The city of San Francisco is taking heightened police and security measures in advance of two major events in the Bay Area this week – the 4th of July and the knockout round of the FIFA World Cup.
Mayor Daniel Lurie was scheduled to host a press conference Monday to speak to the public about how the city intends to manage the overlapping swarms of soccer fans and 4th of July revelers.
The two events would be major draws for crowds independently, but combined, and with special occasions marking both, the city wants to ensure that security is a top priority.
The World Cup has already brought hundreds of thousands of people from across the country and the world to the bay, but this weekend’s game is especially notable for the United States as a host nation.
Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium, renamed the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium for the duration of the World Cup, is set to host the much-anticipated match-up that is the United States versus Bosnia and Herzegovina match on July 1.
This year’s 4th of July in San Francisco, which already boasts large crowds across the city each year, will have another draw for anyone hoping to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.
The city will be hosting a fireworks show on the Golden Gate Bridge – only the third time that pyrotechnics have ever been set off from the iconic San Francisco landmark. The Golden Gate Bridge show will be the only official one in the city – fireworks are illegal in San Francisco.