Columbus Crew SC today announced its full preseason schedule in advance of the 2015 Major League Soccer season, highlighted by two stays in Florida and an Austin, Texas trip. Over the course of the preseason, the club will also participate in a pair of inaugural tournaments.
Under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, the Black & Gold are set to report to Columbus this week for entrance physicals and testing on January 22 – 23. From there, the club will depart to Lakewood Ranch, Florida for its first leg of preseason training. Crew SC will hold a camp in Lakewood Ranch from January 24 – February 6 before returning to Columbus.
The team will be in Central Ohio from February 7 – February 11 ahead of traveling to Austin to compete in the inaugural ATX Pro Challenge, as previously announced. The Texan event, hosted by Crew SC's new USL PRO affiliate, the Austin Aztex, is a four-team, single-elimination preseason tournament. The Black & Gold are slated to be joined by the Aztex, D.C. United and FC Dallas for the competition, which will take place at the Mike A. Meyers Track and Soccer Stadium at the University of Texas at Austin. The Black & Gold play their first match of the tournament on February 13, when the club meets FC Dallas at 6:45 p.m. ET.
Following the ATX Pro Challenge, Crew SC returns to the Sunshine State to participate in the first-ever IMG Suncoast Pro Classic, to be held in Bradenton. Crew SC is set to be joined in that event by other MLS sides as well as worldwide participants to be announced later. The tournament will be held from February 18 – February 28. The club then returns back to Ohio before beginning the 2015 regular season.
The Black & Gold begin their 20th season on March 7 at Houston and return home for the Opening Match at Crew Stadium on Saturday, March 14 against Toronto FC. In celebration of the 20th campaign, the club is offering free customization to any fan that pre-orders his or her 2015 jersey. Once the jerseys have been revealed to the public, fans can select either the primary or secondary jersey along with any name and number they wish to add at no additional charge. This offer will be available at the Crew SC Shop at Crew Stadium or CrewSCShop.com. The pre-sale opportunity ends February 28.
COLUMBUS CREW SC PRESEASON SCHEDULE
<strong>Jan. 22 – Jan. 23</strong> |
<p>Team in Columbus for entrance physicals and testing</p> |
<strong>Jan. 24 – Feb. 6</strong> |
<p>Camp in Lakewood Ranch, Florida</p> |
<strong>Feb. 7 – Feb. 11</strong> |
<p>Team in Columbus</p> |
<strong>Feb. 12</strong> |
<p>Team travels to Austin, Texas</p> |
<strong>Feb. 13 – Feb. 15</strong> |
<p>ATX Pro Challenge (Austin, Texas)</p> |
<strong>Feb. 16</strong> |
<p>Team travels to Bradenton, Florida</p> |
<strong>Feb. 18 – Feb. 28</strong> |
<p>IMG Suncoast Pro Classic (Bradenton, Florida)</p> |
<strong>March 1</strong> |
<p>Crew SC returns to Columbus</p> |
Note: All dates and times are subject to change. Preseason friendlies may be added at any time.
