Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards Family, investor-operators of Columbus Crew SC, today announced in conjunction with Columbus-based The Pizzuti Companies, the creation of a joint venture for the commercial development of Confluence Village in downtown Columbus. The joint venture will develop the land adjacent to what will be a world-class open-air stadium that will host soccer, entertainment and corporate events, scheduled to open in July 2021. “We are thrilled to partner with one of the leading Central Ohio development firms that brings the wealth of experience that Pizzuti possesses,” said Josh Glessing, Vice President, Strategy for Haslam Sports Group. “They have a long history of developing projects in Columbus and share our vision to complement the Arena District in a way that will spur further investment and advance the City’s Workforce Housing priorities. We remain on schedule for a July 2021 opening of the new Crew stadium and this joint venture is one of the final pieces of the Confluence Village project. This development will be a year-round destination, and Workforce Housing will be an important component of the residential piece.”
Through their development of Confluence Village, the Crew and Pizzuti will transform the surrounding area that has been vacant for decades, with Phase I of the development anticipated to include office; other commercial, non-office; residential; and green space.
“We are excited to partner with Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards Family on Confluence Village,” said Joel. S Pizzuti, President and CEO of The Pizzuti Companies. “We look forward to developing what will be a dynamic environment where residents can live, work, and be entertained year-round in a safe and fun environment.” A key element of the joint venture includes a commitment to develop residential units that meet City Workforce Housing standards to better serve the Columbus community, and support the important work of The City of Columbus Departments of Neighborhoods and Development, led by Mayor Andrew J. Ginther.
“We are excited to have Pizzuti on board with this project that will bring hundreds of jobs to the area at a critical time,” said City of Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “Pizzuti has been a great partner to dozens of Columbus projects and understands the need for creating mixed income neighborhoods.” Additional details regarding the residential component of the development will be announced in the near future.
“City Council believes affordable housing is a cornerstone of building strong neighborhoods. Housing Chair Shayla Favor made our commitment to affordability clear as the new district’s planning evolved, and we are proud to see the Haslam and Edwards families join with The Pizzuti Companies committing 20% of these 440 units to be workforce affordable,” said Columbus City Council President Shannon G. Hardin.
Haslam Sports Group and Pizzuti’s joint venture expands their collaborative partnership, as the Club’s Experience Center was constructed at The Offices at The Sutton, Pizzuti’s latest mixed-use development in the Short North Arts District in Columbus. The Experience Center, which features 6,376 square feet of storefront along High Street and First Avenue, serves as the central location for premium ticket sales and sponsorships for the new Columbus Crew Stadium.
ABOUT COLUMBUS CREW SC Columbus Crew SC (Soccer Club) is the first club in Major League Soccer. Crew SC is operated by The Edwards Family and Haslam Sports Group. The Black & Gold won their first MLS Cup championship in 2008 and also won the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as MLS Supporters’ Shield titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009. The 2020 campaign is the Crew’s 25th season in MLS and the 21st season at historic MAPFRE Stadium -- the first soccer-specific stadium in the United States.