If you are one of those football enthusiasts who gets excited about places that open sports zones during big tournaments, you may find the current arrangements in London a bit of a let-down. And despite palpable excitement, Mayor Sadiq Khan has faced flak for not organizing arrangements for a fan zone or big screen for England’s crucial match against the Netherlands.
At the last Euros, there were two fan parks in London, and the city came alive with supporters. No doubt you remember cheering on the Three Lions alongside thousands of other fans in Trafalgar Square or the ‘football village’ by Tower Bridge different this time, as so many Londoners are really, really mad about it.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Tories’ MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, did not hold the slightest regard or respect for his words to Khan as he called him a “killjoy”. “Other cities have big screens for events like this which bring the community together. The mayor is being a killjoy,” Smith said.
For those who planned and thought, Hey, it can’t be that hard to set up a fan zone, you are not alone. The same was said by another fan, Callum Ryan, who is a 23-year-old from Milton Keynes. He went to Berlin to watch the action at a fan park for just £32.95. Now, in this regard, the Callum experience epitomizes how a fan zone is not merely about the game itself but the cameradie and the atmosphere these places can offer. “I watched some of Euro 2020 at one in London and it was a much better experience than the pub,” he said.
Wonder why there won’t be a fan zone this time around? According to a spokesperson for the Mayor of London, “Official fan zones are only created when London is a host city for the tournament.” It might be a technicality, but this doesn’t wash well with too many fans who believe the city could have done loads more to create that sense of community and excitement.
With nearly 80,000 from England fans traveling to Dortmund, matched by an almost equal number from the Netherlands, it’s going to be electric. The same cannot be said of London, who are likely to be forced back into their pubs and small private viewings.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The Greater London Authority is in talks to screen the final, should England make it. So there might yet be a glimmer of hope. But for fans who feed off the energy of thousands of voices coming together in cheers and groans, this semi-final already represents a missed opportunity for London.
In fact, there is also an economic angle to it. VoucherCodes.co.uk estimated that 26 million British football fans may have added to the economy of the UK by £491.4 million during the semi-finals alone. Of that amount, some would have gone into the pockets of the local businesses around fan zones, enhancing community spirit and stamina.
It’s times like these that make one look at the game of football and say, indeed, it’s more than a game cultural spectacles that bring people together. A fan zone is not just any venue; it’s basically a melting pot of emotions a place where strangers become friends due to their unified love for the game. So, while different pubs around town will have screens with the action, it’s the streets of this city that will lose that lively hum of excited fans congregating together.
Maybe, with the match coming, there is just so much worth reflecting on how these communal experiences that shape our love for the sport. Perhaps next time the city will be a little more generous in facilitating that sense of togetherness special to football.
Wherever you are for the match, let your cheer be loud and your spirit high! Hopefully, whatever happens, the Three Lions will give us something to celebrate, no matter where we are.