Fans are camping out for Messi in KC
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Fans getting off at the Riverfront stop of the Streetcar to make their way to the hotel. Photo: Courtesy of Port KC
Argentina fans have gathered outside Origin Hotel day after day since the squad arrived, hoping for a glimpse of the World Cup champions.
The big picture: The team's riverfront hotel has become a daily draw, wrapped in Argentina's blue and white with a giant Messi banner hanging off the side.
Zoom in: "We're witnessing the support and passion that Argentina fans are well known for, and we're very happy to experience everything right along with them," Patrick Pierce, Port KC's director of communications, tells Axios.
- Among the fans were Agos, Flora, Jessica and Francisco from Argentina, who got to the riverfront around 8am Monday after landing the night before.
- "We flew out from Argentina for the World Cup. Well, really for Messi," Francisco tells Axios. They have tickets to Tuesday's game.
What they're saying: The setup didn't quite match their last World Cup experience. "We were hoping to see them up close, but it's a little more closed down here than it was in Qatar," Jessica says, pointing to the intense security.
- Even without a Messi sighting, KC won them over. "I love it, actually. It's a pretty city. It's our first time here, but it's really nice," Flora says.
- The group had toasted their arrival the night before: "We went for a beer at Boulevard. It was fantastic."
The bottom line: It's likely Messi's last World Cup, and fans aren't wasting any chances.