Columbus Crew fans will support the city's forthcoming National Women's Soccer League team by paying a tax on game tickets at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field beginning in 2027.
The deal to raise the ticket fee by 2% was struck months ago but Columbus City Council is set to vote to make it official at the council's meeting on Sept. 14. It's one of multiple developments on council's agenda related to the public-private deal bringing an NWSL franchise to Columbus, building the team a training facility on most of McCoy Park and creating new public recreation amenities in Southwest Columbus. Ticket fees on the Crew games and the unnamed NWSL team's games will pay for the city's $25 million contribution to building the NWSL training facility.
On the zoning
committee agenda, the Council is also set to vote on rezoning about 21 acres of McCoy Park so it can be developed into that training facility. The use of McCoy Park drew months of backlash, but after some compromises and City Hall committed to investing in Southwest Side parks, the Southwest Area Commissionrecommended council approve the rezoning.
As part of the plan to replace the amenities that had been intended for McCoy Park, Columbus Council is also set to vote on a contract for about $940,000 with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for park design work. The contract covers three locations: some land north of the current McCoy Park, a planned Greenleaf Park and a planned adaptive softball field at Lou Berliner Sports Park on the east side of Interstate 71 from McCoy Park.
Mayor Andrew Ginther, who struck the original deal to use McCoy Park, is pitching a capital budget this year that includes $13.3 million for Southwest Columbus parks.
How will the tax on Columbus Crew tickets work?
Columbus Crew tickets are already subject to a 5% tax imposed by the city to help support the local artsand that is not changing. Now, the city plans to collect an additional 2% tax on ticketed events at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Additionally, when the unnamed NWSL team begins playing there, those tickets will also have a 7% tax imposed.
Proceeds from 2% on the Crew tickets and 7% on the NWSL tickets will go to pay back the city's $25 million contribution to building the NWSL training facility and upgrading ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to support a second team.
The agreement between the city and private investors in the NWSL franchise calls for the parties to reevaluate after the 2032-2033 NWSL season whether revenue has met projections or if additional fees or payments need to be levied.
After the $25 million is paid back, the city will continue to collect the ticket taxes to fund health and human services, housing, youth programming and other priorities.
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Council set to approve new tax on Crew, soccer tickets
