The beautiful game meets the thirsty republic
Baton Rouge soccer fans are rallying around their futbol teams, one pint at a time. And a few places to watch World Cup games.
LSU baseball fans have already turned the College World Series Jell-O shot competition into a competitive eating event with gelatin. Soccer fans across the country and in Baton Rouge are challenging them.
During a Scotland World Cup game, the Tartan Army drank four times more lager than Samuel Adams' Boston taproom sells over a Fourth of July holiday weekend.
Baton Rouge is doing its part.
At Pelican to Mars, the first U.S. game brought the biggest crowd so far. Fans drank 758 beers, good for about $5,800 in sales from that game alone. Cocktail people showed up, too, ordering 275 drinks for another $2,593.
RedEye does not condone excess. We do, however, support reasonable celebration, especially when it comes with a corner kick and a food truck.
The World Cup now moves toward the knockout rounds, where 32 teams will spend the next few weeks trying to survive their way to the July 19 final.
Here are a few places in Baton Rouge to watch:
Pelican to Mars — 2678 Government St.
Owners say the Mid City bar has become the Baton Rouge home for Premier League watching, and they plan to show every World Cup match. Food trucks will rotate during games, including Lao and other global eats, which feels appropriate for a tournament involving the rest of the planet.
Court to Table — 7477 Burbank Dr.
This is the choice for bigger, louder watch-party energy. Make a day of it. Bring a pickleball racket and play between matches.
Mid City Beer Garden — 3808 Government St.
Beer and fútbol are natural companions, and Mid City Beer Garden has both during the World Cup. For evening games, find a spot in the courtyard and watch on the big TV. The specials include $5 off wings and $1 off pints.
Squeaky Pete’s — 326 Third St.
This downtown bar proves soccer has traveled from the cosmopolitan capitals all the way into country music territory. Squeaky Pete’s bills itself as downtown’s only country music bar, but it also shows all sports, soccer included. Specials include Fireball shots when the U.S. scores, which may be either a celebration or a dare.
The Smiling Dog — 4215 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd.
Baton Rouge’s original soccer pub still has fans who know the game and how to enjoy it. For the biggest matches, including U.S. games, The Smiling Dog, formerly The Londoner, may offer a limited menu and charge a $5 entry fee.
Come for the match. Stay for the chanting, the beer and some Americans trying to understand why the soccer clock counts up instead of down.
