COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--An effort over a year in the making to "Save the Crew" paid off Wednesday, with a new ownership team formally introduced, to keep the team in Columbus.
News broke in October 2017 that Owner Anthony Precourt was considering moving the team to Austin, Texas, ahead of the 2019 MLS season.
An effort led by fans resulted in a group led by Dee and Jimmy Haslam, owners of the Cleveland Browns, and Doctor Pete Edwards to buy the team, along with working to construct a new downtown stadium.
The stadium will be built near the confluence of the Olentangy and Scioto rivers, with groundbreaking this summer, and is expected to open in 2021.
Last year, the city of Columbus announced plans to convert the current Mapfre Stadium into a training facility for the Crew, and a community sports park, once the new stadium is complete.
Terms of the purchase for the Crew have not yet been made public.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber spoke to the media after the announcement.