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Thousands of people packed into downtown Mountain View on Sunday afternoon to watch the FIFA World Cup final, with spectators standing on their tip-toes to catch glimpses of the highly-anticipated match on a jumbo screen the city had set up.
Mountain View’s watch party for the showdown between Spain and Argentina drew local fans of not just those nations but of teams from across the world, including Scotland, Mexico and Norway – to name a few. Kids ran around playing soccer-related games and adults strolled down Castro Street sipping on beverages from local businesses.
“Everyone is out here to have a good time,” Mountain View resident Chris Roman said as he watched the game with friends outside Simply Sabor. In his hand, Roman held a small blue cup filled with beer and adorned with the phrase “Summer of Soccer.”
The city provided these cups to downtown bars and restaurants participating in Mountain View’s inaugural activation of its “entertainment zone,” a recently-passed local ordinance that allows people to drink alcoholic beverages in designated outdoor areas during city-sponsored events.
While Mountain View bars hosted watch parties throughout the World Cup, this weekend was the first time that the city formally hosted its own public viewing, erecting a screen at the intersection of West Dana and Castro streets for the final two matches of the tournament.
The City Council approved the entertainment zone ordinance in April, kickstarting an 18-month pilot period on May 28. When activated, the ordinance allows brick-and-mortar businesses with existing alcohol licenses to let patrons take alcoholic beverages off the premises, as long as they stick to designated areas.
This weekend, open alcohol consumption was allowed along two blocks of Castro Street, between Villa and California streets. Participants were only permitted to drink alcohol sold by participating bars and restaurants in the official “Summer of Soccer” cups. The ordinance doesn’t allow attendees to bring their own alcoholic beverages, but occasional cans of beer could be seen throughout the crowd.
St. Stephen’s Green on Castro Street was one of several downtown businesses participating in the entertainment zone. People lined up to have their IDs checked to receive a wristband, which then allowed them to order drinks in the blue to-go cups.
Though staff at the Irish pub had to explain over and over again to patrons how the new entertainment zone worked, bartender Dominick Barry had positive things to say about the initiative.
“It helps all the small businesses around,” Barry said. “It keeps a sense of good community. It keeps downtown lively.”
Many Mountain View police officers were visible patrolling downtown during the watch parties, but the department confirmed that law enforcement made no arrests this weekend related to the entertainment zone.
Preparing for the entertainment zone
Leading up to the Mountain View’s first activation of the zone, city staff hosted multiple information sessions for downtown businesses, which focused on explaining how the ordinance works, what it would look like in practice, safety guidelines and other regulations, city spokesperson Lenka Wright said.
Wright described the weekend as “highly successful” and said that it helped the community to become familiar with the entertainment zone concept.
“We saw excellent community turnout, the atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, and feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive,” Wright wrote in an email. “Downtown businesses expressed enthusiasm regarding the high volume of foot traffic and visitor engagement over the weekend, as well.”
Though the city is still waiting on an official attendance report, visual estimates made by staff suggest that the two-day event drew thousands to downtown, with the largest turnout on Sunday, according to Wright.
Lisa Kerner, who grabbed a drink at St. Stephen’s Green before heading over to the big screen on West Dana Street on Sunday, lauded the event for bringing the community together. Kerner grew up in Mountain View but now lives in New Jersey.
“For me, visiting, it’s fun to reconnect with my hometown,” Kerner said. “It’s fun to get together and experience a global event with a bunch of people.”
Of course all of those folks drinking won’t be driving home right? They’ve all got designated drivers’? This is an accident waiting to happen.
I would like a bathroom usage report from the library.