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Columbus-Cincinnati 'Hell is Real' soccer rivalry brings food deals, gameday events

lily carey, columbus dispatch
·3 min read
The food specials available for the next Hell Is Real matchup. The Crew will take on FC Cincinnati at Lower.com field on August 20.
The food specials available for the next Hell Is Real matchup. The Crew will take on FC Cincinnati at Lower.com field on August 20.

The Columbus-Cincinnati "Hell is Real" soccer rivalry is back with a sold out matchup between the two teams set for Sunday.

The Ohio rivalry pays homage to the iconic "Hell is Real" sign along I-71 between Columbus and Cincinnati. Since Cincinnati FC joined the MLS in 2019, they've faced off with the Crew a total of 12 times, sparking a feud among Ohio soccer fans. The Crew currently have five all-time wins over Cincinnati, three losses and four draws, but Cincinnati took a 3-2 victory in their latest matchup on May 20.

This weekend's game, hosted in Columbus, is the Crew's 10th consecutive MLS sellout and 11th overall at Lower.com Field in 2023, plus its Leagues Cup group stage game against Club América. Both the streak and total number of capacity crowds are all-time franchise records.

Ahead of the much-anticipated face-off, the Crew is launching several special food offers for its "Hell is Real" week.

Gameday festivities

The "Hell is Real" derby will take place Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at Lower.com field.

Prior to the game, fans can participate in a "March to the Match", walking with the team from Battelle Plaza to Lower.com Field at 5:30 p.m. Supporters can then cheer on the team as they arrive at the field's West Lobby around 6 p.m.

Leading up to kickoff, live music from Music Columbus' MoJo Flow and the Divas!, and Columbus-area DJ RJD2, will hype up fans inside and outside of the stadium. Fans will also be able to participate in the Hell is Real Hot Sauce Tasting Contest and cast their vote on the best hot sauce of four local businesses. One participant will be selected to win a bottle of the contestants' sauces and some Crew memorabilia.

Food offerings

Several local restaurants and gameday vendors at Lower.com will also be offering special "Hell is Real" deals. Here's how you can get a taste of the match:

  • Donatos Hell is Real Pizza – Currently available at Central Ohio locations, Donatos will prepare its rivalry-inspired pizza, featuring hot chicken, jalapenos and sliced pickle with a ranch drizzle.

  • Dirty Frank’s Hell is Real Dog – The spiciest hot dog on their menu, the coney includes cheddar, sriracha cream cheese, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and hot sauce.

  • Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich – Buffalo chicken sandwich topped with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato and ranch, plus a side of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Available at Donatos (northeast corner) and Columbus Craves (upper and lower locations).

  • Cheddar jalapeno brat – Bratwurst served with jalapeno nacho cheese, diced spicey peppers and green onions. Offered at Links and Beers.

  • Mini corndogs – Available with chipotle ranch dipping sauce at The Pub

  • Flamin’ Hot Smokestack – Macaroni and cheese with pulled pork, chipotle barbeque sauce, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and green onions. Can be found at BBQ Stands located near Sections 105 and 130.

  • Spicy Meatball Sub – Served at The Pub, Grandma Fortunata’s meatballs on a hoagie with Calabrian chili pepper tomato sauce and melted mozzarella.

  • Hell or High Water Cocktail – Tequila margarita with mango and strawberry complemented by cayenne and sprinkled banana cotton candy.

A full schedule of Hell is Real week events can be found on the Crew's website.

LCarey@Dispatch.com

@LilyLCarey

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Deals for Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati 'Hell is Real' soccer matchup