M.L.S. Claims Advance in Efforts to Prevent Columbus Crew from Moving



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The Major League Soccer and Ohio city and business leaders said Friday that they had made significant progress toward a possible deal that would prevent the Columbus Crew , one of the original teams of the football league, to abandon the city as early as this winter to settle in Austin, Tex.

The league stated that discussions involving Mr. L.S., the crew owners and a non-profit organization of municipal and commercial leaders, known as the Columbus Partnership, were continuing to address the subject of Mr. L.. Concerns about the viability of Columbus in a league that has almost doubled in size, rising to 23 teams over the last decade – and is expected to grow to 26 by 2020.

A new potential property group consisting of members of the Haslam family, owner of the Cleveland Browns of N.F.L., became a buyer of the crew.

A senior league official warned that, unlike the news reported on Friday in Ohio, the crew had not been sold, although Friday's public announcement was itself a sign of significant optimism. However, the league warned in a statement that the conditions that led its current owner, Precourt Sports Ventures, to continue moving to Austin are: long-term corporate support, larger season ticket base, and more importantly Still, the stadium plan – had yet to be resolved before the league could guarantee the future of the Columbus crew.

Friday's announcement that the team could stay behind after all, a year after the launch of a debate, went public and just weeks before the start of MLS. the playoffs began, which helped prevent one of Mr. L.'s original franchises. continues its second league title, as its owners actively negotiate to leave the city.

If the negotiations succeed, the new ownership group acquires the rights of the crew and its history of the league. Precourt would retain its stake in the single-entity league and transfer it to an expansion team in Austin.

A version of this article is printed on , on the page re4 of the New York edition with the title: M.L.S. Claims progress to prevent crew from moving. Order Reprints | The paper of the day | Subscribe

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