Columbus NWSL Ticket Tax Proposal Gains Support, But Faces Opposition

City Council leaders reach tentative deal to provide $25 million for NWSL training facility, funded by new 2% ticket tax.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:23pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action and competing interests surrounding the proposed NWSL ticket tax in Columbus.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes negotiations over public funding for a new NWSL training facility in Columbus.Columbus Today

Nearly two weeks after the owners of the Columbus Crew asked the city for $25 million in public dollars to help build a potential NWSL team's training facility, City Council leaders feel they've reached a tentative deal to provide the money. The deal includes a permanent 2% tax on all ticketed events at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to repay the city's contributions for the training facility at McCoy Park. While City Council President Shannon Hardin and Councilmember Nick Bankston support the proposal, they believe the votes will still be split when it goes to a public hearing.

Why it matters

The proposed ticket tax is seen as a compromise that protects taxpayer dollars while still providing public funding for the NWSL training facility. However, some residents remain skeptical of big downtown deals and whether they will truly benefit from such investments.

The details

The 2% ticket tax is projected to allow the city to be repaid for its $25 million investment within 10 to 20 years. Once the $25 million is paid off, the ticket tax will remain as a revenue source to help fund areas such as human services, housing and youth programming. The deal includes a city review of the payback plan in 2032-33. The ownership group, which includes the Haslam Sports Group, Nationwide, and Crew minority-owner Dr. Pete Edwards, is prepared to put up millions of its own money toward an expansion fee, though the exact amount is not yet finalized.

  • City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed plan on April 6 at 3 p.m.
  • Residents interested in speaking at the hearing must sign up by noon on April 6.
  • Written testimonies must be emailed to the city by noon on April 6.

The players

Shannon Hardin

Columbus City Council President, who was initially among multiple Council members with concerns about the public funding proposal but now supports the new deal.

Nick Bankston

Columbus City Councilmember, who is involved in the proposal and believes the ticket tax will allow the city to be repaid within 10 to 20 years.

Mary Shepro

President of business operations for the Columbus Crew.

Haslam Sports Group

The billionaire owners of the Columbus Crew and Cleveland Browns, who are leading the bid to bring the 18th NWSL team to Columbus.

Nationwide

A Columbus-based insurance company that is part of the ownership group for the potential NWSL team.

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What they’re saying

“We could not support the previous proposal to write a $25 million check toward this endeavor. But because of the work we have done together, we have struck a new deal that we believe protects taxpayer dollars, pays for itself and eventually will even become a revenue stream for the city.”

— Shannon Hardin, Columbus City Council President

“Many of our residents feel they are being left behind. Many are skeptical or even cynical about the big Downtown deals they read about. They wonder if they are being asked to pay for things they will never actually benefit from.”

— Shannon Hardin, Columbus City Council President

“Because we have yet to be awarded a team it [the expansion fee] is not yet finalized for Columbus. But for Atlanta, the last expansion fee for the 17th team, was a record-setting $165 million, which was more than what it took to save the Crew.”

— Mary Shepro, President of business operations, Columbus Crew

What’s next

City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed plan on April 6 at 3 p.m. to gather community input before voting on the deal.

The takeaway

The ticket tax proposal represents a compromise that aims to balance the city's financial concerns with the desire to bring an NWSL team to Columbus. However, some residents remain skeptical of public funding for professional sports facilities, and the final Council vote on the deal is still expected to be split.