COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew, in conjunction with the Hunt family, announced plans today for the dedication of Founder's Park, which will take place on Saturday, July 7, prior to the Crew's match vs. Real Salt Lake at Crew Stadium. A fireworks display will follow the game in honor of Mr. Hunt and Independence Day.
Founder's Park, a memorial tribute to Crew Founder Lamar Hunt who died in December, replaces Monument Park just south of the Crew Kicker Plaza. It incorporates the existing plaque-on-rock monuments conceived by Hunt and now features a new layout and landscape design, which was one of his interests.
Members of the Hunt family will be in attendance for the dedication, which will begin with a ribbon-cutting at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. and kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the ceremony, as well, and those that do will receive one of the commemorative coins bearing Mr. Hunt's likeness that are being used all season at Crew Stadium and other venues around the league for the pregame Official Coin Toss (while supplies last). The coins, measuring an inch-and-a-half in diameter, are presented in a black velvet pouch and feature the likeness and signature of Hunt on one side and the Crew logo along with an image of Crew Stadium on the reverse.
In addition to Founder's Park and the commemorative coins, which were given away to fans on opening day, the Crew is honoring Hunt's memory in a number of other ways throughout the 2007 season. Hunt's encircled initials are being worn by the Crew on its jerseys this year and also adorn a variety of other applications, including stadium flags (north end and plaza), field, media guide, game program, credentials, season-ticket booklets, fan guides and more. The Crew has also renamed its conference room and Gold Suite in his honor and successfully petitioned to have Fredena Ave., which runs along the east side of Crew Stadium, renamed Lamar Hunt Way.
