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New to the 'Hell is Real' derby? What to know about FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew

victoria moorwood, cincinnati enquirer
·2 min read

FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew's next "Hell is Real" showdown is just hours away.

The two Ohio rivals play Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at TQL Stadium. Cincinnati will go into Saturday's game as the No. 1 team in the MLS Eastern Conference with eight wins, one loss, three draws and 27 total points. Columbus is ranked fifth with five wins, four losses, three ties and 18 total points.

FC Cincinnati announced the match as a sellout Friday, but resale tickets are still available on Seat Geek. Here's how to watch FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew and what to know about the in-state rivalry.

Preview: FC Cincy, Columbus Crew reconvene at TQL Stadium for sold-out 'Hell is Real'

Takeaways: What we learned from FC Cincinnati's 'excellent performance' against CF Montréal

Stream FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew Saturday on Apple TV.
Stream FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew Saturday on Apple TV.

How to watch FC Cincinnati vs Columbus Crew

Saturday's game will air on Apple TV and can be streamed with an MLS Season Pass.

Listen to the game on ESPN 1530 (WCKY-AM).

@cincyenquirer TQL Stadium will be serving special hot and spicy food and drinks on Saturday for the “Hell is Real” FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew game. . . . #cincinnati #fccincinnati #columbus #columbuscrew #allforcincy #soccer #football #mls #hellisreal #tqlstadium #food #foodie #foryoupage #fyp #foryou #fypシ ♬ HOT! - Katori Walker

FC Cincinnati tickets

Resale tickets are still available for FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew. Find them online at fccincinnati.com/tickets.

Fans are encouraged to arrive at TQL Stadium early and wear orange, according to the FC Cincinnati website.

'Hell is Real' FC Cincinnati pre-match party

A pre-match party at Washington Park with food trucks, games, live music, a spicy wing eating contest and more starts at 4:30 p.m. From there, march to TQL Stadium with other fans at 6:30 p.m.

MLS standings

Eastern Conference:

  1. Cincinnati.

  2. New England.

  3. Nashville.

  4. Atlanta.

  5. Columbus.

  6. Philadelphia.

  7. Charlotte.

  8. D.C.

  9. New York City.

  10. Orlando.

  11. Miami.

  12. Montreal.

  13. Chicago.

  14. New York.

  15. Toronto.

Western Conference:

  1. Seattle.

  2. LAFC.

  3. Dallas.

  4. St. Louis.

  5. San Jose.

  6. Portland.

  7. Minnesota.

  8. Houston.

  9. Vancouver.

  10. Austin.

  11. Salt Lake.

  12. Colorado.

  13. Kansas City.

  14. LA.

Source: mlssoccer.com/standings.

"Hell is Real," the in-state rivalry between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew, happens Saturday at TQL Stadium.
"Hell is Real," the in-state rivalry between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew, happens Saturday at TQL Stadium.

What does 'Hell is Real' mean?

FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew's "Hell is Real" rivalry was inspired by an eye-catching “HELL IS REAL" billboard, which has similar versions throughout the Midwest. The billboard, located on Interstate 71 between the two cities, has become something of a local landmark, prompting the name for the teams' in-state rivalry.

The phrase and rivalry was also the inspiration behind Cincinnati's favorite beer of 2023, Grainworks Brewing Co.'s Helles Real.

What is the 'Hell is Real' derby?

"Derby" is a soccer term for a match between local rivals.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: FC Cincinnati vs. Columbus Crew: How to watch, current MLS standings