How to Watch: Crew vs. Chicago Fire

Everything you need to know for the last ever Crew match at historic Crew Stadium.

By Orri Benatar@obenatar512 Jun 18, 2021, 5:39pm EDT

Twenty-two years ago, Crew Stadium opened its doors as the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer. On Saturday, 8,071 days later, the stadium closes its doors as the Columbus Crew host the Chicago Fire in the farewell match at historic Crew Stadium. The game is the first in three weeks for both teams as Major League Soccer play resumes after a three-week break for international competition. Last season, the Crew beat the Fire at home 3-0 and engineered a road comeback at Soldier Field to earn a 2-2 draw.

For the first time since March 1, 2020, a full crowd will be welcomed into historic Crew Stadium when the Black & Gold plays its eighth game of the 2021 MLS season. Columbus has won its last two matches with a 2-1 road win against New York City FC on May 22 and a 2-1 win at home against Toronto FC on Memorial Day weekend. Head Caleb Porter’s team is still dealing with injuries but wants to close out this landmark building with a victory.

The Fire has struggled to start the 2021 season with just one win in its first seven matches. Chicago has lost two of its last three with the team’s most recent game coming on May 29 against CF Montreal, which ended as a 1-0 loss for the Fire. Chicago will miss two of its key players due to international duty. Winger Przemyslaw Frankowski is with Poland for the European Championships while Midfielder Gaston Gimenez is with Paraguay for the Copa America.

Injuries and Suspensions:

Crew: Artur (right hip), Aidan Morris (left knee), Bradley Wright-Phillips (right thigh), and Eloy Room (health and safety protocols) are OUT. Kevin Molino (left hamstring), Luis Diaz (right knee), Perry Kitchen (right thigh), Waylon Francis (left thigh), and Milton Valenzuela (right thigh) are QUESTIONABLE.

Chicago Fire: Stanislav Ivanov (left knee), Kenneth Kronholm (right knee), Przemyslaw Frankowski (w/Poland), and Gaston Gimenez (w/Paraguay) are OUT. Elliott Collier (right hip) and Boris Sekulic (left knee) are QUESTIONABLE.

How to watch:

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2021, 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Historic Crew Stadium - Columbus, Ohio

TV: Bally Sports Ohio

Radio: English: 97.1 The Fan - Spanish: Columbus Crew YouTube

Streaming: ESPN+ (out of market)

East Standings:

5. CF Montreal (8 GP, 11 PTS)

6. Columbus Crew (7 GP, 11 PTS)

7. Nashville SC (7 GP, 11 PTS)

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12. Toronto FC (7 GP, 5 PTS)

13. Chicago Fire (7 GP, 4 PTS)

14. FC Cincinnati (6 GP, 4 PTS)

Around the league:

While one stadium closes its doors, another is opening its doors in MLS play. Another nine matches are taking place on Juneteenth (the newest federal holiday) with the headline match in Austin, Texas. Austin FC plays its first match at its home Q2 Stadium against the San Jose Earthquakes at 9 p.m. ET on Twitter.

Other notable Saturday games include New York City FC hosting the New England Revolution, the LA Galaxy taking on the Seattle Sounders and an 11 p.m. ET kickoff for LAFC versus the Houston Dynamo. Father’s Day will only have one matinee match from Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Atlanta United facing off with the Philadelphia Union.