Arena District Celebrates 20 Years with the Opening of the New Crew Stadium

The opening of Lower.com Field, home to Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, and the adjacent development of a vibrant mixed use neighborhood ‘Astor Park’, will represent the capstone of the 200-acre Arena District mixed use entertainment district—a development 20 years in the making in downtown Columbus, Ohio.

As master planner and urban designer for the Arena District since its beginning, MKSK has been honored to be a part of the design and development collaborative team with HNTB, The Pizzuti Companies, Haslam Sports Group, the Columbus Crew, the City of Columbus, and Nationwide Realty Investors, to bring this new space home to MLS fans.

Arena District Master Plan

Since 1998, MKSK has been engaged in the evolution of the Arena District as the master planner and urban design consultant. MKSK worked with Nationwide Realty Investors (NRI) to develop the Master Plan which established the vision for an initial 75-acre vibrant mixed-use urban neighborhood in downtown Columbus, Ohio anchored by a new arena. MKSK has continued to update the plan as the district has evolved over two decades of development.

The build out of the Arena District, which now covers 200 acres, is a mix of entertainment, office, dining, and residential living. The civic-scaled sports facilities, including an NHL arena, AAA baseball stadium, and the new MLS stadium, have anchored the district as an entertainment destination while the pedestrian-scaled public spaces (streetscapes, plazas, and greenspaces) solidify the district as a walkable, livable urban neighborhood.

The development transformed the urban fabric of Columbus by bridging the gap between the core of the Downtown and emerging neighborhoods (North Market, Short North Arts District). The Arena District reflects more than $2.3 billion in private investment in the district and $300 million in public investment in infrastructure.

After more than two decades into development, the Arena District is reaching a new milestone with the completion of its third sports venue. The opening of Lower.com Field, home to Major League Soccer’s Crew, is the bookend to the western edge of the district. The development harkens back to the original concept 20 years ago to leverage an arena as the anchor for the development of the urban neighborhood.

The next phase of development adjacent to the new stadium will include a five-story office building with ground-floor retail space and two apartment buildings. Astor Park neighborhood leverages the synergies between the excitement of the Crew’s growing fan base, the Team’s new ownership, and the commitment the City of Columbus has made to the spirit of the team. MKSK has been engaged in the master planning and urban design of Astor Park and the new Lower.com Field Crew soccer stadium alongside the owner Haslam Sports Group, Columbus Crew, the City of Columbus, and with HNTB for the development of the public spaces around the stadium.

Northwest Commons Supporters Entry
(Image credit: Haslam Sports Group)

Southwest Entry

Southeast Event Plaza
(Image credit: Haslam Sports Group)

The 33-acre site of the new stadium and Astor Park neighborhood echoes the pedestrian-scaled, urban village concept established in the original Master Plan by extending the district’s public realm along the connective spine of West Nationwide Boulevard with wide, walkable streets and fan plazas that connect inside and outside, offering views of the surrounding district and a place for watch parties and other public events.

Astor Park Proposed Office
(Image credit: The Pizzuti Companies)

Astor Park Proposed Residential
(Image credit: The Pizzuti Companies)

In collaboration with The Pizzuti Companies, master planning for Astor Park is centered on creating a vibrant and walkable 18-hour neighborhood in a riverfront park-like setting, with easy access to natural resources, a 2-acre riverfront park, and a building mix including office with ground-floor retail and multi-family living (approximately 440 apartments). The first phase of construction will include the mixed use office building and an adjacent residential building with groundbreaking expected later this year and an estimated completion date of spring 2023.

Image credit: Haslam Sports Group

The Arena District is now home to the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) hockey, Columbus Clippers (AAA) baseball, and Columbus Crew (MLS) soccer arenas, anchoring the play/live/work district that has ‘grown up’ around them. Attracting an estimated 6 million visitors annually, the Arena District will continue to provide an unparalleled experience for visitors and fans year-round.

Learn more:
Arena District
Lower.com Field
Columbus Crew