Major League Soccer Team Playing Austin Against Columbus for a New Stadium Deal

A Major League Soccer team is pulling an NFL move and threatening to relocate if its home city doesn't get a new stadium.

The team is the Columbus Crew, and ownership is considering a plan that would relocate the team in Austin if a new stadium is not built in Columbus.

Tom Schad reports: "Anthony Precourt, the Crew's chairman, said in a statement that 'the current course is not sustainable' and he is exploring a move to Austin, 'which is the largest metropolitan area in North America without a major league sports franchise.'"

MLS commissioner Don Garber is also cited in the article describing the state of the business for the Columbus Crew as dismal.

Kevin Lyttle reports the news of the team's interest in Austin from the Texan city's perspective. The Crew registered trademarks “Austin FC” and “Austin Athletic” in August.

As for what kind of stadium the team is expecting from Columbus, details are lacking in Schad's article. Lyttle mentions that any move to Austin would require a still-not-existent stadium plan.