Hundreds of fans came out to cheer on the U.S. team during a World Cup watch party at RiverEdge Park in Aurora Wednesday evening.
The U.S. men’s team beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 on Wednesday, setting up its next World Cup knockout round match against Belgium on July 6.
“My daughter is a high school soccer player and my other daughter plays for club and will play for her middle school when she gets there,” Aurora resident Carol Wieland said as she was about to settle in at RiverEdge Park to watch the U.S. match on the venue’s big screens Wednesday evening. “Soccer is our jam. We could stay home but we’re kind of bummed that Chicago didn’t make a bid (to host World Cup matches) and so going to this will be fun.”
Earlier this week, officials at RiverEdge Park announced that the newly-expanded venue would host free World Cup watch parties for Mexico’s match against Ecuador on June 30, the U.S. team’s game on July 1 and the World Cup final on July 19.
Jim Jarvis, general manager for RiverEdge Park and also the chief marketing and programming officer for the Aurora Civic Center Authority, said Tuesday’s watch party featuring the Mexican team’s match drew 7,500 people.
On Wednesday, gates at the venue at 360 N. Broadway in Aurora opened at 5 p.m. for the U.S. match, which began at 7 p.m.
Guests with chairs, coolers and blankets were spread out on the grounds with the match being shown on all of the park’s Jumbotrons.
Officials estimated that the crowd Wednesday was less than 1,000 people, but those in attendance were excited by how the American team has been playing in the tournament.
“It’s definitely looking better than the last few teams we’ve had,” Mira Wieland, 16, of Aurora, said.
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Delilah Bakos of Aurora and her children picked out a spot in the shade on a hill near one of the Jumbotrons during the watch party.
“We’re here because my kids play soccer,” Bakos said, adding she felt good about the U.S. team’s chances in the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina Wednesday night.
“I think they do have a chance tonight. Why not? Everyone has a chance,” she said.
Her son Duke, 9, said he has been playing soccer for four years and said, “I think tonight the U.S. is going to win.”
“I think they have a good chance because I just feel they are a better team,” he said.
The hoopla around the World Cup has drawn in some people who normally don’t watch soccer, like Lane Wright of Aurora.
“I’m not a soccer fan but I will be for the next few weeks,” he said at the watch party. “I’ve watched as many World Cup games as I can. It’s been entertaining actually and we’re rooting for the U.S.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.