Soccer World Cup 2018 Public viewing locations in Bonn
Bonn · It seems that huge public-viewing events are a thing of the past. But in Bonn, there are plenty of places to watch the World Cup soccer games with lots of company. On Wednesday at 4pm, Germany takes on South Korea so venues and pubs will be full of enthusiastic fans.
Just four short years ago, Mario Götze got past Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero, scoring the goal needed to get Germany the World Cup for the fourth time. In many cities throughout Germany, and in Bonn, enthusiastic crowds were on hand. It explains why many families and friends were waiting a long time already for the Germany vs. Mexico match which took place last Sunday. And in many bars and pubs, there will be lots of soccer (“football” for many) in the coming four weeks.
Lots of seating for soccer fans
By the end of last week, more than 40 restaurants received permission from the city to show the games on large screens on their outdoor terraces and in beer gardens. The “Kameha Grand Hotel” says people will be able to experience the event close-up and live on the banks of the river in Beuel, with a large screen, free admission and no minimum consumption. The Kameha crew expects up to 3,000 visitors.
Indoors, there are also live screenings. More than 1,200 seats are available at the Brückenforum at the Kennedy Bridge in Beuel, making it a great World Cup extravaganza. Admission is also free there, and guests must be at least 16 years of age. Kinopolis movie theater in Bad Godesberg is also a spot where guests can watch the games, and the comfy cinema chairs are certainly a persuasive factor. Here, too, admission is free and there is no minimum consumption required. Still, one has to get a free ticket on the day of the game to get in - maximum four tickets per person.
Declining interest in the big events
Outside of Bonn, the biggest public event will be at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Around 300,000 are expected to attend the public viewing there. But besides that, the big outdoor public viewing experience has been shrinking altogether. Cities like Düsseldorf, Cologne and Bonn don’t organize their own events. Why the declining interest? The Cologne city administration says such events are “out of fashion”. Fan expert Gunter Pilz says it’s because private households have the technical capabilities to turn their living rooms into small cinemas.
As well, logistical efforts and financial burdens are high for such an event. One outdoor viewing event in Hamburg is on shaky ground because there are not enough paramedics. Add to that, the fear of terrorist attacks remains high. It means the requirements for safety precautions are enormous at these large organized events. And then there are the fans that shun commercialization and media hype.
Pubs and restaurants in Bonn
Guests can certainly count on some old faithfuls to screen the game: “Shaker’s” on Bornheimer Straße, “Mausefalle” and the restaurants on Kaiserplatz to “Harmonie” and “BarRoon”. There, the hosts are expecting lots of work and good revenues - as long as the beer supply for the crowd works out. A total of 48 preliminary round matches will be held until June 28th, all of them ending before 10pm except for one. The World Cup final will be played in Moscow on Sunday, July 15 at 5pm.
Meanwhile, police in Bonn are prepared for car processions. “Even when in a celebratory mood, consideration and safety are top priorities,” says police spokesman Robert Scholtgen. Car parades will be tolerated as long as they don’t present hazards or security problems.
(Orig. text: Rüdiger Franz, Translation: Carol Kloeppel)
