As the Premier League season concludes, soccer fans in Shawnee have something new to look forward to at Friction Beer Company. Known for its vibrant soccer watch parties, the brewery is now gearing up to stream every World Cup game, starting June 11. This local hotspot has become a gathering place for fans to share their passion for the sport and enjoy community camaraderie.
Building Community Through Soccer
Nathan Ryerson, co-founder of Friction Beer, emphasized the brewery’s mission to bring people together. “We opened this brewery to bring people together, and this is just a fun, cool way to do that with a really dedicated audience,” Ryerson said. The brewery’s watch parties have attracted fans from across the region, each with their own unique story of how they fell in love with soccer.
Jay Urban from Kansas City, a devoted Tottenham Hotspur F.C. fan, shared how attending a Premier League game transformed his view of soccer. “I didn’t really like soccer much until I went to a Tottenham game two years ago,” he said. “After seeing that, it opened my eyes to soccer, and I completely became a huge soccer fan.”
World Cup Excitement
With the World Cup on the horizon, the excitement at Friction Beer is palpable. Ryerson noted that the anticipation has been building throughout the Premier League season. “We’re excited for the end of the season here, but the excitement’s kept growing throughout the year, so we’re almost to that crescendo,” he said.
The brewery will also play a role in Americana and Ales, Shawnee’s unofficial World Cup tie-in event on June 20. This community event aims to celebrate the global tournament while highlighting local culture and craft beer.
A Place for All Fans
Friction Beer has become a welcoming space for fans of all teams. Marissa Todd, a Liverpool F.C. supporter, reflected on her emotional connection to the team and the community she found at the brewery. “They’re very much focused on the town and also, ownership is a big thing,” she said of Liverpool.
Chris Carrano, a Chelsea F.C. fan, appreciates the opportunity to watch games with his father, Ken, who introduced him to the sport. “It brings a lot of people together,” Ryerson said. “Some of my good friends that I have in life today are because of those watch parties.”
As Friction Beer prepares for its first World Cup, it aims to be the official watch party location for supporters of England’s national football team. Ryerson is optimistic about the turnout, despite some skepticism about Kansas City’s role as a host city. “I hope people understand this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing and to even play a tiny, tiny part of it is so much fun,” he said.
Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.
