We got a sneak peek inside Miami's World Cup fan festival at Bayfront Park
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For those without tickets to the World Cup, the free FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park is being called Miami's "second stadium."
- I got a look inside Tuesday for a media preview ahead of its opening on Saturday.
The big picture: For 23 straight days, the Fan Fest will screen matches and offer live musical performances and other entertainment, including jet-pack soccer on Biscayne Bay.
- Miami-Dade County is paying around $14 million to subsidize the festival, the Miami Herald previously reported, part of the roughly $53 million FIFA is receiving from local governments for the tournament.
- The festival grounds encompass all of Bayfront Park. There are four large screens that will broadcast matches, two stages for musical performances, and local food and drink options.
What to expect: Interactive fan activities like a face-painting station and soccer mini games, official FIFA merchandise, and photo opportunities with oversized soccer balls.
- There will also be water stations and cooling fans to help fans deal with the suffocating summer heat. With few shade options, they're gonna need it.
Concession prices: I spotted $12-$14 beers, burgers ranging from $16-$19, and taco two-fers between $12 and $13 from The Wolf of Tacos.
If you go: The Fan Festival runs from June 13 to July 5.
Hours: Gates open about 60 minutes before the first match kickoff, which varies day by day.
- Last entry is approximately 30 minutes after the final match kickoff.
- Festival operations conclude approximately 90 minutes after the final broadcast match.
If you go: Parking is restricted on Biscayne Boulevard for the festival, so try leaving your car farther away and taking the Metromover or walking.
- If you're coming from another part of South Florida, take the Metrorail or Tri-Rail.
- Metromover service will operate until midnight throughout the festival, but on June 23, 25 and 27, Metrorail and Metromover hours will extend until 1am.
What's next: While the festival won't last the whole tournament, the World Cup host committee is also organizing public watch parties for the third-place and championship matches.