A proposed 2% tax on Columbus Crew and other event tickets at Scotts Miracle Gro Field to fund a new women's soccer team could face pushback as it heads to Columbus City Council for a vote.
Columbus wants to attract a new National Women's Soccer League team to the city with $25 million and land at McCoy Park on the city's south side for a state-of-the-art training facility. A plan for a ticket tax to pay for the cost will be heard by city council during a public hearing on Monday at 3 p.m. at City Hall, but city leaders expect some pushback from some council members and the community.
Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin said at a press conference on Friday he doesn't expect a unanimous vote of support once the proposal comes to an expected vote on April 13. Hardin said council members and community members will likely voice concerns at the public hearing.
"I think that you will hear — like my council always does — a very open and honest debate in a public forum. And so we will see, but I think that I would not have brought a deal for it if I did not think that we could get it passed," Hardin said.
The plan involved taxing Columbus Crew and other event tickets at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field over a decade to pay off debt from a $25 million payment to the Haslam Sports Group. After that's paid off, Hardin and Council member Nick Bankston say the tax would remain in place to fund social services through the city's budget.
After the press conference, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther released a statement backing Hardin's plan.
"I’m excited and grateful to see City Council come alongside us today, ready to endorse the public investment required to win a team – just as we’ve supported our Columbus Crew, Columbus Blue Jackets and Columbus Fury," Ginther said.
Ginther said the plan could create as many as 450 new jobs and generate $118 million in new tax revenue for the city.
Ginther has said he wants to make Columbus the nation's capital for women's sports and a new NWSL team would go a long way towards that lofty goal.
"I’m ready for Columbus to win this team and for everyone – men and women, boys and girls – to watch professional female athletes take to the pitch at one of the greatest stadiums in the world and together cheer on Columbus women’s soccer team," Ginther said.
Hardin and other council members had initially given Ginther's plan to give $25 million to the Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Columbus Crew, a cold shoulder. Hardin echoed his criticism of Ginther's original plan, calling it "tone deaf" at the press conference.
Columbus Crew President of Business Operations Mary Shepro said on behalf of the Haslam Sports Group that they are happy with the city council's proposal. She said there's a good chance the National Women's Soccer League will choose Columbus for an expansion team, but that isn't final yet.
"As we look to the next hopefully weeks and months, we're going to have great news we hope to announce about bringing the team here. But this is a pivotal, pivotal first step," Shepro said.
Shepro said the team is already workshopping names for a new team. Bankston floated the "Columbus Comets" as a potential team name.
