COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC announced its full preseason schedule in advance of the 2018 Major League Soccer season, highlighted by training in Casa Grande, Arizona. Crew SC will also participate in two preseason tournaments: the Pacific Rim Cup in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, South Carolina.
Under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, the 2018 MLS Preseason begins on Wednesday, January 24, with the team training at SuperKick in Lewis Center, Ohio on Wednesday January 24 and on Thursday, January 25 following entrance physicals and testing. From there, the club departs to Casa Grande, Arizona on Friday, January 26 for training.
Crew SC is slated to remain in Casa Grande through February 6, before traveling to Honolulu, Hawaii to participate in the Pacific Rim Cup from Thursday, February 8 through Sunday, February 11. The Pacific Rim Cup is also set to feature MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps FC as well as Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and Iwaki FC from Japan. Broadcast information will be available at a later date. Tickets for the Pacific Rim Cup are availablenow.
Following the conclusion of the Pacific Rim Cup, the Black & Gold travel to Charleston, South Carolina to participate in the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup from Saturday, February 17 through Saturday, February 24. Hosted by the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League, Crew SC is set to be joined by two other MLS sides: Atlanta United FC and Minnesota United FC. The four participating teams will play in a round-robin style tournament over the course of three days. Broadcast information will be available at a later date. Ticket information for the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup is now available.
COLUMBUS CREW SC 2018 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
<p>Jan. 24 – 25</p> |
<p>Training in Lewis Center, Ohio (SuperKick)</p> |
<p>Jan. 26 – Feb. 6</p> |
<p>Training Camp in Casa Grande, Arizona</p> |
<p>Feb. 6 –11</p> |
<p>Pacific Rim Cup (Honolulu, Hawaii)</p> |
<p>Feb. 9</p> |
<p>Crew SC vs. Sapporo (PRC)</p> |
<p>Feb. 10 or Feb. 11</p> |
<p>Crew SC vs. TBD (PRC)</p> |
<p>Feb. 15 – 25</p> |
<p>Carolina Challenge Cup (Charleston, South Carolina)</p> |
<p>Feb. 17</p> |
<p>Crew SC vs. Atlanta United FC (CCC)</p> |
<p>Feb. 21</p> |
<p>Crew SC vs. Charleston Battery (CCC)</p> |
<p>Feb. 24</p> |
<p>Crew SC vs. Minnesota United FC (CCC)</p> |
Note: All dates and times are subject to change. Preseason friendlies may be added at any time.
The Major League Soccer regular season will kick off just days after the conclusion of the CCC and Crew SC's preseason, with Crew SC opening their season on the road at Toronto FC on March 3, 2018. Following that 2017 Eastern Conference Championship rematch, Crew SC returns to MAPFRE Stadium to host the Montreal Impact on March 10, 2018.
In 2017, Crew SC returned to the postseason for the third time in four years and reached the Eastern Conference Championship for the second time in four seasons under Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. Additional information for purchasing single-match tickets for all Crew SC regular-season home matches will be released at a later date.
