Sports North Side

Historic Crew Stadium

Historic Crew Stadium

The original Crew soccer bowl on the Ohio Expo Center grounds, still used for matches, lacrosse, rugby, and concerts. A solid north-side sports day when downtown arenas are booked elsewhere.

Historic Crew Stadium, long known to locals as Mapfre Stadium, sits on the Ohio Expo Center grounds on the North Side. It was the Crew’s home from 1999 until 2021 and still hosts soccer, other field sports, and outdoor concerts with a permanent stage in the north end.

We go when the calendar puts a match or show here instead of downtown: the bowl still feels purpose-built for the pitch, and Expo Center parking habits apply. Event promoters set gates and bag rules per date.

How to plan a visit

Confirm the specific event page for tickets and entry gates. Build extra time for Expo Center traffic on fair weeks. Pair with a State Fair visit only when calendars truly overlap; otherwise treat it as its own trip.

Practical tips

Surface lots surround the stadium; follow event staff for cash or app payment rules. Weather hits harder here than in an arena, so check the forecast before a night kick.

Know before you go

The venue opens for scheduled events, not daily tours of the old Crew bowl. Expo Center surface lots are the parking plan, with pricing set per event and fair-week congestion possible. Tickets range from amateur sports to concert pricing depending on the promoter. Arrive early on concert nights when the north-end stage draws a full bowl and the exit roads clog.

1 Black and Gold Blvd, Columbus, OH 43211

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