A VIRAL post has captured how Boston has been transformed by the arrival of tens of thousands of Scotland fans – with locals joking they feel like characters in a feelgood film learning to “live life to its fullest” thanks to the Tartan Army.
Boston resident and influencer Marwa Osman posted a reel which said she hopes the city “doesn’t go back to being sleepy” once Scotland’s World Cup campaign moves on, as posts about the Tartan Army’s takeover of the city continue to go viral.
It comes after Boston Mayor Michelle Wu officially made Boston and Glasgow sister cities and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared June 18 as World Cup Fans Appreciation Day.
Alongside footage of the Boston skyline, Osman's post reads: “I hope when Scotland leaves and the World Cup is over, Boston doesn't go back to being sleepy.
“The Scots loving and exploring our city has felt like a much-needed reminder that Boston comes alive when people use it.
“Streets packed, people outside, strangers talking to each other, random reasons to celebrate.
“Boston can be a playground if we let it.
“Let’s keep that energy going …”
Tartan Army fans will be moving on to Miami next, with the Scotland team facing off against Brazil on Wednesday, June 24.
Boston-based writer Christopher Moloney posted a screenshot of her text on Twitter/X, and wrote: “One week of bars being open past 1am and the people of Boston are acting like rural townspeople at the end of a film where a friendly outsider teaches us to live life to its fullest or overcome our differences, except instead of aliens or drag queens it’s 50,000 Scots.”
His post, shared widely by Scottish and US users, comes amid reports that World Cup visitors have pushed the city’s bars and breweries to their limits.
One replied: "The Scots in my neighbourhood just spent 15 minutes with my dogs drunk and crying because they miss their wee pets so much lol.
"I invited all of them to the dog park tomorrow to come play with my guys because I totally understand what it’s like to travel and miss your animals. They may be partying it up, but they still left their families to come here so be gentle with my cousins!"
Another said: "People clearly came here with the intentions to actively add value to the community instead of looking for ways to extract value.
"They literally went around cleaning up public parks on one of the off days. Made a $30K donation to a children’s hospital in PVD. Very simple."
Local media and bar owners have spoken of beer supplies being drained at several venues, with some pubs saying sales were several times higher than on Boston’s famous St Patrick’s Day.
Devon Savage, communications director for the Boston Beer Company, said the brewer was sending an additional 100,000 pints to venues across the city to cope with demand, describing the situation as “incredible, in the best way possible”.
One American reaction video that has also been shared into the thread is titled: “Scottish fans in Boston are awesome!”
