World Cup: Big screens at family days and pubs for England match
Families across the Black Country and Staffordshire are in a quandary today as pre-arranged plans for days out now clash with one of the biggest football matches in decades.
But organisers of a whole host of summer festivals, carnivals and fun days are leaping into action across the region to ensure footie fans can cheer on England as well as enjoy a day out.
Some are bringing in huge outdoor cinema screens, while others have decided to extend their event by a couple of extra hours to make up for any lull after the 3pm kick off.
The team behind Wolverhampton Food Festival, which runs all weekend, have arranged for two huge screens to go up in the city centre to show the game.
Will Power, one of the organisers, said while they did not want the football to detract from the family-friendly festival, the team still wanted everyone to have fun on the day.
He said: “We’ve got one outdoor cinema screen going up behind the Civic Centre in the ceremonial car park. That will be an alcohol free zone for people who just want a peaceful environment, and for families too.
“But we’re also putting another huge screen on the piazza right in front of the Civic Centre. This will be a proper fan zone just for people who want to watch the World Cup.
“We really hope the football will bring some added atmosphere both before and after, and hope it will just be a great day out for all the family.”
Stuart Henley, organiser of the Halesowen Carnival, said he had arranged for both a 50in TV and a large projector to screen the match. The carnival will be running from noon to 8pm in Highfield Park today.
He said: “We were biting our nails watching the last game. I have put stuff on social media about the screening of the game and already had emails back saying they are really happy something is going to be there.”
Richard Johnson, organiser of Netherton Fun Day, said he had not been able to organise a big screen, so is instead encouraging people to bring their laptops and tablets along to the family-fun event.
He said: “We’re not planning a big screen, but the event is still going ahead just fine. We open at 10am at Netherton Park so there’s plenty of time to come before the match, and then we go on until 9pm with two outdoor stages so people can come after the football too.
“People can come with their laptops or tablets too, and bring their headphones, so they can watch the game but still enjoy the day, and watch a bit of the dancing or other shows.”
Anyone going to Walsall Festival at the Arboretum should also not expect a big screen for the game, but organisers have decided to extend the event by a few extra hours into the evening.
It starts at noon and would have run until 6pm, but now will go on until about 8pm.
Meanwhile, pubs and bars across the Black Country and Staffordshire will also be screening the game, including the Hogs Head in Wolverhampton, the Pitch Sports Bar & Grill in Walsall, Bar Sport in Cannock, and Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory in Tipton.
Owner of Bar Sport in Cannock Scott Murray said: “We have three rooms, five bars and our capacity is 950 people, we expect to be full, and all those people can enjoy 75 TV screens.”
