When semi-professional soccer came to Cincinnati in the form of FCC in 2016, I quickly became involved in the largest and most active independent supporters group at the time—Die Innenstadt.
A rough German translation of “the inner city”, as a nod to Cincinnati’s German heritage, Die Innenstadt was a group formed within the heart of Cincinnati. We saw the group not just as a way to enrich our enjoyment of soccer, but equally, as a way to give back to and participate in the greater community around us.
I was a member of the board of directors for five years until I retired from the role in 2021. I designed and painted many tifos during FCC’s years in the USL, and I spent many nights in bar basements in Cincinnati pitching designs for soccer supporters’ scarves to my fellow board members. Almost every year since it was founded, I’ve designed or art directed the annual supporters’ scarf for Die Innenstadt.
Every year, my goal is to create a unique scarf that celebrates the spirit of the group’s community through custom illustration, typography, and design.
I strive to capture the moments we’ve celebrated together with the team, and create something that members can proudly wear around their necks and wave above their heads all season and for years to come.
Some additional pieces I’ve designed for Die Innenstadt include this sticker set for the 2019 season. I wanted to highlight some of the favorite moments we shared together as a supporters group, and I knew that stickers would be the perfect way to do so. I still love seeing these stickers covering up traveling rival team’s stickers all over Cincinnati and the United States.