Saskatoon, Regina bars ready to accommodate World Cup fans
Establishments eye business boost, to open early for soccer enthusiasts
Despite plenty of early-morning games, soccer fans in Saskatoon and Regina will be able to soak up some suds during the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Starting today and running until July 15, the tournament brings together the world’s best soccer countries in the pursuit of glory on one of international sports’ most prominent stages.
During the month-long event being held this year in Russia — which is nine hours ahead of Saskatchewan’s time zone — several establishments in Regina and Saskatoon will open early to accommodate fans eager to watch each day’s early matches.
There will be no official provincewide relaxation on when bars can open. According to a statement issued by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SIGA), the authority has “not received much interest in extending hours” outside of the usual 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
That won’t stop at least one Regina sports bar from opening its doors early.
Lyle Kloschinsky, general manager at Stats Cocktails and Dreams, said he’ll open an hour earlier to accommodate a legion of diehard Croatian fans.
“Usually we open around noon on weekends and 1 p.m. on the weekdays,” he said. “But, if people want to come for a certain team, we’ll take reservations and open early.”
Kloschinsky said the World Cup can be a boon for his business, depending on who is playing, and he feels it’s important to ensure fans have a place to gather and celebrate.
“Well, it’s not fun to watch at home and we always try to encourage people to hang out with their friends and family, and we have the room to do it,” he said.
“It’s an excuse to get together with people you might not always see.”
An SLGA spokeswoman said requests for extended hours are handled on a case-by-case basis, and the authority takes the establishment’s compliance history into consideration.
“We also check with the affected municipality to ensure they support the extension of hours,” SLGA said in a statement.
As of Wednesday, only two applications — one from Saskatoon and another from Regina — had been made to open earlier than 9:30 a.m. Those applications were still under consideration the day before the World Cup kicked off.
The manager of Sports on Tap, one of Saskatoon’s popular sports bars, said the establishment has no plans to open ahead of its regular schedule but would listen if fans came calling.
“If we have enough interest, I wouldn’t have an issue with opening up early for games,” said manager Mike Kirkham. “There just has to be enough interest to warrant it.”
Kirkham said interest in the sport could be growing in the coming years, since Canada was approved Wednesday as part of a joint bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the U.S. and Mexico.
“There’s potential to create a lot more interest,” he said, noting the upcoming formation of a Canadian Premier League will fuel the fandom even further. He said he’s already been in discussion with some community groups about opening early for games at Sports on Tap and is waiting to hear back.
Well, it’s not fun to watch at home and we always try to encourage people to hang out with their friends and family …