‘You’ve got all of Calgary celebrating our amazing 10 days and then you’ve got all these people wanting to see the football as well’
As is often the case during international tournaments, the almost daily barrage of matches has provided a revenue boost for Calgary’s self-professed soccer pubs and sports bars.
The fact two major international tournaments coincided this year — a rarity for soccer — made that boost a double whammy.
‘It’s been a lot, but it’s a good time for everybody’
Jeff Hanna, the owner of Barcelona Tavern, said despite not being a designated sports bar, dozens of soccer fans have flocked to the downtown watering hole to watch the matches on the bar’s TVs. He’s anticipating packed tables of fans draped in their country’s colours for the finals on Sunday.
“The name being Barcelona obviously lends itself to soccer, especially when Messi was (playing),” he said, referring to Argentina star Lionel Messi.
“When you circle in Stampede, it’s been a whirlwind to say the least,” he said. “You’ve got tourists from all over, you’ve got all of Calgary celebrating our amazing 10 days and then you’ve got all these people wanting to see the football as well.
“We’ve turned the volume on for the TVs on one side and there’s country songs playing on the other. It’s been a lot, but it’s a good time for everybody.”
Barcelona Tavern isn’t the only local pub getting in on the soccer action.
In Killarney, the Newcastle Pub will welcome dozens of English fans to tune in to the final on Sunday via the pub’s 11 TVs. General manager Jason Stewart said that even though the Newcastle is not a sports bar, it’s fun to put the game on during special soccer events, such as a Euro Cup or FIFA World Cup.
The Ship and Anchor, which has long staked its claim as Calgary’s go-to bar for the city’s most passionate soccer fans, has been packed for many of the two tournaments’ marquee games. The 17th Avenue mainstay will be showing both finals on Sunday, in addition to the Copa America’s third-place game on Saturday.
‘Personally, I was just happy we qualified’
That bronze-medal match will feature Canada’s men’s national team, which is competing in the tournament for the first time this year. Until recently, the Copa America only featured South American countries, plus a few guest teams to make up the numbers.
“When Canada played, the vibe in here was amazing,” Hanna said of the atmosphere at Barcelona Tavern. “People were singing the national anthem and all that stuff, so it was a lot of fun.”
A Calgarian who will be keenly tuning into that game is Brad Anderson. The longtime local soccer fan is a member of the Foot Soldiers Supporters’ Group, who cheer on Calgary’s professional soccer team, Cavalry FC.
Anderson said Canada’s strong performances this year came as a surprise, citing narrow wins over Peru and Venezuela (on penalty kicks), a goalless draw against Chile and two hard-fought defeats to Argentina.
“Personally, I was just happy we qualified,” said Anderson, who has been taking in some of the matches at the Ship and Anchor this summer.
“I was confident we wouldn’t get pummelled, but I was not expecting us to beat Peru and Venezuela. Not in a million years.”