“We came into the league at the same time, we both had new fans joining us and it was just something to rally around that first year because you really don’t have a rivalry when you come into the league brand new,” DeMunbrun said. “We just kind of made it up and it’s gone so well. Both [sets of] fans get along, I mean we’re both midwestern cities, we’re both similar people, so it just kind of fits.”

Ever since that first meeting, which Louisville won 2-0, both sets of fan bases have been making the nearly 300-mile trip on Interstate 64 to support their side on the road against its regional rival. While Louisville has enjoyed most of the success on the field over the past four years – LouCity leads the all-time series 4-1-3 and has outscored STLFC 18-8 in eight league meetings – the fans have gotten even more enjoyment out of the rivalry by creating a bond with the opposing side.

“Since the very first game of the very first year, the fan bases have been very welcoming and nice with each other,” said Alex Miner, President of LouCity supporter’s group The Coopers. “It’s been a case of let’s drink and hang out together before the game, during the game we are enemies, then after we party together again. There hasn’t really ever been bad animosity between the fan bases or the clubs, only friendly competition with some trash talk to top it off.”

This year figures to be no different.

DeMunbrun says that the St. Louligans have a pair of buses bringing approximately 100 members to Louisville for Saturday night’s contest (7 p.m. ET | Match Center | ESPN+), which will see two of the top five sides in the Eastern Conference meet in a high-stakes affair.

“We’ll get there probably an hour or two before kickoff and we usually meet up with The Coopers somewhere, either at a tailgate or at Against the Grain Brewery there in Slugger Field and just hang out with those guys, have a few beers, I mean it’s a friendly rivalry,” said DeMunbrun. “We like to give each other grief online but you know when we go there or when they come here, we usually tailgate together.”

Miner says the tailgate will last until about 30 minutes prior to kickoff when The Coopers begin their march to the match and take the party inside the stadium for the night’s main event.

“The atmosphere is always electric at Slugger, especially when STLFC comes to town,” said Miner. “The Louligans travel very well and bring their drum line too so it should be amazing.”