I hadn't yet been born the day the Cleveland Browns left Cleveland in 1995.

How the city may have felt that day the Browns played their final game in Cleveland Municipal Stadium is a feeling I hope never to experience. Cleveland is not a city known for their tourist attractions or beautiful beaches. I'm sure very few people, outside of Cleveland, think there is much there at all.

Some people seem to think Ohio is nothing but farmland. The things you can find in Cleveland is great fishing, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and their Cleveland sports teams. Anything that Cleveland can call it's own is something its citizens take great pride in. To have one of those things, especially the Browns, ripped from them must have been nothing short of heartbreaking.

Additionally, the Browns are one of the most historic franchises in NFL history. To move them out of their hometown is blasphemy.

But today isn't about the Browns. Just over a hundred miles down I-71 south sits Mapfre Stadium, home of the Columbus Crew. The Crew, currently in the midst of an impressive playoff run, have an uncertain future that rests on the minds of the Crew faithful.

The Crew is yet another example of a team that was one of the first of its kind that may find itself playing in another city, much like the Browns in 1995. Crew owner, Anthony Precourt, has put the club on notice beyond the 2018 season sending supporters of the Columbus Crew into a frenzy, searching for any possible way to keep their beloved club in Columbus.

The case of the Crew is like any other example of a franchise leaving its home. The main reason for any move comes down to how much money the owner of the franchise is making in the current market. Obviously, the Columbus market is a rather crowded one what with the Clippers, Crew, Blue Jackets, and a great big team called the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Despite Columbus being one of the top fifteen largest cities in America, it can be difficult to garner enough of a market when you're competing with so many other sports entities. At a time where the MLS is in the midst of transitioning into a legitimately popular league, the interest in MLS teams in their cities is becoming a talking point for owners.

The Columbus Crew brings in an average of 15,500 fans at any given game which is well below the MLS average of 19,150. There's plenty of room in Mapfre to make up for that deficit with a capacity of 22,555. However, five teams in the MLS host more fans per game than Mapfre itself could hold. Atlanta FC resides at the top with over 46,000 fans on average. In their current stadium, the Crew could never compete with that in terms of ticket sales. It certainly seems like everything is working towards taking the club out of its home.

Now while it is true that Precourt's decision will likely be made in the best economic interests of himself, there are economic reasons for Columbus to want the club to remain in its home. Using the Browns as an example of the reach of a professional team in terms of the economy of the area.

In preparation for Sunday games, fans and teams from all over the country come to the city days in advance in order to stay in hotels and eat and drink at all the restaurants the city has to offer. When the Browns play in Cleveland, an estimated $7.9 million is given to businesses in Columbus.

Certain bars in Cleveland claim that game-day sales are what they depend on to get them through the rest of the year. Countless jobs are created when there is a professional sports team in a city. Inside and outside the stadium. With the popularity of the MLS on the rise, Columbus should think of the Crew as an investment towards revenue of a similar caliber.

So what can a fan do? The answer is, unfortunately, not much.

One thing would likely keep the Crew in Columbus but it is incredibly absurd and unlikely in my opinion. If a new stadium is built in downtown Columbus, as requested by Precourt, with a larger capacity, a major issue for Precourt would be solved.

This hasn't already happened is because the city of Columbus would ultimately pay for this construction which in turn would cost taxpayers. Additionally, the location of this new stadium remains in question because space is scarce in cities like Columbus.

And even if this stadium were constructed, there's no guarantee that the Crew could come close to selling enough tickets to compete with the rest of the league or Austin, Texas. If that becomes the case, the Crew leaves and a brand new stadium sits empty. So what's left?

If you are a fan of the Columbus Crew, the MLS, soccer in general, or simply want to help those of us who are, go to the game on November 21st.

The Crew will be at home for the first leg of the Eastern Conference Finals against Toronto. Selling out that game would be a great first step to show that we don't want our team to go anywhere. Beyond that game and the remainder of the playoffs, the Crew will be in Columbus for another full season.

For the city of Columbus and Crew fans from all over to come to as many games as often as they can to show Precourt that this team means something to the people of this city would be the only real thing the average fan could do. Aside from that, just enjoy the Crew while they are here. You never know when your team might be there one night and gone the next.