For the record, Hurricanes fans ... Anthony Precourt is simply following Peter Karmanos' blueprint for moving a franchise when the league either doesn't want you to do so or or is neutral on the subject. Denigrate the existing facilities, alienate the fans and community, gin up interest in the new market that may or may not be as intense as you assume ... then work a deal with the new market for the facility you "need."
Yeah ... the parallels aren't perfect, but the general gist of it is the same old song and dance. There's absolutely nothing wrong with Columbus as a market for MLS. Crew Stadium isn't perfect, but it's perfectly suitable and the community has always been willing and eager to work with the Crew on changes and upgrades in the past. What they haven't been willing to do is gift wrap Precourt a brand new stadium in the downtown area. A stadium that isn't really desired by anyone other than Precourt. That existing stadium at the Fair Grounds has served the community and the club well for 20 years and was the first soccer specific stadium of it's type in the US. I've been there several times ... it's lovely. It reminds me of our own Carter Finely Stadium ... there's parking out the ears, it's easy to drive to, perfect for tailgating and easy to get away from at the end of the night. They have systematically upgraded from temporary to permanent bleachers to cast in place concrete with two upper decks. They've added locker room and meeting facilities as the team's needs have changed. Up until 2 years ago it was a model for how a facility can grow with a club and with the MLS. Heck, the USMNT used it as their unofficial big match home field for a fairly long time. The only thing that's changed is the owner's desire to be there ... and that wouldn't be enough to generate the relocation of a franchise in a strong, well run pro league. The MLS sadly isn't really that.