American “Outlaws” swarm Winnipeg with FIFA fever

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This article was published 09/06/2015 (4106 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

American tourists in Winnipeg for the World Cup are happy with their Manitoban experience — for the most part.

At Barley Brothers on Pembina Highway — what’s become the de facto headquarters for many U.S. fans, including a super group who call themselves the American Outlaws — FIFA devotees reported having lots to see and do, besides soccer, on Tuesday night.

But it can be tough to tear yourself away from the glow of TV screens in sports bars right now, Russ Davis admitted.

“I’m pretty satisfied with how much there is to do (in Winnipeg), but it’s distracting when you have World Cup games, NBA finals and Stanley Cup finals. There’s so much to watch,” said the American Outlaw from Connecticut.

The Outlaws convened on Winnipeg from 170 chapters across the United States. They gather to cheer on their national men’s and women’s soccer teams at major sporting events.

Davis and his dining partner, Jade Santamauro, agreed their only qualm with Winnipeg so far has been its restaurant service. Since Sunday, they’ve eaten at downtown venues, The Forks and Barley Brothers and overall, their waiters have been lacklustre.

“In the U.S., people are like, ‘Hey, what can I get you?’ The bartenders are running around, getting drinks,” Davis said. “Here, they’re like, ‘I’m going to go and do my nails. I’m going to go hang out. And then maybe, if you can get my attention, you can get another beer.’”

Soccer fans Nancy Fitz and Beverly Baird, from Washington, D.C., have had better luck with restaurant service, although they’ve learned they can’t always count on the World Cup being on TV when they’re out to eat.

When they went to Tony Roma’s to watch Team Canada play on Saturday, the channel was changed promptly after the game.

“They switched over to hockey. We said, ‘Are you going to show the New Zealand game?’ and the bartender laughed at us,” Baird said.

The pair weren’t offended — they understand hockey’s the main draw here.

“He was laughing with me and not at me. He was Canadian. If he’d been an American, I doubt he would have been (laughing with me),” Baird joked.

Not all the American World Cup ticket holders are so tied to watching soccer, however.

Allison McVey and Katie DeSendis from Nashville want to immerse themselves in all things Winnipeg. They’ve already checked out the Corydon strip and The Forks, marvelling at the large glass dome nearby, which someone later told them was the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

They’ve also been asking waitresses and reporters for recommendations on what to see, hear, eat and drink.

“That’s the one thing that’s pretty awesome here: everyone’s super friendly,” said DeSendis.

“We’re huge explorers — we want to see the city, we want to see the natural surroundings, the culture,” she continued. “So we’ve kinda been like, ‘Oh, is this a Winnipeg thing? Sure, we’ll go!’”

jessica.botelho-urbanski@freepress.mb.ca