Hundreds of England supporters disregarded police instructions in the US by purchasing over 5,000 beers at a Texas pub in anticipation of the Three Lions’ commencement of their World Cup campaign against Croatia.
Crowds flocked to the Londoner Pub in Dallas adorned in costumes and St. George’s flags while the establishment extended its operating hours.
Despite the festive atmosphere, fans were instructed to vacate the premises by bar personnel and two police officers just before 10 pm due to the pub reaching maximum capacity with only two security guards on duty.
Although the pub was eventually emptied, numerous supporters lingered on the balcony outside for an additional couple of hours.
A total of 2,352 beer bottles were sold at the Londoner that night, with over 5,000 beers consumed overall, resulting in the pub generating more than £30,000 in revenue.
As fans persisted, multiple Dallas Police Department vehicles lined the street outside the pub for approximately 20 minutes, while English supporters boisterously chanted.
Subsequently, all police vehicles relocated to a nearby area out of sight.
Fans also engaged in kicking a football around for about an hour on the road and the balcony, occasionally landing the ball on nearby cars’ hoods.
A small group was observed dropping plants off the balcony’s edge.
At the conclusion of the event, many England fans stayed behind to assist bar staff in cleaning up the mess from the evening.
The gathering commenced with fans displaying a sea of St. George’s flags, donning costumes, and singing popular chants under the scorching Dallas sun.
Organizer John Gallivan, 39, from Bristol, noted the challenges of the vast Texan landscape in coordinating with fellow fans compared to previous European tournaments.
He expressed, “America is massive, it’s so big, so vast. When we go to Europe, it’s really easy – you know where you’re going to be. You don’t have to ask, you don’t have to look, you just know where we’re going to be.”
No police presence was initially reported at the event, with chants of “It’s coming home” and “Don’t take me home” resonating as more fans arrived.
Mr. Gallivan, a Bristol Rovers supporter, shared that the event exceeded his expectations after promoting it on social media.
He remarked, “We’ve been here since 4 pm and it’s been grand. I feel sorry for the bar staff.” Mr. Gallivan highlighted the financial constraints preventing many loyal England supporters from attending the tournament.
He criticized FIFA’s handling of the event, citing pricing issues that deterred many fans from attending.
Thomas Tuchel’s squad is set to kick off their campaign at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium against Croatia amidst the nation’s high expectations.