Statement from Ohio Attorney General
Mike DeWine
on Columbus Crew
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Today, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued the
following statement regarding his office’s review of Ohio Revised Code
provisions regarding a potential move by the Columbus Crew to Austin, Texas:
“Ohioans are very loyal fans who passionately support our
teams and take great civic pride in their accomplishments. Our teams are a part
of our communities. That is why when ownership moved the Cleveland Browns to
Baltimore in 1995, the Ohio General Assembly took action and passed a law to
protect Ohio and its communities when they provide tax-funded support for
professional teams’ stadiums. As a United States Senator, I, along with Senator
John Glenn and Congressman Louis Stokes, introduced similar legislation in
Congress.
“The Ohio Attorney General’s Office has reviewed the law
passed after the Browns’ move. We believe the evidence will show that this law
would apply to the Columbus Crew and Mapfre Stadium. As Attorney General,
should ownership of the Columbus Crew initiate a move of the team without
complying with Ohio law, I am prepared to take the necessary legal action under
this law to protect the interests of the State of Ohio and the central Ohio
communities which have all invested to make the Columbus Crew a proud part of
our Ohio sports tradition and help Mapfre Stadium earn its reputation as ‘Fortress
Columbus.’”
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