Playing in the new Columbus Crew Stadium, as opposed to Ohio Stadium, is the equivalent of playing soccer on a normal field rather than in a phone booth, according to Crew players.
“It was tough playing in Ohio Stadium,” midfielder Brian Maisonneuve said. “On a bigger field you have more time and space. You can be a little more creative.”
The field at Columbus Crew Stadium will be the standard 75 yards wide and 115 yards long. With a running track surrounding the grass surface at Ohio Stadium, the field was listed as 62 yards wide and 106 yards long, although many insist it was narrower and shorter.
“It was twice as hard to play (at Ohio Stadium),” Fire forward Jesse Marsch said. “You had the size of the field, coupled with the fact (the Crew) knew how to play there. It was an incredible home-field advantage, the best in the league.”
The Fire won’t play in the new stadium until Oct. 10, the last day of the season.
The Crew compiled a 30-18 regular-season record in three years at Ohio Stadium. Columbus played its first seven games this season on the road while the new stadium was being completed, going 5-2.
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The Crew is in first place in the Eastern Conference and will play 16 of its remaining 25 games at home in front of full houses. That’s an appealing home-field advantage.
“The whole team is excited,” Maisonneuve said. “The atmosphere the stadium will create will be second to none. You can’t beat a small stadium filled to the brim.
“(Saturday) is going to be a day to remember for soccer in the United States.”