World Cup fans ready to celebrate despite stadium beer ban
When the U.S. Men’s National Soccer team faces Ghana at 7 p.m. ET in the first match-up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, they will be welcomed to the field by more than 30,000 fans in the historic and world-famous Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
While the fans may be excited for their team to play a game in their home city, a major change to beer policy in the stadium is causing them a little bit of distress.
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced earlier this week that beer will be barred at the venue for the two games against Ghana and Mexico. And, for reasons unknown, the stadium, the home to the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team, will be the first place in USA where beer is not being served.
As a result, the fans who are planning on attending the game will be able to enjoy the match by their lonesome, while fans that are ticketed for other games in the U.S. will not.
(In what could be a double-edged sword, fans in Canada who are only ticketed for games at the stadium will be unable to enter the venue to watch the match that took place on Tuesday.)
“It’s going to be difficult for us when we play there in a couple of weeks, but we’re going to enjoy it,” said Nick DeNizio, the U.S. goalkeeper. “It’s going to be a great atmosphere and we’re going to do what we’re going to do. We’ll just have to adjust our game plan.”
According to a U.S. Soccer statement, the Beer Code is designed to limit the consumption of beer and alcohol at “all times.” While beer and wine are not banned within the stadium to prevent alcohol intoxication, anyone that comes to the game that has been given a wristband with a temporary beer or wine sticker – which is required of all visitors – must refrain from imbibing alcohol and must be asked to leave the stadium if they become affected
