The Columbus Fury, the city’s entry in Major League Volleyball, has a new set of bosses who say they are in it for the long haul.
Attorney Andrea Mitchell and investor Andy Sandler closed a deal Wednesday to acquire the franchise and say they want to turn the team into a permanently rooted, professionally run operation in Columbus. The Fury play at Nationwide Arena and have slogged through a rough year on the court, sitting near the bottom of the standings.
As reported by ABC6, the team is 3-14 this season and had not yet managed a home win at Nationwide Arena when the sale was announced. In a statement to the station, Mitchell said “our vision is to make the Fury a permanent and respected fixture in professional sports,” signaling that stability is the first goal before the wins start stacking up.
Mitchell is a financial services attorney and the managing partner of Washington, D.C.-based Mitchell Sandler PLLC, advising banks, fintech firms and other financial sector clients. Her biography highlights prior work at the Federal Reserve and in private practice, experience the new ownership group says should help with long-term planning, sponsorship strategy and building a real front office infrastructure. According to Mitchell Sandler, she leads the firm’s regulatory and fintech practice.
Sandler is the founder and chairman of Temerity Baseball, an investment arm that owns several minor league clubs and has been listed as a limited partner in the new Tampa Bay Rays ownership group. His portfolio emphasizes development around stadiums and community-focused ballpark projects, a model the pair suggests could translate to volleyball’s arena setting. Details on Sandler’s baseball holdings appear on the Temerity Capital website and in an MLB announcement.
City Leaders Hail Move
City officials quickly framed the sale as a win that goes beyond the box score, arguing the deal strengthens Columbus’ push to be a national hub for women’s sports. New local investment, they say, helps long-term plans around both sports and economic development, especially downtown.
The ownership change lines up neatly with IgniteHER Columbus, a recent initiative from the mayor’s office aimed at boosting women’s sports, youth programming and major events. The priorities for IgniteHER and the reasoning behind it, including how pro teams like the Fury fit into the picture, are laid out in a release from the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, which local leaders point to as context for why this sale matters.
What Comes Next for the Fury
Mitchell and Sandler say the near-term plan is all about basic blocking and tackling on the business side, then upgrading the product on the court. That means steadying day-to-day operations, improving scouting and targeting higher profile players ahead of the next offseason.
The Fury were a founding member of the merged Major League Volleyball setup, a consolidation that owners and league officials argue will create better broadcast exposure and wider sponsorship opportunities for clubs in markets like Columbus. The reorganization and its potential upside for the city’s franchise have been tracked by Columbus Business First.
For fans, the verdict on the new era will come down to simple questions: Do the Fury finally start winning at Nationwide Arena, and do more people show up in the Arena District to watch them do it. Remaining dates and ticket information for this season are listed on the team and league pages, and updates are available through Major League Volleyball.
