Fans haven’t needed to head to a stadium for a front-row view of the action at FIFA World Cup games.
Thousands of spectators joined the public watch parties presented by Klyde Warren Park June 11 through July 19. Lawn chairs and blankets dotted open-air greenspaces during the soccer showcase.
“Klyde Warren Park has always been Dallas’ town square — a place where people from every neighborhood, background, and culture come together to celebrate the moments that define our city,” said park president and CEO, Kit Sawers.
In expectation of the watch parties, the east and west sides of the park were transformed into a pedestrian plaza along Olive Street, creating what officials described as a safer and more connected experience for visitors moving between both sides of Dallas’ downtown area.
Michelle Odiedo was among those taking in the action from Klyde Warren Park on June 11, the day of the World Cup opener in which Mexico beat South Africa in Mexico City. It was her first time in the park.
“We all love watching soccer and then we have little siblings and they can also go play in the park,” Odiedo, who’d traveled from Tyler, said.
Gackie, Bennie and Maria Espinoza also came to the park to support Mexico on June 11.
“The amount of people that showed up, it’s nice,” Bennie said.
Ann Spain, Kara Rago, and Julie Young manage property nearby and came to check out the crowd.
“We kind of wanted to see what the crowd was all about, how many people that are going to be down here,” Ann said.
Preparations for the park’s annual Independence Day event to be held July 4 overlapped with the World Cup celebration, creating an opportunity for visitors to experience what park officials described as “an extraordinary summer for Dallas.”
A variety of offerings, including live music, food trucks, art installations, and family activities featuring special World Cup-inspired programming also enhanced the outdoor events.
“These watch parties extended the World Cup experience far beyond the stadium,” said Sawers.
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