The Columbus Fury enters its next era with new leadership
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The Columbus Fury hasn't won much in its first three seasons — new ownership hopes to make big changes on and off the court. Photo: Courtesy of the Columbus Fury
The Columbus Fury volleyball team is entering a new era, with new ownership leading a push to properly fund and professionalize the franchise.
Why it matters: Columbus wants to be the "capital" of women's sports — but its only active pro women's team has so far struggled to break through.
Flashback: The Fury launched in 2023 as part of Major League Volleyball and plays its home matches at Nationwide Arena.
- The team was originally owned by a group of investors that included the family of Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow.
- Last year, Columbus gave the team $500,000 to stay through 2030.
State of play: Full ownership of the team was purchased in March by husband-and-wife duo Andrea Mitchell and Andy Sandler — the latter is part of multiple team ownership groups, including baseball's Tampa Bay Rays.
- Mitchell (the face of new ownership) tells Axios that when they bought the team, ownership had been transferred to the league, which was operating the Fury.
- Now, the team is two months from a new season and is undergoing a transformation.
What they're saying: When Mitchell started assessing Fury operations, she realized the team was desperate for investment.
- "They had a shoestring budget," she tells Axios. "They were working really hard, but we knew that for this franchise to thrive, and for the league to thrive, we've got to put in a lot of money, a lot of effort and bring in a lot more people."
- "This organization is no longer holding on by a thread, like it was before," says president and general manager Eric Schulze, one of those new hires.
What they did: Upgrades include a reorganized and revamped game-day experience, new amenities, improved game-day access for fans and new events and promotions, Schulze says.
- The team drastically improved player conditions, from practice and medical treatment space to fully furnished individual housing.
Between the lines: Both Mitchell and Schulze say they want to win — so expect more investment in the roster.
- The Fury finished last in both 2025 and 2026, and has never come close to a winning record.
- Schulze says winning is "the first thing we've got to do."
The bottom line: Mitchell thinks she's "hit that sweet spot" of investing in a growing league with huge potential.
- "The audience is there; we just need to make the business case that we're here to stay," she says.
- "It's more about having that intestinal fortitude to make that upfront investment, knowing returns are going to come down the road."