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Crew coach Wilfried Nancy considers his team's April 19 matchup against Inter Miami in Cleveland an "away-home" game.
"We are playing in a new stadium," Nancy said. "But I knew that since the beginning (of the season). So, it doesn't change anything, to be honest. The players knew this, so I will not put the focus on that. ... This is the reality, and we will try to do everything to have a good performance."
According to Nancy, the decision to move Columbus' regular-season home game against Miami to Huntington Bank Field was no surprise. Nancy had seen Sporting Kansas City move its Miami home game to a bigger, NFL stadium to capitalize on the draw of Miami forward Lionel Messi.
Huntington Bank Field is the home of the Cleveland Browns, owned by Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who also own the Crew. The stadium holds 67,431 people. The Crew's Lower.com Field has a capacity of 20,371.
More: Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami vs Columbus Crew in Cleveland?
The biggest difference in the Crew's move is Huntington Bank Field is nearly 150 miles from Lower.com Field, while Kansas City played at Arrowhead Stadium, just over 22 miles from its home field.
Given the lengthy distance local Columbus fans will have to travel and Messi's popularity, the ratio of Crew to Miami supporters at Huntington Bank Field could sway either way.
"It just will be nice to hopefully have more fans in our favor going out there," Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe said. "But it's going to be enjoyable, just having a big crowd, and it's going to be a big atmosphere."
Three Crew players, including defender Sean Zawadzki, are natives of Northeast Ohio. Zawadzki hails from Olmsted Falls and embraces the opportunity to play 20 miles from his hometown.
"To me, it means a lot," Zawadzki said. "It's a place that I've grown up going to, supporting the Browns and other teams in Cleveland. So, to be there, close to family and friends, obviously is a big part for me."
Darlington Nagbe and Evan Bush are the other Crew players from the area, with Nagbe going to high school in Lakewood and Bush's hometown being Concord.
The Crew-Miami game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. on April 19.
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@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami: Wilfried Nancy on Lionel Messi and more
Continue reading...
"We are playing in a new stadium," Nancy said. "But I knew that since the beginning (of the season). So, it doesn't change anything, to be honest. The players knew this, so I will not put the focus on that. ... This is the reality, and we will try to do everything to have a good performance."
According to Nancy, the decision to move Columbus' regular-season home game against Miami to Huntington Bank Field was no surprise. Nancy had seen Sporting Kansas City move its Miami home game to a bigger, NFL stadium to capitalize on the draw of Miami forward Lionel Messi.
Huntington Bank Field is the home of the Cleveland Browns, owned by Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who also own the Crew. The stadium holds 67,431 people. The Crew's Lower.com Field has a capacity of 20,371.
More: Will Lionel Messi play for Inter Miami vs Columbus Crew in Cleveland?
The biggest difference in the Crew's move is Huntington Bank Field is nearly 150 miles from Lower.com Field, while Kansas City played at Arrowhead Stadium, just over 22 miles from its home field.
Given the lengthy distance local Columbus fans will have to travel and Messi's popularity, the ratio of Crew to Miami supporters at Huntington Bank Field could sway either way.
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"It just will be nice to hopefully have more fans in our favor going out there," Crew forward Jacen Russell-Rowe said. "But it's going to be enjoyable, just having a big crowd, and it's going to be a big atmosphere."
Sean Zawadzki talks competing close to home in Cleveland game
Three Crew players, including defender Sean Zawadzki, are natives of Northeast Ohio. Zawadzki hails from Olmsted Falls and embraces the opportunity to play 20 miles from his hometown.
"To me, it means a lot," Zawadzki said. "It's a place that I've grown up going to, supporting the Browns and other teams in Cleveland. So, to be there, close to family and friends, obviously is a big part for me."
You must be registered for see images attach
Darlington Nagbe and Evan Bush are the other Crew players from the area, with Nagbe going to high school in Lakewood and Bush's hometown being Concord.
The Crew-Miami game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. on April 19.
[email protected]
@brimackay15
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs Inter Miami: Wilfried Nancy on Lionel Messi and more
Continue reading...
