NCVB plans World Cup final watch party
The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau hopes World Cup fever has hit Nashville.
In an effort to bolster the city’s chances of hosting games if the tournament comes to the U.S. in 2018 or 2022, the bureau is hosting a viewing party for the World Cup final Sunday, July 11 at LP Field. The event is free — parking too — and open to the public.
Nashville is one of 18 cities included in the U.S.’s bid and could host games or a media headquarters if the U.S. is selected. The city has pledged extensive coordination, planning and financial support in their application to be included in the U.S. bid as it salivates over the potential for a projected $400 million to $600 million economic impact.
If successful, the bureau plans to market the viewing party to FIFA, soccer’s international governing body.
“It helps us market the city. It helps us build our case and show the support,” bureau spokeswoman Molly Sudderth said of the viewing parties. “The watch party and a great turnout would help us with the World Cup.”
The World Cup final will be shown on the large screens at the football stadium, which is where soccer games will be played if the World Cup comes here. The event is sponsored by Budweiser. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. and the game starts at 1:30 p.m. There also will be music and prizes, including T-shirts, CDs, tickets, a suite for a Titans preseason game and a “trip of a lifetime” being given away by Budweiser.
The bureau and 104.5 The Zone also are hosting a watch party for Saturday’s Round of 16 game between the USA and Ghana at Tin Roof on Demonbreun Street. The game starts at 1:30 p.m. Pitchers of Bud Light will be $5. The bureau also had a viewing party for the USA’s World Cup opener against England as part of its activities downtown during the CMA Music Festival. Sudderth said it was hard to say how many people came to watch the game versus attend the festival, but guessed the watch party drew 100 to 200 people.
Click here to sign a petition to bring the World Cup to Nashville.
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