The Columbus Crew honored area first responders during its 2026 match against Red Bull New York, part of the club's First Responders Appreciation Night presented by AEP.
Crew Cat visited firefighters at a station, according to the Columbus Division of Fire on Facebook.
A Night Honoring First Responders
The Crew's First Responders Appreciation Night, presented by AEP, was held Sept. 12 against Red Bull New York at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, according to columbuscrew.com. The club said the night honored the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and area first responders were honored during the match.
Richie Grimshaw, a member of the Crew's corporate partnership team, said the club and AEP held the first responders' night at the September match and that fans signed a banner thanking first responders for keeping the community safe. Grimshaw said the Crew brought the banner and food to the station specifically to express that appreciation to the firefighters themselves.
Firefighters Keep Crew Match Days Running Smoothly
The gesture reflects a relationship that extends well beyond one banner delivery. Columbus Fire helps keep the public safe during home matches at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, with the department's explosive detection K9 teams conducting pre-game safety sweeps and its fire prevention team supervising pregame pyrotechnics. The fire department and other safety agencies help the Crew put on matches every week, work that mostly happens out of public view until moments like this week's station visit put a spotlight on it.
For Station 1's crew, the visit offered a tangible thank-you from the thousands of fans who pack the stands each match day. The banner itself carried simple, repeated sentiments scrawled across its surface — “Thank you so much,” “Thank you for saving us,” “Be safe and well” — signatures stacked atop one another from fans who wanted their gratitude on record.
