Landmark “Hell is Real” billboard becomes moniker for professional sports rivalry (VIDEO)

MANSFIELD — Located halfway between Columbus and Cincinnati on Interstate 71, the eye-catching “HELL IS REAL” sign in Mt. Sterling, Ohio has recently cruised onto the national sports scene. The sign has become a driving force in the passionate intra-state soccer rivalry dubbed the “Hell is Real Derby” between the professional soccer teams Columbus Crew and Cincinnati Orange and Blue.

Called by players as the only two games in the season that matter, the Cincinnati Team President jokes that ‘the loser feels like they have gone to hell.” For what it’s worth, sports fans are told that when the two teams come together, there will be “fire and brimstone.”

“I think the rivalry will become more heated at time goes on.” says Steve Armstrong, Head Coach of the Mansfield Christian Flames’ boys varsity soccer team.

Mansfield Christian is one of north central Ohio’s most storied programs: winning the Division III State Championship in 2014 and winning a berth to the State Final Four in 2013 and 2015. In fact, alumni from the soccer team have gone on to play at the collegiate and professional levels.

“The “Hell is Real” sign certainly opens up opportunities for motorists to contemplate spiritual matters,” says Armstrong. “The sign does not clash with the surrounding areas, our area has a ton of churches and some really great pastors.”

The sign along Interstate 71 is accompanied by several other large billboards that include the Ten Commandments and another that asks motorists: “If you died today, where would you spend eternity?”

“People have to realize the sign’s message is not just smoke and mirrors. Each person makes the choice whether they want to go to hell,” says Reverend El Akuchie, Coordinator of the Richland Community Prayer Network. “God’s goal is for all to spend eternal life in Heaven; there is no luxury of sudden death overtime. The Scriptures tell us that GOD has provided a highway of holiness for us and we have to pick that right path.”

Akuchie has played and coached soccer, in Nigeria and the U.S. and is a World Cup Soccer enthusiast. He takes great pride in his state.

“Ohio is not fly-over territory-the East and West Coasts do not represent our values. Our area is part of the Buckeye Bible Belt and we set the stage for the rest of the country. We have a lot to say. I think it is great that the soccer rivalry is named after a principle found in the Bible.”

The “Hell is Real” sign has been on the Bob and Nancy Hall farm since 2004. Kentucky developer Jimmy Harston asked them to host one of his 20 billboards in five states that he has erected across the Midwest and Deep South. Each billboard costs about eight thousand dollars.

Harston said that GOD cured him of cancer the same time the LORD called him to approach landowners about building billboards along highways.

“It would be great to have billboards with spiritual messages in Richland County,” says Akuchie. “I guess you could say the “Hell is Real” sign has become a sign of our times.”

View the following video posted in August 2019 by Major League Soccer.