Great thoughts. Here's a few additional to consider IMO.

My understandings is that Crew currently have rights to the entire state of Ohio. Many would probably agree these territories are outdated now, but were originally intended to be a fair mix of population and quality/talent in a given area per MLS team.

If Precourt does give in (or the rest of the committee throws FCC the bid), I could see something happening like what happens out west. Here's step one in my mind: If FCC gets in, then no Indy team will get in for the foreseeable future- long, long shot anyways.

Split the territories this way: Crew get 25 mile radius of Columbus and everything north of C'bus in the state of Ohio. Sorta like how youth soccer has Ohio North and South. Cincy gets everything south of Columbus.

Creativity comes with the next part. Either make a straight band extending into Western PA where Union have no stake, and Eastern Indiana perhaps until the Fire's territory stops. Cincy can get south Ohio like we said plus Louisville and Lexington.

Indianapolis could be scratched into either the C'bus or FCC circles if certain Indy isn't getting a team for a while. They could get MLS on board and these areas don't seem to be parts of other MLS territories as of yet.