Chairman Clark Hunt announced today that Hunt Sports Group plans to pursue additional minority investment in the Columbus Crew. HSG has retained Western Reserve Partners LLC, an investment banking firm based in Cleveland, as its exclusive financial advisor in the process.

For the first time since the Crew was founded prior to the inaugural 1996 season, HSG is seeking new local investors in the franchise to further enhance the club’s regional profile in central Ohio and statewide. Hunt said that HSG will pursue investors who share his family’s passion for soccer and commitment to seeing the sport grow and flourish in central Ohio, as well as HSG’s long-term investment philosophy.

“It has always been important to our family for the Crew to have a strong group of Ohio-based investors with close ties to the regional community,” Hunt said. “With the Crew’s success, the tremendous growth of MLS and the continued new investment in the league, we feel the time is right to pursue additional minority investors who share our vision for the long-term success of the franchise.”

Hunt said HSG selected Western Reserve Partners in part because of the firm’s successful track record and close relationships with business leaders in Columbus and throughout the state.