Momentum may be turning in Columbus’ favor to Save the Crew

The #SavetheCrew movement received a boost after a recent ruling in the lawsuit.

(by Matt Yoder thecomback.com 5-9-18)

The fight to keep the Columbus Crew in Columbus is unprecedented because of the existence of Ohio’s Modell Law. The law was put on the books after Art Modell moved the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in the late ’90s and basically says that any professional sports franchise receiving public funds can’t relocate unless they give the local government six months notice and provide an opportunity for local buyers to purchase the team.

The city of Columbus and the state of Ohio filed a lawsuit against owner Anthony Precourt and Major League Soccer to prevent the Crew’s proposed relocation to Austin, Texas under the Modell Law. Over the last several weeks, the two sides have traded court motions and filings back and forth. Although in the process, it’s become confusing what to actually call Precourt. MLS is arguing that Precourt doesn’t actually own the team, he’s an “operator/investor” under MLS’s single entity structure. That may be technically true, but Precourt sheepishly got caught changing his social media profile from “owner/chairman” to “investor/operator and chairman.” MLS’s own lobbyist trying to move the team to Austin can’t even answer questions from residents there about who actually owns the team.

Precourt’s changing status is just one of many absurdities that continues to make MLS look out-of-touch with reality. The league and Precourt have even tried to argue that the Crew don’t actually exist in Columbus, but in Delaware (!!!) in an attempt to get the lawsuit thrown out on a technicality.

While the #SavetheCrew movement moves deeper and deeper into the legal jungle, Tuesday represented a significant moment in the case. The city of Columbus and state of Ohio were delivered a serious victory in a judge’s ruling.

First, the plaintiffs saw their request granted to have a 90-day toll on the six-month Modell Law window to extend the relevant time period. Second, and most significantly, a judge ruled that purchasers can submit offers for the potential sale of the team and that PSV/MLS have to make financial information about the team available to them. And there is a mention of the two sides potentially working towards a settlement.

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http://thecomeback.com/soccer/momentum-may-be-turning-in-columbus-favor-to-save-the-crew.html