TAMPA, Fla. — A different kind of football took over Tampa this weekend, as more than 7,000 soccer fans filled the grounds at Armature Works for the first of a two-day Premier League Fan Fest.
Tampa was the 12th stop on their tour. Fans showed off their colors and support for their teams, and they were treated to food and the perfect pour. And of course, there were a host of games broadcast on giant screens throughout the venue.
“It shows how big the sport is,” Tampa resident and Liverpool fan Ethan Haslam said. “I mean, Tampa Bay is a big sports town already, but to see all these fans out supporting clubs at 7 o’clock in the morning, I think it just shows how passionate they are.”
The Premier League’s live show held a prominent spot at Armature Works. Throughout the show, the hosts repeatedly gave Tampa a shout out. These tour stops have spoken volumes about America’s interest in soccer.
“Soccer fans in America are amazing,” NBC Sports Premier League analyst Tim Howard said. “They love the Premier League. They love this sport and they’re willing to travel far and wide to support it.”
The Premier League event gave Tampa a chance to show off its vibes and also its status as a viable soccer destination. It was also a memory maker for the many young soccer fans who showed up and showed off their own skills. Premier League analyst Tim Howard said they are the key to sustaining soccer success in the United States.
“If you’re a parent of a young kid, bringing them to Fan Fest, watching World Cup games, it breeds this new sort of fandom,” he said.
