Tartan Army Charms Boston
Thousands of Scottish World Cup Fans Charm Boston, Boosting Beer Reserves and City Spirit
Boston is running low on beer, and the Scots are to blame — in the best possible way. Thousands of kilted fans from Scotland have flooded the city for two World Cup matches, and bars across downtown have been drunk nearly dry. Mayor Michelle Wu says Boston is "clearly the best host city for the World Cup right now... thanks in large part to the Tartan Army."
Scotland is playing in its first World Cup in 28 years, having last qualified for France 1998. Between 20,000 and 40,000 Scottish fans have descended on Massachusetts, according to Scottish Daily Express. The city has been charmed — and parched — ever since.
Scotland Wins First Match in 36 Years, Empties Boston Bars
On June 13, Scotland beat Haiti 1-0. It was Scotland's first World Cup victory since 1990. The celebration was immediate and enormous. Bars like Hennessy's and the Sam Adams Boston Taproom were overwhelmed. Hennessy's saw triple the sales of a normal St. Patrick's Day, according to Boston Globe. Multiple bars reported being completely "drunk dry" by June 14.
The Sam Adams Taproom sold more than 3,000 pints in 72 hours — about four times its usual holiday volume. Staff made emergency restocking runs just to stay open, according to NBC Boston. Despite the headlines, city-wide supply held up. Restocks arrived within 24 hours, showing the supply chain was strained but not broken.
The Tartan Army Takes Over Jamaica Plain and City Hall
The unofficial home base for Scottish fans was The Haven, a Scottish bar in Jamaica Plain owned by Jason Waddleton, originally from Stonehaven, Scotland. Waddleton ordered Tennent's Lager months in advance to prepare. "They know how to party, how to make friends and influence people," he said, according to Charlotte Observer.
Cameron Caswell, a 23-year-old fan from Oxton, Scotland, spent his off-day at The Haven day-drinking Tennent's and watching games on TV. He was surprised Boston hadn't run out of beer. He credited the city's long history of big St. Patrick's Day crowds for keeping the supply alive. Governor Maura Healey even showed up to pour pints — though bar owner Waddleton joked she "needs to learn how to pour a pint," according to Sacramento Bee.
Mayor Wu Places Cone on Statue, Boston and Glasgow Become Sister Cities
Mayor Michelle Wu fully embraced the Scottish takeover. She admitted to placing a traffic cone on the head of the Bill Russell statue outside City Hall — a nod to Glasgow's famous Duke of Wellington statue, which has worn a cone since the 1980s. The move went viral. Fans began chanting "No Wu, No Party," a play on the Tartan Army's own anthem.
On June 18, Wu and Scottish First Minister John Swinney signed a Letter of Intent at The Haven to formally twin Boston and Glasgow as sister cities, according to Star-Telegram. The agreement is expected to lead to trade and arts exchange programs. Mayor Wu called the Scots a "mayor's dream" for their habit of cleaning up litter after marches through the city.
Boston's Economy Gets a Buzz, But Hotels Tell a Different Story
City officials estimate the World Cup will bring $1 billion to the region. Bars and restaurants are thriving. But hotels are struggling. Downtown bookings are about 20% below normal summer averages, according to Macon. Regular tourists have stayed away, scared off by inflated flight and room prices driven up by the tournament.
Hosting costs for the Boston area are expected to top $100 million. Economist Andrew Zimbalist of Smith College has questioned whether the city will come out ahead once public spending and lost regular tourism are factored in. Still, the cultural payoff may outlast the scoreboard. Scotland is already expecting a wave of American tourists in 2027 — Bostonians eager to visit the home of the fans who made their summer, according to Island Packet.
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