Businesses ready for Euro 2012 final flurry
By Yao Minji |
June 29, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Just as Polish and Ukrainian businesses have welcomed the influx of football fans for Euro 2012, Shanghai sports retailers, online vendors and restaurants and bars have also been cashing in on Euro fever.
And they expect it to get even more frantic this weekend, with the final kicking off at 2:45am on Monday, Shanghai time.
While Shanghai has long had the reputation of the city that never sleeps, for the past few weeks Euro 2012 has taken this to new levels in many places.
The tournament has provided a stage for the likes of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo, Ukraine veteran Andriy Shevchenko and rising stars such as Italy's maverick Mario Balotelli and Marco Reus of Germany, and Shanghai fans have been quite prepared to sit up all night to cheer on their favorites.
To cater for this, many bars have been selling packages including seats and a number of drinks.
Since June 8, city residents have become used to the sight of bleary-eyed friends and colleagues feeling the effects of only two to three hours of sleep after watching the football - probably sustained by junk food and a beer or three.
With the final approaching, Shanghai bars are gearing up for one last big night, or more precisely, morning.
The Park Tavern on Hengshan Road, has tickets priced at 150 yuan (US$24), including three drinks. Management said they expect it to be packed for the final.
Blue Frog is planning a grand party for the final in its outlets at Shanghai World Financial Center in Pudong and Daning Life Hub in Zhabei District.
A great party always needs prize draws and giveaways, and Euro 2012 events in bars are no exception.
Promotions include team shirts for customers who spend a certain amount on alcohol and a golden ball presented to the luckiest member of a party.
Spain reached the final early yesterday with a penalty shootout victory over Portugal, following a stalemate in Donetsk, Ukraine. Germany and Italy went head to head in the early hours of this morning in Warsaw to determine who would join Spain in the final in Kiev.
With the Euro zone in crisis, economic issues have never been far away from the tournament.
When the quarter finals took shape, many observers found it amusing and ironic that Germany - held by many as a model of thrift - were joined by "PIGS," Portugal, Italy, Greece (who Germany dispatched in their quarter final) and Spain.
PIGS countries are struggling with a decrease in GDP and unemployment of over 10 percent, and many are pinning their hopes on Germany leading these countries out of economic darkness.
Putting economic woes aside, match predictions from "psychic" animals have kept football fans amused during the tournament. Citta the Elephant in Poland, Rocky the Raccoon from England and the awesome Ukraine pig, have joined deceased Paul the Octopus, which shot to stardom with accurate predications for the 2010 World Cup.
Citta predicted all four quarter-finals correctly (through choosing a labelled water melon), but opted wrongly for Portugal in the first semi final.
So perhaps she's not the best source of advice for governments seeking help with tackling the Euro zone crisis.
And they expect it to get even more frantic this weekend, with the final kicking off at 2:45am on Monday, Shanghai time.
While Shanghai has long had the reputation of the city that never sleeps, for the past few weeks Euro 2012 has taken this to new levels in many places.
The tournament has provided a stage for the likes of Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Italian maestro Andrea Pirlo, Ukraine veteran Andriy Shevchenko and rising stars such as Italy's maverick Mario Balotelli and Marco Reus of Germany, and Shanghai fans have been quite prepared to sit up all night to cheer on their favorites.
To cater for this, many bars have been selling packages including seats and a number of drinks.
Since June 8, city residents have become used to the sight of bleary-eyed friends and colleagues feeling the effects of only two to three hours of sleep after watching the football - probably sustained by junk food and a beer or three.
With the final approaching, Shanghai bars are gearing up for one last big night, or more precisely, morning.
The Park Tavern on Hengshan Road, has tickets priced at 150 yuan (US$24), including three drinks. Management said they expect it to be packed for the final.
Blue Frog is planning a grand party for the final in its outlets at Shanghai World Financial Center in Pudong and Daning Life Hub in Zhabei District.
A great party always needs prize draws and giveaways, and Euro 2012 events in bars are no exception.
Promotions include team shirts for customers who spend a certain amount on alcohol and a golden ball presented to the luckiest member of a party.
Spain reached the final early yesterday with a penalty shootout victory over Portugal, following a stalemate in Donetsk, Ukraine. Germany and Italy went head to head in the early hours of this morning in Warsaw to determine who would join Spain in the final in Kiev.
With the Euro zone in crisis, economic issues have never been far away from the tournament.
When the quarter finals took shape, many observers found it amusing and ironic that Germany - held by many as a model of thrift - were joined by "PIGS," Portugal, Italy, Greece (who Germany dispatched in their quarter final) and Spain.
PIGS countries are struggling with a decrease in GDP and unemployment of over 10 percent, and many are pinning their hopes on Germany leading these countries out of economic darkness.
Putting economic woes aside, match predictions from "psychic" animals have kept football fans amused during the tournament. Citta the Elephant in Poland, Rocky the Raccoon from England and the awesome Ukraine pig, have joined deceased Paul the Octopus, which shot to stardom with accurate predications for the 2010 World Cup.
Citta predicted all four quarter-finals correctly (through choosing a labelled water melon), but opted wrongly for Portugal in the first semi final.
So perhaps she's not the best source of advice for governments seeking help with tackling the Euro zone crisis.
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