It’s happening. In 2017, the idea was for the Columbus Crew to move to Austin, Texas. Four years later, the Crew is playing the newest club in MLS in Austin FC at its new home in Q2 Stadium. Austin FC is owned by previous Black & Gold owner Anthony Precourt, who attempted to relocate the club to Austin, sparking the Save The Crew movement that kept the club in Columbus. It’s one of just two matches for Columbus against the Western Conference this year and it's on national television.
For head coach Caleb Porter, this is a match he had circled “twice” on the calendar with full knowledge of the inner storylines this game has.