The Haslams are reportedly unloading a minority slice of the Columbus Crew to Nationwide Insurance, according to a Crain's Cleveland Business report. If the deal is finalized, Columbus' hometown insurer would move from prominent sponsor to part-owner of one of the city's most visible sports franchises.
Per Crain's Cleveland Business, reporter Joe Scalzo wrote that the Haslams disclosed the sale on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The initial piece did not detail how large the stake is or what Nationwide is paying. The report cited sources familiar with the discussions and noted there was no immediate on-the-record confirmation from the Crew or from the companies involved.
Nationwide Already Tied Closely To Columbus Soccer
Nationwide is not exactly jumping into unknown territory. The insurer has served as an official sponsor of the Crew since 2020 and has already publicly lined up behind the Haslams' investment group in Columbus' new NWSL expansion club. In a company announcement, Nationwide said it would join Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards family as a supporter of the women's team that was announced in April. Haslam Sports Group's own NWSL expansion release similarly lists Nationwide among the partners backing the Columbus bid.
Latest Move In A String Of Minority Sales
If this reported equity sale closes, it would follow an earlier ownership reshuffle. In July 2025, Haslam Sports Group sold a 10% stake in the Crew to the Edwards family in a transaction that sources said valued the club at close to $900 million, according to reporting that referenced Sportico's coverage and outlets such as ESPN. That deal kept HSG in control while pulling additional local ownership into the fold.
What Fans And City Leaders Will Be Watching
Should Nationwide formally join the cap table as an equity partner, it would not be surprising to see even more branding and corporate tie-ins at the downtown stadium, along with tighter coordination between the MLS side and the incoming NWSL franchise. The Crew currently plays and operates out of ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in the Arena District, and any shift in the ownership lineup will draw scrutiny from city officials and season-ticket holders who track how it affects stadium programming, sponsorship deals, and community-facing initiatives as per the Columbus Crew.
For the moment, though, this remains a reported deal, not a finished one. Crain's Cleveland Business published its story on Thursday, May 28, 2026, and local officials and corporate spokespeople had not yet been widely quoted in follow-up coverage at the time of publication. This story will be updated if the teams or the companies issue formal statements or Major League Soccer filings that confirm the terms.
