Overview
- Reports on May 28–29 say Columbus-based Nationwide Mutual Insurance agreed to buy 37% of the Columbus Crew, taking 30% from Jimmy and Dee Haslam and 7% from the Edwards family.
- The transaction implies a $900 million club valuation and is expected to close in the coming weeks if the MLS Board of Governors ratifies the sale.
- The Haslams will remain the controlling owners with roughly a 40% stake, keeping day-to-day control while selling a large limited partner position.
- The Crew’s recent commercial strength, a downtown $314 million stadium that opened in 2021 and estimated $93 million in 2025 revenue, underpins investor interest and helped lift the price above earlier $800 million estimates.
- The sale highlights a broader MLS trend where large minority LP stakes provide liquidity to owners, deepen local corporate ties, and could push valuations higher as other clubs explore stake sales.