host the team with the lowest points (lower seed).
The team with the most regular season points (higher seed) will host the MLS NEXT Pro Cup. The full breakdown of the MLS NEXT Pro playoff format can be found here.
