Okay, I will admit it, I am not much of a soccer fan. However, I have extremely fond memories of the last time North Texas was part of the World Cup. The world’s biggest sporting event brings attention, excitement, business, and atmosphere with it. More practically, however, it brings traffic, crowds, street closings, and disruption of everyday routines. The strategy for the next month is this: plan for the negative aspects of this invasion and embrace the positive ones.
Making this month less of a pain in the you-know-what and more of a memorable experience for you is my Goooaaaal. (I know, that was low-hanging fruit)
The plan of attack
The first thing residents must do is familiarize themselves with the daily schedules. Realize that the most difficult time to travel anywhere near the stadium will be a couple of hours before and a couple of hours after the matches themselves. It would be wise to find alternative routes to work that don’t involve the side streets around the stadium, and avoiding the Hwy 360 and I-30 interchange on game day is advised. Not only will there be a lot of people navigating that area, but many of them will be from out of state or even from another country. You may also consider altering your hours on match days or even working from home if those things are options. If driving straight into the belly of the beast will be necessary, it may be necessary to leave early or return late from work, depending on the time of the matches that day.
I also know there are plenty of people who live in the areas of congestion and traffic. For you, the daily challenge will be great. Especially as it pertains to parking. Neighborhoods and apartment complexes in the area of the stadium are the most vulnerable. Don’t panic, plan. Protect your driveways and parking spaces with well-placed traffic cones. You can get them at any big box store for a reasonable price, and they will help keep visitors from invading your personal (parking) space. Remember that even on days where there are no matches, visitors will be exploring the city and area. So be vigilant in your approach.
Stocking up on your necessities is a good idea, too. Because access to your favorite stores may be limited by traffic, make a plan to go to the store before the events begin or on the quieter days during the event. Also, don’t forget about the duplication of stores. Almost any store you frequent exists elsewhere in Arlington. Choosing a different location may make sense this month.
The plan for enjoyment
Here’s the thing: this event is really amazing. Since it is in our backyard, you should take advantage of it and enjoy the spectacle as much as you can. This does not necessarily mean buying tickets, although, if that is in your budget, I would encourage it. There will be people from the Netherlands, Croatia, Argentina, Austria, Japan, Jordan, and England here. Depending on which teams qualify for the elimination rounds, there could be more. Each country brings a different approach to the support of its team. What every fan base will bring with them is passion for their team, curiosity about our region, and money. Don’t forget about the fact that the World Cup fans will leave a lot of money in the place we call home.
I distinctly remember meeting a group of Brazilian fans when the World Cup was here in 1994. Brazil won the cup that year and played a quarterfinal game at the Cotton Bowl. Watching as they prepared for the match, enjoying the contest, and celebrating the victory was something I will never forget. There were chants and songs (that I did not understand). There were celebratory dances and toca aquis (that’s “high five” in Portuguese). Afterwards, there were smiles and cheers, snacks and beers, lots of beers. I know that is similar to what we do when our teams win, but to see the passion, joy, and excitement of my new friends was memorable.
Surviving the World Cup does not have to be a chore. It will be what you make it. Simply follow the steps to avoid the disruption as much as possible. Then, on your terms and timeline, embrace the pageantry, the passion, and the people. They are here to cheer for their team, but I promise they would like to meet us too.
