Why is Columbus' MLS soccer team called the Crew?
Chandler Boese
This weekend, after word got out that management of Columbus' professional soccer team was considering dropping "Crew" from its official name, upset fans evoked plenty of recent history — the 2020 MLS Cup win, the 2018 movement to Save the Crew — in their determination to keep the moniker.
But the name has history going back 25 years, since Columbus became one of the first U.S. cities to get a Major League Soccer team.
The Crew moniker has evolved in its meaning, even from its earliest conception.
From Christopher Columbus to Midwestern work ethic
It originated with a Dublin resident who offered it in a naming competition held by The Dispatch in 1995. The Dublin resident, Luis Orozco, linked it to Christopher Columbus, his voyages and the crew that accompanied him on his discoveries.
"I thought that soccer is somewhat of a team contest and put that with Columbus and his crew on their voyages," he told The Dispatch in an Oct. 17, 1995, story. "A slogan for the team could be 'Columbus discovers us.'"
But by the time it was chosen as the official name of the team, it was detached from the famous explorer and instead pitched as representative of Midwestern hard work.
Original Crew logo, slogan and colors
The black and gold logo featured three construction workers wearing hard hats, and the slogan was "America's hardest working team."
A Dispatch article from the official team announcement Oct. 18 noted that "the theme was reiterated throughout the press conference by the work zone barriers placed around the Mekka nightclue to the meal served in lunch pails."
And black and gold was the color scheme from the start. Crew general manager Jamey Rootes called the colors "very aggressive and popular but at the same time traditional."
The soccer team names that didn't make the cut
The contest held by The Dispatch that eventually led to the Crew name led to more than 2,500 entrants and 650 nickname suggestions. Here are some of the options that were floated throughout the process:
- Columbus Eclipse: The original name in Columbus' bid for an MLS team was tied to the 1994 solar event that coincided with an announcement by the city about season ticket deposits, according to a 1994 article.
- Slyders: At one point in the contest, Columbus-based White Castle and its fans wanted to name the team in tribute to the fast food chain's signature miniature sandwiches.
- Explorers, one of five finalists
- Falcons, a finalist
- Kickers, a finalist
- Pride, a finalist
- Navigators
- Evil Squirrels
- Hooligans
- Acorns
- Zuts
- Alkley Cats
- Armada
- Brushstrokes
- Cowtown Eleven
- Convicts
- Fighting Cows
- Fighting Farmers
- Goalrillas
- Rickenbackers
- Scioters
- Socrates
- Sons of Heaven
- Spirit of Columbus
- Wardens
- Xtreme
Evolution of the Crew name
The soccer brand has come a long way in that time, in form and meaning. In 2014, the team name was officially changed to Columbus Crew SC and its first logo redesign unveiled. It's when the gold-and-black checkerboard became part of the brand.
Even at that point, there was a push to move away from "Crew" as a standalone moniker. At a rally celebrating the change, Mayor Michael Coleman told the crowd, "I don’t want to hear you ever call this team again the Crew.
“This change is important," he said. "The future of Columbus and the future of the Columbus Crew SC are tied together. We’re joined at the hip, and the success of the Columbus Crew SC and the city of Columbus, we need each other to succeed.”
But the importance of "Crew" as an integral part of club's identity and that of its fans hasn't gone anywhere. If anything, it's strengthened.
The idea of a rebrand was floated under the current ownership for the first time in January 2020 and met with much opposition. Little changed this time around.
The Nordecke supporters' club on Sunday said they were against the change and felt it was taking away from the team's history.
“The Crew has been the club’s name and heart since its inception, it has served our rallying cry when we had to save the team from relocation, and our unified cheer when we have seen victory," the group said in a statement.
More reactions:'Respect your roots': Columbus Crew fans react to club's new name, logo in rebranding
Coverage of the Crew's history and controversial rebranding
Rebranding:Columbus Crew SC to rebrand, changing its name to Columbus SC, and unveil new logo
Nordecke:Columbus Crew supporters’ group says members weren’t involved in rebrand discussions
Timeline:A look back at Columbus Crew SC's history
New stadium:Here’s why stadium district changed name from Confluence Village to Astor Park
Current season:2021 Crew schedule, results