HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The world’s biggest sporting event has arrived in Houston, and fans are spending big around the matches, but not all business owners say they’re raking in cash.
On the first day of the FIFA World Cup, thousands of soccer fans gathered in East Downtown to watch the game at the FIFA Fan Festival. Many aficionados tried to get into the event near Shell Energy Stadium, but they were turned away once it reached capacity around 1 p.m.
With so many fans waiting outside in the heat, the Houston Fire Department said it responded to more than 20 heat-related incidents at the FIFA Fan Festival on Thursday afternoon.
While the World Cup brings excitement, it also brings some frustration with the city’s logistics.
A coffee shop owner said the first day of the World Cup was one of his slowest days because road closures and limited parking kept customers away from his business on Hutchins Street in East Downtown.
“We aren’t here to be kill-joys, but this is a really difficult process for us,” Andreas Hager, Koffeteria co-owner, said. “We feel like we’ve been left out of the conversation.”
Hager said business has been slower over the past few weeks as the city began closing roads to prepare for the FIFA Fan Festival, which is right next door to his coffee shop.
But on the first day, he said sales were only half of what they usually are.
“Day one of FIFA Fan Festival, we’re seeing really slow foot traffic in the shop. There are a lot of people passing by on the streets, but they’re here to spend money at Fan Fest,” said Hager.
Neighbors in the area heard about what was happening at Koffeteria and came by to show their support.
“They haven’t had much business; it’s been slower than normal because they’re closing down roads,” neighbor Wendy Jones said. “I was even told by a police officer that Hutchins was closed for pedestrians.”
Hutchins Street is right where Koffeteria’s front doors are located, and it’s also where many first responders are stationed.
Hager said he wants the city to consider improving access to his business and to others along the edge of the FIFA Fan Festival.
“All the small businesses … they’ve told us basically we’re on our own to find parking, to bring people in. It feels like the city hasn’t thought of us at all,” said Hager.
ABC13 reached out to the City of Houston and is awaiting a response.
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