|
NEW YORK (Wednesday, June 28, 2023) – Major League Soccer today awarded the 2024 MLS All-Star Game to the Columbus Crew. The 2024 MLS All-Star Game will be played on July 17, 2024, at Lower.com Field, and will be available to watch in over 100 countries and regions around the world on MLS Season Pass through the Apple TV app.
In addition to the match, the Crew and City of Columbus will host a week-long celebration of soccer and culture with concerts, fan events, community programming and additional soccer competitions, including the 2024 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T 5G.
Columbus has hosted Major League Soccer’s midsummer showcase event twice (2000, 2005), but the match and MLS All-Star Skills Challenge arrive at Lower.com Field for the first time since the stadium’s opening in July 2021.
“We are pleased to award the 2024 MLS All-Star Game to Columbus, the third MLS All-Star Game for this terrific soccer city,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “In just over three years, the Haslams and their partners have built one of the world’s best soccer stadiums, revitalized the Club, and expanded the Crew fanbase. Columbus and Lower.com Field will be a tremendous host for the MLS All-Star Game and festivities.”
The opponent for the 2024 MLS All-Star Game will be announced at a later date.
Located in Downtown Columbus’ Astor Park mixed-used development, Lower.com Field has been recognized as a premier international venue and features first-rate premium and suite hospitality spaces, including terrace decks introduced in 2023, as well as a safe-standing Nordecke supporters’ section. The home of “Dos a Cero,” Columbus is now the country’s only major metropolitan area to construct two modern-era professional soccer-specific venues, along with Historic Crew Stadium, the first of its kind in the U.S.
In addition to Crew home matches, Lower.com Field has hosted multiple U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team matches, the 2021 Campeones Cup, and the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Cup, when Crew 2 claimed the league’s inaugural title.
Lower.com Field will host at least two of the Crew’s 2023 Leagues Cup matches this summer, including St. Louis CITY SC on Sunday, July 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass) and Club América on Monday, July 31 (8 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass).
“In everything we do, the Crew are dedicated to excellence on the pitch, creating engaging experiences and memories for our supporters and serving as leaders in the community, and hosting the 2024 MLS All-Star Game clearly accomplishes all of those goals,” said Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “The week-long celebration of soccer at all levels of play is an exceptional opportunity to showcase Lower.com Field, which provides one of the best atmospheres in all of sports and entertainment, the incredible hospitality and growth of the City of Columbus and our passionate fans.”
In December 2022, Wilfried Nancy was named the Black & Gold’s eighth-full time head coach in club history. Nancy, who will serve as head coach during next year’s MLS All-Star Game, has led one of the league’s most exciting teams to watch in his first season at the helm after being a 2022 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year Award finalist.
The Black & Gold are also led by two Ohio natives, President of Business Operations Kristin Bernert and President and General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko, who fully appreciate the special passion of soccer, supporters, and community engagement in the state.
Operated by Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards Family, the Club has won two MLS Cups (2008 and 2020), one Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (2002), three MLS Supporters’ Shields (2004, 2008 and 2009) and one Campeones Cup (2021).
All Columbus Crew season ticket holders can lock in their priority pre-sale access for the 2024 MLS All-Star Game here.
HISTORY OF MLS ALL-STAR GAMES
1996: East 3, West 2 (E. Rutherford, N.J.)
1997: East 5, West 4 (E. Rutherford, N.J.)
1998: MLS USA 6, MLS World 1 (Orlando, Fla.)
1999: West 6, East 4 (San Diego, Calif.)
2000: East 9, West 4 (Columbus, Ohio)
2001: East 6, West 6 (San Jose, Calif.)
2002: MLS 3, U.S. National Team 2 (Washington, D.C.)
2003: MLS 3, CD Guadalajara 1 (Carson, Calif.)
2004: East 3, West 2 (Washington, D.C.)
2005: MLS 4, Fulham FC 1 (Columbus, Ohio)
2006: MLS 1, Chelsea FC 0 (Bridgeview, Ill.)
2007: MLS 2, Celtic FC 0 (Commerce City, Colo.)
2008: MLS 3, West Ham United FC 2 (Toronto)
2009: MLS 1, Everton FC 1 (Everton 4-3 pen) (Sandy, Utah)
2010: Manchester United FC 5, MLS 2 (Houston, Texas)
2011: Manchester United FC 4, MLS 0 (Harrison, N.J.)
2012: MLS 3, Chelsea FC 2 (Chester, Pa.)
2013: AS Roma 3, MLS 1 (Kansas City, Kan.)
2014: MLS 2, Bayern Munich 1 (Portland, Ore.)
2015: MLS 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Commerce City, Colo.)
2016: Arsenal 2, MLS 1 (San Jose, Calif.)
2017: Real Madrid 1, MLS 1 (Real Madrid 4-2 pen) (Chicago, Ill.)
2018: Juventus 1, MLS 1 (Juventus 5-4 pen) (Atlanta, Ga.)
2019: Atlético Madrid 3, MLS 0 (Orlando, Fla.)
2021: MLS All-Stars 1, LIGA MX All-Stars 1 (MLS All-Stars 3-2 pen) (Los Angeles, Calif.)
2022: MLS All-Stars 2, LIGA MX All-Stars 1 (Saint Paul, Minn.)
2023: MLS All-Stars, Arsenal F.C. (Washington, D.C.) *July 19, 2023*
2024: Lower.com Field (Columbus, Ohio) * July 17, 2024*
Editor's Note: Please see the Facebook Page of Soccer Long Island Magazine 2 for images.
|
