City outlines multi‑week World Cup street parties; commission tables street‑closure options for more review
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Summary
City housing officials proposed closing downtown streets for a June–July World Cup viewing series with weekend alcohol‑zone options; commissioners discussed safety, business access and crowd control and tabled the proposal for a vote next month after further coordination with police, fire and licensing.
City of Chelsea officials proposed on March 3 a multi‑week street‑closure plan to host public World Cup viewing events downtown from June 11 through July 19, including options for weekend alcohol zones or a fenced beer‑garden model.
Carl Allen of the Department of Housing and Community Development told the Traffic and Parking Commission the plan would temporarily close streets such as Winiest (Winnisimmit) Street between Broadway and Park and 2nd Street between Park and Broadway for broadcasts; the packet submitted to the commission lists the number of parking spaces that would be temporarily lost. Allen said the city is coordinating with Telemundo for Spanish‑language broadcasts and plans concrete Jersey barriers on weekdays and temporary police barriers on weekends.
Commissioners praised the idea’s potential economic upside but raised public‑safety and access concerns. One commissioner said long weekend closures could inconvenience business owners and nearby residents; another stressed coordination with police and fire and controls for open containers. “We need to weigh the tradeoffs,” a commissioner said, while event organizers said they will require ID checks, wristbands and designated cups to reduce uncontrolled open containers.
The commission did not vote on a final option; members moved to table the item to next month so organizers can refine hours, safety plans and traffic‑control staffing and so the commission can consider one of the three detailed options at the next meeting. Licensing will handle any alcohol approvals.
