COLUMBUS — Columbus Crew is set to host Crewsmas – the first regular-season home match of the Crew’s season – at Lower.com Field this Saturday, March 4. Supporters planning to attend are encouraged by the Club to arrive as early as possible to enjoy the festivities. Tickets are available at columbuscrew.com/tickets.
Ahead of the home opener, the Club recently announced a variety of updates on exciting and new elements to the fan experience at Lower.com Field.
ARRIVE EARLY TO ENJOY THE SPIRIT OF CREWSMAS
The first 10,000 fans on Saturday when the gates open (5:30 p.m. ET) will receive a Crew beanie hat, courtesy of Nationwide. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for additional discounts. At 4:24 p.m., a 96-Minute Happy Hour is available in the Pub and Plaza until 5:30 p.m. ET where fans 21+ can enjoy $5 beers. Once the clock strikes 5:30 p.m. ET and gates to the entire stadium open, all fans will be able to enjoy 28% off new concession items until 6 p.m. ET, in honor of the Club’s 28th season in MLS. The first 200 fans into the plaza receive a souvenir cup that permits free soft drink refills that match. Fans exploring the concourse will also find Crewsmas-themed food and beverage offerings to celebrate the fan-favorite holiday commemorating the start of every Crew season.
As a reminder, the Arena District DORA is activated three hours before every Crew home match and extends to Nationwide Boulevard into Astor Park until midnight Eastern Time. The DORA provides additional downtown, matchday experience opportunities for Black & Gold supporters, with additional details available at arenadistrict.com/dora.
EXPANDED FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCT AND PURCHASE OFFERINGS
Three new craft beer partners –Garage Beer, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing and Zaftig – will be available for purchase by fans 21+ in addition to Land Grant beer.
In the Tipico Sportsbook Club and River Clubs, ticketed fans will have enhanced food and beverage offerings with additional variety in 2023 to create an even better guest experience in two premium spaces:
- Tipico Sportsbook Club Members can now enjoy fan favorites, Gewiez specialty grilled sandwiches and a carvery station. The club will also include cocktails on tap as well as the first, in-stadium, automated bartending system, Barback. The Barback system is designed to customize drinks and get fans back to the action
- In the River Club, fan favorites and signature chef’s table will be available. The signature chef’s table is an elevated experience that offers full course options and snacks to enjoy inside the club or to take back to the match. The full bar in the River Club features a variety of spirits and local brews and in 2023, cocktails on tap will be available at food locations in the club allowing guests to quickly grab a signature cocktail and a snack.
On the concourse, new 2023 additions include items at the below locations:
Dirty Franks
Located in section 143, this local partner will offer an all-beef jumbo bratwurst and their signature brownie, “Blondies Have S’more Fun.”
Also new to the menu, Dirty Frank's plans to offer Funnel Cake Fries. Find their concession stand on the east side of the stadium.
Tim Hortons
Fans can add syrup options to hot chocolate/coffee in 2023. Flavors will include vanilla, hazelnut and caramel – available at all coffee service locations: sections 107,122,132,238, Tipico Sportsbook Club, and River Club
Pitchside Snacks
Offerings at this location will change with the season. Starting in March, loaded hot cocoa (toppings ranging from sprinkles to cordials) will be available during cooler matches and in the summer, United Dairy Farmers hand-dipped ice cream will be available, all at the location in section 107.
Market 96
Fresh selections such as garden salad with roasted chickpeas, roasted veggie sandwich or curry chicken wrap
Sweets from local favorite, Bake Me Happy, as well as cotton candy and Kettle Corn
Links and Beers
In section 110, fans can enjoy a bacon jalapeño cheddar brat or an Italian sausage with their choice of fresh grilled peppers and onions or traditional sauerkraut
Legacy Smokehouse
In addition to tasty BBQ, fans can now enjoy the perfect combination of crushed cookies and pudding, the “Cup O’ Pitch” for dessert in sections 105 and 130
Crew Grill
Located in section 105, along with many fan favorites, fans can find a fried fish sandwich, topped with American cheese, lettuce, tomato onion, pickles and tartar sauce
Columbus Craves
Fans can now try the new hard hat nacho with mango BBQ brisket, queso blanco, sour cream, pickled jalapeños and diced green onions – or can try the bacon jalapeno cheddar brat at the locations in section 122 and 238.
The Club has expanded mobile ordering. Fans can simply scan the QR code, select the location, place an order, receive text updates and pick up their order at the Mobile Order Pick up window in the selected location. Before the start of the 2023 campaign, fans are encouraged to download the official Columbus Crew app to take advantage of matchday mobile ordering opportunities.
Mobile ordering is now available at the following locations:
- Crew Grill (section 105)
- Donatos (sections 107)
- Donatos (section 132)
- Hot Chicken Takeover (section 124)
ONE CLUB: 2023 MATCHDAY RITUALS AND FIRST-CLASS FAN EXPERIENCE
New goal celebration music:
With the fans, the Club has been on the search for a new goal song to celebrate the pinnacle moment of the match. Fans had the opportunity to vote on their favorite and the winning song will be displayed this Saturday, March 4.
“Match Ignitor”:
Continuing with the theme of construction Crew and the nod to history, a new pre-match moment has been created meant to ignite the crowd and highlight an individual with ties to the Columbus Community
Will take place in the heart of the stadium, the Nordecke and debut this weekend, March 4
“Construction Cove”:
The Jackhammer celebration will continue with an enhanced look and feel of "Construction Cove." The location will feel more like a Construction Zone with more bricks and cones.
Nationwide Man of the Match:
Starting at the 70th minute, fans will be able to vote on their Nationwide Man of the Match, to then be announced after the Wise Men serenade with the Nordecke.
Team Arrivals:
Beginning approximately 45 minutes before warm-ups, the team is set to enter the venue each match off the bus and arrive as a team down Columbus Crew Way through the West Lobby. Supporters are encouraged to join this free opportunity to cheer on the players upon their arrival.
Lower.com Field encourages supporters to take advantage of Express Entry featuring seamless and quick access into the stadium through Facial Ticketing, available at all gates. Look for the yellow “Express Entry” signs above turnstiles on the left-hand side of each main gate. Visit the Mobile Ticketing page for helpful instructional guides on how to access your mobile tickets and how to scan through the stadium's Axess turnstiles and Express Entry lanes.
Fans are advised to view the complete A-Z Guide for Matchday and Stadium Policy refreshers to “Know Before You Go” ahead of the 2023 season.
Fans may pre-purchase parking via arenadistrictparking.com. Supporters can guarantee parking spots in one of over a dozen garages and lots throughout the Arena district by pre-purchasing passes. Additional matchday parking includes the Kilbourne Garage at Neil & I-670. There are more than 18,000 parking spaces in garages and lots throughout the Arena District all within walking distance, including 6,300 parking spaces within a 10-minute walk.
Bring your crew
Secure your seat to cheer on the reigning MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew at Lower.com Field this season!
