Dallas’ Fair Park is set to become the largest World Cup watch party in North Texas as FIFA Fan Fest opens on Thursday. The free 39-day event will feature turf, pavilion structures, and screens for fans to watch matches.

Local Organizers’ Goal

Noelle LeVeaux with the NTX FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee said the goal is to make the World Cup accessible across the region. “We want everyone in North Texas to have an experience with the World Cup,” LeVeaux said.

Organizers are encouraging fans who may not have tickets in Arlington to come to Dallas for another way to see and feel the global game. The Fan Fest will include food and drink vendors at various price points, along with spaces for families to play, sit, and cool off.

The signature viewing area includes 7,000 covered seats in the pavilion, highlighted by a 26-by-41-foot big screen. “This is the place where a lot of our local residents are going to experience their first World Cup,” LeVeaux said.

Admission is free, but getting there will come with different costs. A DART daily regional pass is $9, while on-site parking is $30. Expanded rideshare lots will also be available for drop-offs and pickups.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.