PROVIDENCE — Providence has been approved by FIFA to host an official World Cup fan zone when the tournament kicks off in June, Mayor Brett Smiley announced Tuesday with Governor Dan McKee, state Treasurer James Diossa, and a host of other officials.
The 39-day Providence Fan Zone provides a regional hub for a global moment in sports, Smiley said.
The fan zone will run on “select dates” from June 11 through July 19, and will feature watch parties, live music, interactive games, food vendors, and a “professionally staffed bar.” It will be located in Station Park, the green space bordered by the Providence train station, the Providence Place mall, and Waterplace Park, along the Providence River and steps from the Downtown Riverwalk.
The initiative will serve as a base camp for the World Cup in Rhode Island, and will include a “robust” stadium express transportation service to and from the games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, for about $50 round trip.
In Rhode Island, World Cup fan events are planned in Central Falls, Pawtucket, East Providence, and Smithfield (host of Team Ghana).
“This fan zone will bring energy, activity, and significant foot traffic to our local restaurants and small businesses,” Smiley said. “We want this to be fun, but we also want people to spend money in our local economy, and so get out there and see the best of what we have to offer.”
McKee said hosting World Cup events is an “all-in” effort among the state’s municipalities, and said Rhode Island FC has already proven Rhode Island can hold its own as a soccer state.
“The Commerce board has appropriated about $500,000 dollars into this effort of really centralizing this activity right here in Rhode Island, so we can help our businesses take advantage of the experience,” he said.
“We’re committed to giving soccer fans a safe, easy, and fun way to enjoy this summer’s tournament,” McKee said. “Let’s make sure that we put our best foot forward, not only for the people who live in our state, but also people who are going to visit here.”
Here’s how Rhode Island is celebrating the World Cup:
- A main stage in Station Park featuring a Jumbotron broadcasting every game.
- Cultural experiences for visiting soccer fans at Waterplace Park Pavilion as PUMA’s Case de Portugal
- Africa soccer giant Ghana will be based at Bryant University for the tournament
- WaterFire will offer partial or basin lightings on June 12 and 18, and July 17; and a full lighting on July 4
- Rhode Island PrideFest and Parade on June 20
- Pop-up art celebrations around the state
- America and Rhode Island 250 celebrations around the Fourth of July.
Outlining an emergency preparedness plan for the tournament, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency director Marc Pappas referenced the region’s rich soccer history, saying his father was a professional soccer player. He said he has been in touch with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency about the scale and complexity of public safety the World Cup requires.
“This past fall, we formally stood up our Rhode Island Safety and Security Working Group,” he said. The safety group includes the Rhode Island National Guard, State Police, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, Rhode Island Airport Corporation, Bryant University, and other cities and towns.
Pappas said agencies are focusing on communication, aligning emergency operations centers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts into one unified multi-agency structure, with first responders prepared to manage fan events. That includes training and exercises with area hospitals, he said.
Carlos Muñoz can be reached at carlos.munoz@globe.com. Follow him @ReadCarlos and on Instagram @Carlosbrknews.