Remember when Columbus Crew SC faced off against FC Cincinnati in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup last year? A great match wasn’t it? Felt like a real, non-manufactured rivalry. Well, because it was.

After hearing that investor/operator Anthony Precourt was exploring his options to relocate the team to Austin, TX, word spread throughout the league. The country. Even the world. Many teams backing the #SaveTheCrew movement to keep the team.

Including in-state rivals FC Cincinnati.

FC Cincinnati Supporters to Travel to Columbus on Saturday in Show of Solidarity With Crew Fans

Cincinnati may be the new rivals for Columbus, but off the field, they are united as one wanting to Keep Hell Real.

In response to the franchise being awarded an MLS club that will begin play starting next season, many supporters decided to make the two-hour trip up I-71 North to their big brother city Columbus.

The official date is June 9, when Columbus will face off against the New York Red Bulls.

Official details of the trip can be found in the embedded tweet below.

**Crew Match Info** .@fccincinnati @cincysoccertalk @DieInnenstadt @BaileyBastards @LegionCincy @TheDenFCC @ThePrideCincy @channel Some important notes from my conference call with the Crew FO and MLS today if you are going on Saturday. As I mentioned earlier this is a…. — Gary Randolph (@gsrandolph) June 4, 2018

How Crew SC Fans Are Responding

Although this is a “cautious excitement” trip, Columbus Crew SC fans are displaying their excitement to engage with fellow rival fans, a positive in the movement to bring the Hell Is Real derby to MLS.

Y’all FCCinci peeps are beautiful #SaveTheCrew — yes, this is Sal (@SAL_CD) June 4, 2018

FCC fans coming to Columbus: welcome! I love you for doing this until we save our team and I can properly hate you again ? MLS needs to listen to Ohio and this is a great way to speak up. Thanks to all who are making the trip, welcome to OUR league ???? https://t.co/uZt31FMbzZ — ?? Dakota Andrés ?? (@KOTAstewart) June 4, 2018

What Makes This Special?

Well, there are many reasons why this is special.

Last year during the Open Cup match at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, more than 1,500 Crew SC fans made the trip down to support the Black and Gold, while the Blue and Orange faithful filled The Bailey.

Imagine the response this would get during league play?

As mentioned before, this would be a great non-manufactured derby, because it’s an original. The Cascadia Cup and Hudson River Derby may be “original” but take a look at how much goes into one of those.

The uniting of two supporter groups for one cause, you don’t get that anywhere else.

Do the right thing higher-ups. Let’s see Hell Is Real for years on end. Keep Hell Real, and Save The Crew.

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