The Columbus Crew, Ohio's Major League Soccer team, has announced that their downtown stadium will bear a new name in the upcoming 2026 season. The current Lower.com Field will become the ScottsMiracle-Gro Field as part of a multi-year naming rights agreement with Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. Though financial details were not disclosed, this move marks a continuation of the more than 15-year relationship between the Crew and the Marysville-based lawn and garden products company, which has been the Crew's official lawn care and gardening partner.
In a statement obtained by WBNS, Mary Sherpo, the Columbus Crew's President of Business Operations, articulated the team's pride in having their stadium named after a locally connected company. "ScottsMiracle-Gro and the Crew share a deep passion for our fans, our sport and Central Ohio that perfectly reflects how we strive to represent our Club and our city through the global game," said Sherpo. The partnership aims to enhance the experience for fans and players, a sentiment echoed in MLSsoccer's report, which mentions that ScottsMiracle-Gro was instrumental in providing one of the premier grass surfaces in sports for the Crew.
According to cleveland.com, the renaming of the stadium comes after the conclusion of the inaugural naming rights agreement with Lower.com. Despite the change in stadium naming rights, Lower.com is set to continue its partnership with the team under a new multi-year deal. The stadium, which has been a central hub for soccer in Columbus since its opening in 2021, has hosted key soccer events, including the MLS All-Star Game and matches for the US men's national team.
In addition to the recognition gained by the lawn care company, the extended partnership foresees ScottsMiracle-Gro collaborating on community-based activities, particularly focused on youth soccer and fostering outdoor engagement. The company also becomes the Presenting Partner of the Crew’s "Soccer in Schools" program. "We know everything is better when you can play and gather on natural grass," John Sass, SVP of the company’s Scotts brand lawns business, told MLSsoccer. "For years, we’ve helped the Crew play on one of the premier grass surfaces in sports, and we’re honored to extend that support by putting our name on the best stadium in MLS."
