As if a game against a state rival isn’t enough, Major League Soccer sides the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati are adding an artistic layer to their Ohio derby this weekend.
Both teams have commissioned work from local artists that will be added to their kit numbers for the latest edition of the “Hell is Real Derby,” set to take place on Saturday, May 17, at Lower.com Field in Columbus. The numbers will be the standard MLS font, but will be filled in with the artwork.
The Crew have enlisted local muralist Mandi Caskey — better known as Miss Birdy — for the painting that will appear on their kit numbers. Titled “Divine Reckoning,” it depicts a skeleton riding a horse through a blazing forest while holding a yellow-and-black flag with the Crew’s signature geometric pattern.
Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati is leaning on the talents of graphic designer and artist Jason Snell — aka SnellBeast — for the artwork for their kit numbers. Inspired by the club’s crest, it depicts a roaring white-and-blue lion surrounded by flames with a crown floating over its head.
Each digit will have the artwork positioned slightly differently to optimize the visibility of key areas. The Crew’s numbers on their yellow primary kit will have a black outline, while FC Cincinnati’s will have a white outline on their blue primary jersey.
Fans of both teams will have the chance to win a kit with the special numbers at the Adidas Fútbol Society at Chase Plaza, right outside the main entrance to Lower.com Field, during Saturday’s match.
The “Hell is Real Derby” is named after an infamous billboard located along Interstate 71, the highway that runs between Columbus and Cincinnati. It was erected in 2004 by land developer Jimmy Harston, who has spread the word of Christianity with billboards in seven states. This one, however, has become a local landmark thanks to comedians and social media content creators.
The Crew and FC Cincinnati first met in the Hell is Real Derby in the fourth round of the 2017 U.S. Open Cup, when FC Cincinnati was still in the United Soccer League. Their first MLS matchup came in 2019, when they played to a 2-2 draw. Columbus holds the all-time edge over Cincinnati in the derby, with seven wins — one of which came in the 2023 Eastern Conference Final — four draws and five losses.
