Boston’s bars ran dry last week after 50,000 members of the Tartan Army drank more than four times as much lager as Americans typically consume over the July 4 public holiday. Now, as England fans arrive for Tuesday’s match against Ghana in nearby Foxborough, thousands of pints of beer are being trucked into the city to replenish supplies.
Scotland supporters had descended on Boston for their team’s match, overwhelming local pubs and draining kegs at a rate that left bar owners scrambling. One publican told the Daily Mail that the demand was “unprecedented,” with some bars running out of beer entirely by mid-afternoon. The Tartan Army’s thirst was so prodigious that it took days for deliveries to catch up—just in time for the arrival of the Three Lions faithful.
“Boston bars ran dry after 50,000 Tartan Army fans drank heavily; thousands of beer pints trucked in for England fans arriving for Ghana match.”
England fans are now making their way to Massachusetts, with the city bidding farewell to the Scottish contingent. The match against Ghana at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday promises another surge in demand, but suppliers have already dispatched lorry-loads of beer to ensure taps keep flowing.
The quick turnaround has been a logistical challenge, with breweries and distributors working overtime to restock bars that had been stripped bare. For Boston’s hospitality sector, the back-to-back influx of football supporters is a welcome boost: the Tartan Army spent freely, and the England fans are expected to do the same.
Yet the contrast between the two sets of supporters is stark. While the Scots were known for their boisterous, good-natured partying, England fans arrive with a reputation for rowdiness. Police have increased patrols around popular fan zones, but there have been no reported incidents so far.
For now, Boston is preparing for another wave of football fever—and making sure the beer holds out.