The 30th Columbus Crew season kicks off tomorrow with an uncertain path toward a fourth MLS championship.

Why it matters: The team has become an American soccer power, winning two MLS Cups and two other titles since 2020.

• But Columbus also lost two of its best and most beloved players in the past month.

State of play: The 2024 Crew team was an MLS Cup favorite but got bounced from the playoffs in a shocking first-round upset.

Catch up quick: It's been almost exclusively departures since.

• Star Cucho Hernández was given a $16 million dream move to Spain, and Christian Ramírez was traded to Los Angeles.
• Veteran midfielder Lassi Lappalainen was the only notable offseason signing.

Context: It could take time for more reinforcements to arrive. Splashier signings often must wait for the summer, when major European leagues are in their offseasons.

• Hernández and Diego Rossi were both summer signings for Columbus.

Our take: We don't know what the final Crew roster will look like, but we do know head coach Wilfried Nancy, arguably the best in MLS, is the backbone of the organization.

• If they can stay afloat until the summer, major midseason signings could help them to another deep playoff run.

The competitions: In addition to the MLS season, Columbus will participate in three other tournaments this year.

• The Crew once again qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup and will play in the Leagues Cup.
• And the organization will send Crew 2 to participate in the U.S. Open Cup.

🗓️ What's next: Keep an eye out for a regular Tuesday Crew column from Andrew.

The team has added food options and is working to expand Lower.com Field. Per the Dispatch, the construction includes:

• A 7,500-square-foot addition in the northwest corner adding 262 seats, standing space and a larger concourse.
• A multi-story, 8,200-square-foot addition on the east side connecting to the upper concourse, plus adding another men's restroom and new club space with a total capacity of 600.

What we're watching: In a news release, the Crew says it "recognizes and is prepared for" matchday impact on fans:

• The team will close the northwest gate for the season and add a new north gate.
• Also, "movement within the north concourses will be condensed."

Dig in: Axios sampled a number of new food items for 2025, from ELT (eggplant, lettuce, tomato) and pho brisket sandwiches to a side of dill pickle tater tots.

• Akron-based Swenson's will also debut in the stadium's northwest corner.

💭 Extended thoughts on the new items and where to find them.

Residential development plans around Lower.com Field are years behind schedule, but Crew leaders tell us the planning work continues.

Why it matters: Astor Park promised to "set a higher standard for downtown work, life and leisure" in the neighborhood around the stadium, spurring activity and revitalizing an area previously considered undevelopable.

Catch up quick: Months after the soccer team broke ground on its $300 million downtown stadium in 2019, Crew ownership partnered with The Pizzuti Companies to develop the surrounding area.

State of play: Things are still progressing.

• A 700-space parking garage next to the stadium opened last year.
• Astor Park has attracted its first major commercial tenant, with BBI Logistics investing $36 million into its global headquarters across from the stadium.

Between the lines: Among the initial goals was building 440 housing units by 2023, with 20% set aside as "workforce affordable."

• Work on those units has yet to begin.
• Josh Glessing, the Crew's president of business operations, says an announcement about multifamily housing is "really, really close" but not finalized.

What they're saying: Glessing says increased construction costs, interest rates and "other challenges" have slowed down the project. Although it's "disappointing" to not be further along, he's happy with its status.

• "The fact that we don't see the development right now is not for lack of effort."

What we're watching: Glessing also says another 20,000-square-foot commercial tenant that will "draw people down to this neighborhood" is "really close" to being announced.

Away from the pitch, the Crew has refocused its community outreach efforts on investing in youth soccer.

Why it matters: It's all connected, from the youngest kids to the Crew first team, as the franchise looks to bolster its academy and expand its talent pipeline.

Flashback: When the current ownership group took over in 2019, staffers were shocked by the lack of team infrastructure.

• "There was a skeleton of a club left when the Haslam and Edwards families took over," VP and general counsel Mary Shepro tells Axios. "We still are really getting up to full speed."
• The team got to work installing mini pitches and other fields at schools and parks of varying surfaces.

What they found: Those programs, while welcome, weren't particularly impactful — the team quickly realized it's preferable to play on real grass fields.

• The focus has since shifted to education and programming.
• "We're going to be impacting many more kids by meeting them where they are," community relations director Stephanie Cedeño tells us.

Between the lines: The team launched the Crew Soccer in Schools program, providing free soccer curriculum and equipment to Columbus City Schools students between grades 3-5.

• And the franchise joined the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network in partnership with 36 local districts.

The last word

For reasons we may never understand, global superstar Timothée Chalamet arrived to the German premiere of "A Complete Unknown" rocking a vintage Crew jacket.

No, really: A Crew spokesperson confirmed to us that Chalamet — noted pal of MLSer Alex Muyl — wore the jacket of his own volition.

• And here we thought R.L. Stine was our biggest celebrity supporter!