World Cup fans in American cities will have no trouble finding an open bar to watch their match late into the night.
Across the United States, state leaders have approved extended hours for bars and restaurants during the world's most-watched sporting event. They hope this will help businesses and improve the fan experience, especially for those who couldn't afford tickets. Others see the initiative as a last resort to boost sales, as hopes for a World Cup-related economic boom have faded.
To date, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington—states hosting or located near World Cup matches—have all approved various measures to extend alcohol sales hours during the tournament. Similar proposals are under consideration in New York and Massachusetts.
These changes mean that closing time will not be before 4 a.m. in Philadelphia during the World Cup and America 250 celebrations.
Mark Prinzinger, owner of the Lion Sports Bar in Philadelphia, described watching football with fans from around the world as a "magical experience." Now that he has the option of keeping his bar open two hours longer, he has hired additional staff, simplified the menus, and planned a late-night program.
Many of these changes depend on the agreement of municipalities, and no business is obligated to extend its opening hours. But for the hospitality and restaurant sector, already struggling with declining sales and inflation, the possibility of staying open later is a welcome relief.
According to the World Cup schedule, the majority of matches will take place from early afternoon until early evening. However, a few will start later, with four matches beginning at midnight and eight at 10 p.m. for those watching in the Eastern Time Zone.
"It is still unknown whether there will be crowds in bars in the evening. In the United States, consumer habits have changed radically since the COVID-19 pandemic, with more people choosing to go out earlier in the day and spend less overall ," said David Henkes, senior director at Technomic, a company that tracks trends in the restaurant and food industry.
