COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC today announced that MAPFRE Stadium will once again serve as host for the 2019 Columbus City League Championships, presented by OhioHealth, tomorrow, Tuesday, October 15. The Mifflin Punchers take on the Briggs Bruins in the boys’ championship at 4:00 p.m. ET before the Centennial Stars face the Whetstone Braves in the girls’ championship at 6:00 p.m. ET. Prior to the championship matches, a special match is set to take place at 2:00 p.m. ET between the Linden McKinley STEM Academy Panthers and the KIPP Columbus Jaguars. Entry to the special match at 2:00 is free, with tickets for the championship matches sold for $6 beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET at the MAPFRE Stadium box office.
“We are excited to once against host the Columbus City League Championships at MAPFRE Stadium,” said Crew SC President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “These events are important because they bring our community together and serve as a showcase for some of our local talent. As we grow and evolve into a community sports park, we want MAPFRE Stadium to continue to be a cornerstone of Columbus as well as a gathering place for its residents, allowing us to strengthen our bond with them.”
The special match is part of a continued collaboration between the schools and the Crew SC Foundation. The partnership began in 2016 when the Crew SC Foundation helped the schools launch their soccer programs, providing the teams with equipment including jerseys, shorts, balls, goals and more. Since then, the Crew SC Foundation has continued its support by providing equipment, meals and facilitating training sessions. The matches are presented by OhioHealth. Amenities such as the facility, field and public address are all provided at no cost to the schools in competition. The inaugural Columbus City League Championships took place in 2011, making 2019 the ninth edition for both boys' and girls' championships.
Following the completion of both City League Championship games, an MVP and accompanying $1,000 scholarship to be applied to higher learning, courtesy of the Columbus Crew SC Foundation and OhioHealth, will be awarded to a player on each championship-winning team.
