Jason Talmadge of Westfield reacts while watching Team USA play the team from Belgium in their World Cup match yesterday afternoon. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – It’s an event that arrives every four years and subsequently captivates the world, and this year, it seems as if even Americans are catching “futbol fever.”
The round of 16 for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament is now over, with usual suspects such as Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, and the Netherlands advancing to the quarterfinal round.
While the United States Men’s National Team failed to advance following a 2-1 loss to Belgium yesterday, futbol fever had infected downtown Westfield.
More than 150 soccer fans turned out at Park Square to watch the World Cup match between the American and Belgian teams yesterday. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Approximately 200 spectators from Westfield and beyond gathered their lawn chairs in front of a large projector screen on the downtown green yesterday to watch the Yanks face the Belgians, with vendors serving refreshments and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” blasting at every available opportunity.
American flags waved in the occasional breeze, a welcome arrival in the 83 degree sunset, and chants of “I believe that we will win!” rang out till voices were hoarse and defeat was imminent.
The event, approved only days ago at a City Council meeting, was put on by a local marketing company with Westfield ties.
The crowd at Park Square reacts while watching Team USA compete against the Belgian national team in the World Cup. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
“We’re using this to guage interest so that we can continue to grow, get more screens and get better projection. It’s sort of an incubator to see how it will grow,” said Frank Kelleher, a 23 year old Westfield native and owner of Clubhouse Marketing in Easthampton. “We’re just a bunch of young guys from Westfield who want to give back to the community. However we can help local business, because we’re a local business.”
Kelleher put up $3,000 to put on the event, and teamed up with Westfield’s Business Improvement District (BID) to get the event off the ground.
Alec Rodrigue of Agawam and Joe Selden of Longmeadow clasp hands in celebration after the Team USA scored to stay alive late in their World Cup match against Belgium. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
“We only had two business days to put this together,” said Kelleher, who ran to City Hall and several local businesses following the United States game last Thursday to drum up support for the idea of hosting a viewing of their next game downtown.
“The game finished around 4 p.m., and I literally ran from business to business, to City Hall, to the Parks and Rec (Department),” he said. “BID decided to pick it up, and we ran with it.”
Kelleher, who played soccer as a kid and whose father was a longtime coach, didn’t see Team USA advancing to the round of 16, but was sure glad they did.
“It’s perfect for the sport, because it’s going to continue to grow,” he said. “This is a testament to that.”
Wilson Jacquel, Ryan Snide, Ben Chapman and Nathan Czerniak react while watching the U.S. team play a World Cup match against the Belgians on a big screen at Park Square yesterday. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
“It’s incredible. We have seven businesses vending food, beer, wine, sangria, and treats of all kinds,” said BID Director Maureen Belliveau. “We had no idea how many people we’d get, but we’re over-the-moon excited. It’s the first time we’ve ever done anything like this. It was last minute, but we pushed the word out, everybody got excited and here we are.”
Westfield City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell, who captained his high school’s varsity soccer team, said the crowd drawn by Team USA was a “testament to the strength and sportsmanship of the team and the nation.”
“What a great outing. It’s four o’clock on a Tuesday afternoon, with vendors and a crowd of 200 on a sunny day,” he said. “It’s all about community, and the BID did a very nice job putting this together on such short notice.”
The raucous crowd, replete with flags, bandanas, and all manner of American splendor, were equal parts excited and surprised at the team’s success thus far.
“Honestly, this is so huge. (If they win) it’s going to be compared to the ‘Miracle on Ice.’ It could be the ‘Miracle on Turf.'” said Alec Rodrigue, 19, of Agawam, likening a win Tuesday to the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team’s triumph over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
While comparing a World Cup victory over Belgium, a European nation the size of Maryland, to defeating the U.S.S.R. may’ve been a little hyperbolic, many spectators were excited not only for the team’s chances but for what the event means for the downtown.
“I think it’s awesome that everyone gets together. It’s nice that everyone is taking advantage of this green,” said Erica Pagnini, 21, of Westfield. “I could’ve been at my house watching this, but I came here to hang out with everyone.”
Brennan Foley, 16, of Middlefield, who plays soccer at Gateway Regional, drove 45 minutes to watch Team USA, who surprised him by advancing out of pool play in Group G, dubbed the “Group of Death,” which included Germany, Portugal, and Ghana.
“I think it’s great that everyone comes out and supports the team. Even in a small little green, it’s still nice to see everyone come out,” said Foley, who commended the team’s effort. “I thought they played good defense, but they needed a lot more offense. (Goalkeeper) Tim Howard played great.”
Even as the seconds ticked down on Team USA’s impending defeat, event patrons continued to cheer and wave Old Glory as the sun set.
After the game, when asked to describe how the event came together, Westfield Community Development Director Peter Miller heaped praise aplenty on Kelleher.
“Frank (Kelleher) came to us on Thursday afternoon and sat down with Diana (McLean, Westfield CDBG Coordinator) and thought it would be a good idea,” said Miller. “It worked out logistically to make sure we could pull it off, and we were fortunate there was a council meeting already set.”
“It was a ‘fly by the seat of our pants’-type of thing, and it just goes to show that, with a little bit of effort, people in Westfield are interested in coming downtown and doing things,” he said.
