Brit’s Pub, one of the Twin Cities top soccer viewing hubs, located on the Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis is set to welcome thousands of soccer fans through its doors as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 runs through December 18.
With Qatar opting to host the World Cup in the winter, businesses like Brit’s have had to make some adjustments.
“This year it’s wintertime rather than summer and we have a huge outdoor area where we show soccer with a big screen,” said Brit’s Pub general manager Shane Higgins. “That is not something we’ll have this year. We’ll still have screens out there and people will go out, but there won’t be a lot of people outside because of the weather. We have to be mindful of that and the safety with the temperature, snow, and ice.”
Still, Higgins expects big crowds for World Cup games despite capacity being split if half due to the weather.
For example, Brit’s sold tickets to view the USA vs England match on Friday, November 25. 800 people are expected to watch the match inside Brit’s.
“That’s really been in response to a number of requests from regulars really about getting in and reduced capacity,” Higgins said. “They’re guaranteed admission tickets. It doesn’t get you a seat, that will be first come, first serve. If you have a ticket, you’ll get in.”
The World Cup will bring some early mornings to Brit’s as well with a couple of the games beginning at 7 a.m.
“We’re showing many of the games. We’re not opening at 4 a.m. for the really early games and we will open for a couple of the 7 a.m. games,” added Higgins. “Every game after that including 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. games we’ll be open for sure.”
The City of Minneapolis granted temporary extended liquor licenses to various establishments which allow early sales of alcohol.
A new law passed this year in Minnesota allows businesses to operate and expand their hours specifically because of the World Cup. The law was part of several liquor law changes in Minnesota, including raising the 20,000 barrel per year cap on craft beer production to 150,000 barrels.
“Normally it’s 8 a.m. that you can sell alcohol, with the early games they allow you to sell 30 minutes early. If a game is at 7 a.m. we can sell at 6:30.”
Most importantly, the World Cup is a boost for business, especially after a strong summer.
“At Brit’s we’re thankful for the conventions coming back.
Meet Minneapolis does a great job and there were a lot of conventions this year,” Higgins said. “We’re near the convention center and hotels that not only hold conventioneers, they hold conventions themselves. Private events have come back and I think there’s been a lot of pent-up demand to get out.”
More about the World Cup at Brit’s Pub can be found on their website.