“It’s so hard, the economy is so hard right now for the Hispanic people, that will make people come out, eat, drink, spend some money,” Ulysses Robles said.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The first World Cup match brought more than excitement to Arlington. It also brought a boost in business for local restaurant owner Ulysses Robles.
Inside the Rio Bravo Restaurant on New York Avenue, Team Mexico fans filled tables, cheered every play, and celebrated the team’s opening match.
“We have the right product. We have happy hour specials, food specials, drink specials, and we have a pretty good Mexican and seafood,” Ulysses Robles said.
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The strong turnout is an encouraging sign for Robles as Arlington prepares to host nine FIFA World Cup matches at Dallas Stadium, located less than five miles away.
“We hope to be busy, especially when your teams from Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia are playing, there’s going to be a lot of humanity who can’t get together to have fun,” Robles said.
Fans arriving for watch parties and World Cup festivities found parking relatively easy to come by during the opening match, with some large parking lots offering free parking. That is expected to change once matches begin at Dallas Stadium.
According to Arlington city officials, the nine World Cup matches at the stadium could help attract more than one million visitors to the North Texas region during the tournament.
“MEXICO, MEXICO, MEXICO,” fans chanted as they celebrated the team’s victory.
“It’s the 1st game, the opening, and the 1st goal is Mexico,” one fan said.
“The first goal felt like how the Knicks felt like last night. Yes, sir,” another fan said.
For Robles, that excitement is exactly what he hopes to see throughout the tournament as fans gather inside Rio Bravo to watch matches on the restaurant’s widescreen televisions.
Rio Bravo Restaurant is a family-owned Mexican and seafood restaurant in Arlington known for its authentic cuisine, lively atmosphere, and popular LIVE Music Stage. Ulysses Robles and his wife have built the restaurant into a gathering place for the local community and visiting sports fans, offering traditional Mexican dishes, seafood favorites, and a welcoming environment for celebrations and watch parties. The Arlington location is one of three and seats about 900 people. https://riobravoarlington.com/
Robles believes the World Cup could provide a much-needed economic boost for local businesses.
“It’s so hard, the economy is so hard right now for the Hispanic people, that will make people come out, eat, drink, spend some money,” Robles said.