The Crew is iced out.
Columbus Crew players received championship rings to conmemorate their 2023 MLS Cup title before playing their season opener against Atlanta United this Saturday.
The ring, also given to coaching staff and club management, is 10-karat yellow gold and studded with approximately 250 diamonds. The conmemorative piece was revealed at the stadium in a ceremony held before the start of the match.
A Special Day For Our Club & Community pic.twitter.com/ujw9rniPVD
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) February 25, 2024
The piece of jewelry, designed by Jostens, included the date of the final with the phrase “Impossible is an opinion” — a quote said by club head coach Wilfried Nancy. Each player’s name and jersey numbers were also placed on every individual ring.
A ring for the Kings of MLS #Crew96 ✘ @MLS pic.twitter.com/J4GlKVbiVJ
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) February 24, 2024
Jostens also dropped a fan collection of the championship jewelry, with the fan-version of the ring being sold for $10,000. Only 96 of them will be sold and all proceeds from the limited edition piece will be donated toward the club’s youth soccer and education community initiatives.
The Black & Gold Standard #Crew96 ✘ @MLS pic.twitter.com/82VaoMu40d
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) February 24, 2024
Mesmerizing championship bijouterie.
“Like earning a championship, this ring is timeless and represents the meaningful moments, emotions and most importantly people who worked together to accomplish this exceptional goal, including our supporters,” said president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko following the reveal.
A new addition to our home pic.twitter.com/7HniELmbcq
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) February 24, 2024
Luckily for The Crew and the fans present at Lower.com Field, their opening-season celebration wasn’t ruined by a potentially disappointing result, topping off their pre-match champion celebrations with an important win at home. Cucho Hernández, their 2023 MLS Season MVP, scored the Crew’s first and only goal of their 1-0 victory.
Back Like We Never Left #Crew96 | #CLBvATL pic.twitter.com/CrG57lJAUF
— The Crew (@ColumbusCrew) February 24, 2024
“[The opening match against Atlanta United] was good exercise for us because, as you know, we had the ring ceremony and I told them to enjoy this moment because they deserve it,“ said manager Wilfried Nancy.
“But at the same time, [I wanted them to] do the switch, and to start right away. And the way they did it, I'm really happy with that,” he added.
