50,000 Scotland Fans Flood Boston After First World Cup Win in 36 Years
Updated
Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 17
50,000 Scotland Fans Flood Boston After First World Cup Win in 36 Years
3 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Jun 17
Summary
As many as 50,000 Scottish supporters have turned Boston into a World Cup party zone, giving the city its biggest single-country visitor influx for any event, tourism officials said.
Scotland’s 1-0 win over Haiti on Saturday — its first World Cup victory in 36 years — ensured the celebrations will continue at least until Friday’s match against Morocco in Foxborough.
6,000 fans then transformed Fenway Park on Sunday during Scottish Heritage Night, where Red Sox officials said the bagpipe-led takeover was unlike anything the ballpark had hosted.
150 kegs of Tennent’s at one Boston venue and 75 at the city’s only Scottish restaurant were drained as pubs filled with chanting, kilt-clad fans in a display locals called loud, friendly and electrifying.
For many Scots, the trip is as much about celebrating a distinct national identity as football, and even if the team fails to advance before a June 24 game against Brazil in Miami, fans say the memories will endure.