The big watch party downtown San Jose, as well as the neighborhood gatherings throughout the South Bay, are geared to help fans gather for the games and also to boost local business.
The cheers at the Santana Row World Cup watch party meant Mexico got their goal, and so did the Bay Area Host Committee. The BAHC and San Jose are both organizing neighborhood watch parties to give fans a place to gather and to boost local businesses, now and in the long run.
This worked at Santana Row, where a FIFA pop-up store is scoring well with fans.
“The business has been great, yeah, we’ve seen a lot of people come in and we’ll be here until the end of July even after the event is over we will be here after that,” store manager Manny Bhagat said.
It was equally loud and enthusiastic, and even more crowded, at the San Jose watch party at the Eastridge mall.
Dilbreet Bhandal was enjoying the game, splitting time at the watch party, preparing food at his two businesses: Great Kahn’s and a Subway.
He says the strategy to boost local businesses is working.
“More and more people are starting to come in. As you see, in the morning, there wasn’t that many people and now, it’s so many people here, and so much excitement everywhere,” Bhandal said.
“I think when people hear about what we’re doing, whether it’s partnering with our small businesses, or hosting these gatherings, there’s a lot of excitement for people to come together,” San Jose City Councilmember Domingo Candelas said.
Diana Zepeda, a World Cup fan, said the plan makes sense, and it encourages her to go out and shop local businesses more.
“I just got my eyebrows done downstairs and now I’m grabbing food, so I’m heading back to watch the game. Super excited to be here.”
A lot of people were sticking around and shopping; the first step to get people to frequent their local businesses now and after the games are over.