Fans Celebrate Throughout the Twin Cities in US Draw with England

Private and public parties were held throughout the Twin Cities on Saturday to watch the US Men’s National Team play England in a 2010 FIFA World Cup first round game. The game was much hyped by the media since it marked the first time the two teams had played each other in a World Cup match since the famous 1950 1-0 win over England which was played in Brazil. The final outcome of yesterday’s game was a 1-1 draw which most US fans saw as a favorable result.

The big game drew soccer fans and even non-soccer fans out of the woodwork for watch parties. The Nomad Pub on Cedar Avenue in the Cedar-Riverside area was packed with fans. They had TVs going inside and had leased a big Jumbotron for the outside. The rain and poor weather didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits. According to some the rain and the beer continued to flow throughout the game but the atmosphere was dynamic.

Brit's Pub

Brits Pub, one of the oldest soccer bars in the Twin Cities which has a massive amount of square footage between several floors and numerous rooms, was packed 4 hours before kickoff. Brits had also brought in a Jumbotron which they placed outside on the second floor by their lawn bowling green. They also had one room with a HD projection TV  and other rooms featured HD TV screens. According to some reports, the ratio of US to English fans was surprisingly good and there was plenty of good spirited ribbing amongst groups.

One group of soccer supporters rented a party bus that started at the Sweetwater Bar & Grille and took them on a pub crawl of the Normad, Kegans Pub (North East Minneapolis), The Local and then created their own parade down Nicollet Mall to Brits where they paraded through the bar singing the same songs that Sam’s Army and the American Outlaws sing and chant at US National Team games.  The group traveled back to the Sweetwater where they livened up the festivities at the bar and grille.

The Sweetwater Bar & Grille in St. Paul was full to the gills with US Soccer supporters. The atmosphere was electric and lots of songs and chants were heard. Of course heads were hung after the early England goal and the celebration joyous after Clint Dempsey’s goal just before the half. One of the more special moments was after the Robert Green (England keeper who bobbled Dempsey’s shot into the goal) gaffe when the ABC/ESPN coverage switched to a very upset looking David Beckham who was in a suit and sitting on the bench. The crowd erupted into laughter and applause.

While attending a viewing party may not be everyone’s cup of tea, I highly recommend it to anyone who’s never been to a US Men’s National Team game. It’s the next best thing to being there.

Did you attend one of the viewing parties mentioned here or a private party? Please leave a comment if you would, I’d love to hear about your experience.

Photos from Saturday’s viewing party at the Sweetwater Bar & Grille. All Sweetwater photos taken by Jeremy Olson, www.DigitalGopher.net.