World Cup fever was expected to continue to wash over the Black Sheep Gastropub at Redding Soccer Park on Thursday night, as soccer enthusiasts prepared to gather at the restaurant once again to hoot and holler in support of the USA as the home team took on Turkey at 7 p.m.
Restaurant owner Kenny Breedlove said before the game started on Thursday that he was expecting more than 100 fans.
On Juneteenth, when the United States Men’s National Team defeated Australia 2-0 in Seattle Stadium, Breedlove said about 140 people packed the Redding restaurant.
Said Breedlove, who led chants in front of the Redding gastropub crowd of soccer parents, kids and other fans that day: “it was like standing room only. Supposedly a guy’s bringing in like extra speakers and a microphone tonight so we can really get the crowd pumped up.”
Fans are showing up at the restaurant at 20155 Viking Way to watch World Cup matches even if the U.S. isn’t playing, he said, with 20 to 30 fans coming to soak in the atmosphere when teams from Mexico or England played.
“As the tournament goes on, as it gets down to the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, people will just go because they want to be a part of the World Cup at the end,” he said. “Soccer’s more like a community thing, where (fans) like to go out to the pubs and go out to the restaurants. That’s the culture.”
The World Cup tournament’s knockout round of 32 — when teams either “win or go home, there’s no ties” — starts for the USA on Wednesday, July 1 at 5 p.m., Breedlove said.
Michele Chandler covers public safety, reports on major trials happening in Shasta County Superior Court, writes about restaurants and handles whatever else comes up for the Redding Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. Accepts story tips at 530-338-7753 and at mrchandler@gannett.com. Please support our entire newsroom’s commitment to public service journalism by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: World Cup soccer fever hits Redding
Reporting by Michele Chandler, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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By Michele Chandler, Redding Record Searchlight | USA TODAY Network
