A press conference to announce that the Columbus Crew SC reached a deal with insurer Mapfre U.S.A. Corp. for the 19,968-seat Crew Stadium to become Mapfre Stadium, team and company executives announced Tuesday March 3, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio. Terms were not disclosed. Establishing a sponsor for the stadium, opened in 1999 off Interstate 71 in Columbus as the country’s first soccer-specific venue, long proved an elusive goal for Crew SC leadership seeking financial stability. “This agreement is a culmination of the thorough, thoughtful planning and hard work that we promised Columbus and our fans from the first day Precourt Sports Ventures purchased the team 19 months ago,” Crew Chairman Anthony Precourt said in a press release. “Dynamic business partnerships like this are part of our strategy to be a winning organization. We expect Mapfre Stadium to become an even greater place for our growing fan base to cheer on Columbus’ original major league franchise for years to come.” The deal comes less than two years after Precourt purchased the team for a reported $68 million from the founding owners Hunt Sports Group.
On March 3, 2015, Crew SC made a significant announcement at a press conference in Columbus, Ohio. The team had secured a long-awaited stadium naming rights deal with Mapfre U.S.A. Corp., marking the 19,968-seat Crew Stadium’s official renaming to Mapfre Stadium. It was a momentous occasion for the club, as securing a sponsor for the stadium had been a long-term goal that had eluded them for years. Despite the stadium’s historical significance as the first soccer-specific venue in the United States, finding a partner to provide the financial stability the team needed had proven challenging.

The naming rights deal was a major milestone for Crew SC, particularly after the team’s ownership changed hands just under two years prior. In 2013, Anthony Precourt, through Precourt Sports Ventures, had purchased the team from the Hunt Sports Group for a reported $68 million. Since then, Precourt and his team had worked tirelessly to reposition Crew SC, focusing on strengthening the franchise and its operations in order to ensure long-term success. One of the key elements of that strategy was securing financial backing through corporate partnerships, and the Mapfre deal was a crucial step in that direction.

Crew SC Chairman Anthony Precourt was visibly enthusiastic as he spoke about the deal, reflecting on the hard work and careful planning that had gone into bringing this partnership to fruition. “This agreement is a culmination of the thorough, thoughtful planning and hard work that we promised Columbus and our fans from the first day Precourt Sports Ventures purchased the team 19 months ago,” he said in a press release. “Dynamic business partnerships like this are part of our strategy to be a winning organization. We expect Mapfre Stadium to become an even greater place for our growing fan base to cheer on Columbus’ original major league franchise for years to come.”

The agreement to rename Crew Stadium after Mapfre was more than just a financial deal—it was a symbolic step in the team’s evolution. For a franchise that had faced challenges with stability in the years following its founding, securing a sponsor like Mapfre provided both financial support and a renewed sense of purpose. The stadium, which had been a symbol of soccer’s growing presence in America since its opening in 1999, would now carry the name of a well-established insurance company. For Mapfre, the deal represented a strategic partnership that gave them exposure to a passionate and dedicated fanbase, while also allowing them to support a team that was now focusing on building its future.

While the terms of the deal were not disclosed, the importance of the partnership was clear. For Crew SC, it was a necessary step to help secure the future of the franchise in an increasingly competitive league. Fans, too, were excited about the new chapter in the team’s history. The renaming of the stadium marked a renewed commitment to growing the team’s presence both locally and nationally, while also ensuring that the original vision behind Crew Stadium—a home for soccer in America—continued to thrive.

As Crew SC looked to the future, the Mapfre deal was just one of many steps in what Precourt and his team hoped would be a long and successful journey. They knew that this partnership was vital for the team’s long-term stability, but it also represented a deeper commitment to the city of Columbus and to soccer fans everywhere. With a strong corporate sponsor backing them and a renewed focus on the fan experience, Crew SC hoped to not only solidify its place in Major League Soccer but also help shape the future of the league. Mapfre Stadium wasn’t just a new name—it was a symbol of the team’s resilience and ambition, a reflection of its determination to remain a pillar of the soccer community for years to come.