Lessons from Boston’s first World Cup match day as tournament continues this week
As fans of Haiti and Scotland recovered from a raucous World Cup opener in Foxboroughbetween the two underdog soccer nations, people in Boston are already looking ahead to Tuesday and the next test of the city’s ability to host the illustrious event.
Read more Romy Gonzalez and his ‘thump in the bat’ nearing return to Red Sox
The region’s first World Cup match day ended without the transportation collapse or security problems some feared, but long train lines, crowded stadium entrances, and complaints about high costs indicated issues officials may need to address with six games still to come at Boston Stadium.
“We are fully committed to reviewing our operations and communications to ensure that with each subsequent match we implement any possible modifications that can improve the experience and ensure safety,” Phil Eng, interim secretary of transportation and MBTA general manager, said in a statement Sunday.
Governor Maura Healey described the tournament’s opening weekend as a success and said state and local officials would continue reviewing operations before Tuesday’s match. Healey credited transit workers, law enforcement officers, hospitality staff, and volunteers for helping the region host its first World Cup match in more than three decades.
“As we look ahead to Tuesday’s match, state and local partners will continue working closely to support fans, keep people safe and help everyone enjoy this historic moment for Massachusetts,” Healey said in a statement.
The tournament continues Tuesday evening in Foxborough with a match between Iraq and Norway set to begin at 6 p.m.
Despite months of questions about transportation, crowd control, and whether the city and state were prepared for the demands of hosting one of the world’s largest sporting events, Boston’s opening match day appeared to go without incident for many.
“Everything worked pretty smoothly,” said City Councilor At-Large Ruthzee Louijeune, who attended World Cup events in Boston and went to Foxborough for the match. “I didn’t hear of a lot of hiccups.”
Still,she added, “There are always ways to improve the operation.”
The MBTA said all passengers with valid tickets were able to board a train. The transportation authority said it transported about 19,100 passengers after preselling 20,000 tickets.
World Cup host committee Boston 26 referred questions to FIFA, which did not return a message seeking comment Sunday.
The first day of Boston’s World Cup events was set to the soundtrack of stirring Scottish bagpipes and the lively beat of Haitian drums as fans flooded the downtown area, South Station, and City Hall Plaza.
The mood remained celebratory for much of the day.Boston police said they made two Fan Fest-related arrests Saturday, including one person charged with indecent exposure and another charged with disorderly conduct and other offenses. State police said they had “no major incidents to report.”
While transportation to and from the stadium has been a chief concern, fans stayed positive even as they waited outside South Station in a line that stretched around the block to board sold-out trains to Foxborough.
Ryan White, who drove from Burlington, Vt., to catch a train to the game with his family, compared the winding queues to waiting for a ride at Disney World.
“I think we were walking for more than 20 minutes in loops,” he said. “I kept thinking we had arrived, but you looked up and there were four more loops, each 200 yards long.”
The longer-than-expected lines were brought on by passengers arriving “well before their boarding time,” according to Jake O’Neill, a spokesperson for commuter rail operator Keolis. Nevertheless, he said Saturday afternoon that queueing was “proceeding as planned.”
The MBTA said fans spent a “significant amount of time” in lengthy pre-queue lines at South Station, but once they reached the official queue, waits averaged about 15 minutes and topped out at 25. At the stadium, where fans had been warned to expect two-hour waits, entry lines averaged about 45 minutes and peaked at one hour and 10 minutes, the transit agency said.
The MBTA said it completed all Boston-bound returning trains ahead of schedule, with the final train arriving at South Station at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday.
The transportation authority said it is also working with the city to adjust the space available on Summer Street for pre-queueing.
Some people reported packed trains without air conditioning.
Steven Rehnie said his train was crowdedand hot, and it was a “nightmare” getting into the stadium.
Read more Hurricanes shut out Golden Knights in Game 6, win second Stanley Cup in franchise history
“It seemed badly organized, but [it was] amazing to go to the first World Cup game,” Rehnie said.
If getting to Foxborough tested fans’ patience, making it inside the stadium proved an even bigger challenge for some.
Ian Cox, 51, of Foxborough, helped organize transportation for Scotland supporters and said the crowds outside the gates became concerning at times.
“There was some frustration building, definitely,” he said. “There were too many people herded into too small an area.”
Scott Walker, 43, who traveled from Scotland for the game, had a similar experience.
“It was a bit tricky getting to the stadium,” Walker said. “The queues getting into the stadium were a bit much, but once you’re in, it’s excellent.”
Saturday marked Massachusetts’ first World Cup match since 1994, when the old Foxboro Stadium saw Italy defeat Spain in the quarterfinals. It also marked the first appearance of Scotland in a World Cup since 1998.
For Haiti, with its potent and proud contingent of Boston-area supporters, the wait was even longer. Les Grenadiers had not qualified for the tournament since 1974.
At a watch party at the Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, Haitian fans gathered beneath red and blue flags to celebrate their nation’s return to the world’s biggest sporting stage.
At City Hall Plaza, the city’s official Fan Fest began filling up fast as kickoff neared. Fans squeezed through crowds of jerseys and flags while searching for a spot in front of a giant video screen.
When Scotland found the back of the net for the only goal of the game, screams erupted throughout the plaza. Fans jumped into each other’s arms as strangers celebrated together.
Thousands gathered once again Sunday in the Fan Fest area at City Hall Plaza to watch matches and soak up the atmosphere.
But not everyone left impressed.
After waiting more than an hour to enter Fan Fest on Sunday, Karen Russell said she found little to do beyond buying pricey food, drinks, and merchandise. Even bottled water cost more than $5, she said.
A spokesperson for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s office said the city has “worked closely with public safety partners and coordinated across agencies to ensure safety and accessibility for residents and visitors.”
Joerg Stangl, a German supporter who traveled thousands of miles to experience a World Cup environment, said the festival offered exactly what he was seeking.
Unable to afford tickets to the match, Stangl spent the weekend among fans from around the world in downtown Boston.
“We really like the atmosphere and want to be with Scottish people,” said Stangl, 57. “They know how to celebrate this game.”
Michael Silverman and Chris Van Buskirk of the Globe staff and Globe correspondent Emily Spatz contributed to this report.
Post Comment