Oct 27, 2025

Hell is Real, and it’s about to get loud

FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew renew their heated rivalry Monday in the Audi 2025 MLS Playoffs at TQL Stadium  
 
By Shannon Russell 

Key points:  

• TQL Stadium is a 26,000-seat venue with world-class design and an iconic supporters’ section.
• The Hell is Real rivalry between Cincinnati and Columbus delivers unmatched energy for soccer fans and TQL employees.
• TQL invests in the Cincinnati community, its employees and brand while leading in global logistics.

 If you can’t hear the cheers from TQL Stadium yet, just wait. 

The Audi 2025 MLS Playoffs kick off Monday as FC Cincinnati and the Columbus Crew reignite the Hell is Real rivalry at award-winning TQL Stadium in Cincinnati.

Named for the iconic billboard along I-71 between the two cities, this matchup pits two clubs less than 100 miles apart – and the stakes couldn’t be higher with the season on the line. 

Thousands of supporters will fuel an electric atmosphere as the best-of-three series gets underway. 

No place like home
TQL, the second-largest freight brokerage in North America and one of the largest global third-party logistics firms, is more than just a name on a stadium.

Proudly rooted in Cincinnati since 1997, we create greater supply chain efficiencies for our customers by combining industry-leading technology with unmatched customer service. 

We invested in the Queen City through a multi-year naming rights partnership with FC Cincinnati. Since its debut in 2021, the $250 million, privately funded stadium has earned international recognition:

• Best Venue at the 2022 World Football Summit (Madrid)
• 2022 Prix Versailles World Title in the Sports Category (Paris)

“TQL Stadium is a first-class facility that we’re tremendously proud to support,” TQL president Kerry Byrne said. “Not only has the community embraced this remarkable venue, a true gem in the Queen City, but our partnership with FC Cincinnati remains an investment that allows us to reward our employees, bolster brand awareness, drive recruitment and give back in the place we call home.”

The TQL Stadium edge
Designed by global design firm Populous, the 26,000-seat venue pulses with energy. Outside, 500 vertical LED fins play motion sequences, inspired by the roar of a crowd. 

Inside, every seat is protected by a 360-degree canopy while natural sunlight keeps the grass pitch match-ready. Some seats are just 15 feet from the pitch.

Other stadium highlights include:

• Five locker rooms, including a top-tier FC Cincinnati suite and the Mercy Health Center of Excellence 
• 53 suites and 4,500 premium seats
• The Bailey, a 3,100-strong supporters’ section

TQL Stadium has hosted the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, concerts and major community events like the Western & Southern Thanksgiving Day Race. But nothing matches the intensity of Hell is Real, the ultimate MLS soccer showdown in Ohio. 

TQL’ers, too, will go head-to-head for bragging rights. The Hell is Real derby hits close to home for 3,000 employees at Cincinnati HQ and another 200 in our Columbus office.

As another edition of the fierce rivalry unfolds, soccer supporters at TQL Stadium are set to roar like never before. 

Want to work for a company that moves as fast as the game? Check out TQL job openings today.