Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) authorized Philadelphia bars to stay open until 4 a.m. during this year’s World Cup matches and Fourth of July celebrations in the city.
“BREAKING: I just signed a bipartisan bill giving bars the option to stay open until 4 AM as we celebrate FIFA and America250 right here in Philadelphia. Celebrate responsibly, Philly,” Shapiro posted on the social platform X on Friday, alongside a video of him cracking open a local IPA.
Bars in the city can now apply for the “Philadelphia 250 Permit” to extend their liquor licenses two hours past the current 2 a.m. curfew. The application costs $500 and must be submitted 30 days prior to the start of the extension period, which begins on June 11 and ends on July 20.
State Sen. Joe Picozzi (R), who sponsored the bill with state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D), celebrated the legislation’s passage through the Pennsylvania Senate last week.
“As the city prepares for a historic influx of visitors from around the country and world this year, we must ensure our local businesses feel the full economic impact of this momentous occasion,” Hughes said in a statement last Friday.
Philadelphia is one of 11 U.S. cities involved in this year’s FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Seventy-eight out of the tournament’s total 104 matches are being held in U.S. stadiums, with Philadelphia hosting six of those matches.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) has signed a similar law to permit bars in Kansas City to serve alcohol for 23 hours — from 6 a.m. to 5 a.m. — during World Cup matches in the city. The Kansas state legislature sent a similar bill to Gov. Laura Kelly’s (D) desk on Friday to allow extended celebrations to the west of the border city.
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