Proposal To Relax Outdoor Drinking Laws In New York For World Cup | OneFootball

A New York State Assembly bill is proposing to "authorize the liquor authority to permit outdoor alcohol service for certain special events occurring in June and July, 2026."

The "special event" in question is the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held across Canada, Mexico, and the United States over the two months in question.

The tri-state area will feature heavily, with the stadium at Meadowlands, New Jersey, hosting the 2026 World Cup final as well as five group stage matches, a last 32 tie, and a last 16 tie.

The purpose of the bill is to "allow local municipalities to establish temporary expanded alcohol service areas in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup."

The bill was introduced by assembly member Tony Simone, who serves for New York City's 75th district. He is looking to make it easier for pubs, restaurants, and others in the hospitality business to welcome an increased number of patrons to their establishments, with over a million visitors expected to arrive in NYC and the surrounding areas for the tournament.

The bill's memo goes on to state:

"The tri-state region will be hosting eight World Cup matches, with around 1.2 million visitors expected to travel here during the tournament. This bill would allow municipalities to better accommodate these tourists, spur economic development, and enhance this once-in-a-lifetime experience for New Yorkers and visitors from around the world, just as other host states have done.

"Modelled on legislation already signed into law in Washington State, this bill would enable relaxed alcohol regulations within designated fanzones, or established 'entertainment zones,' while requiring approval from localities.

"This bill will not only benefit World Cup fans, but also the restaurant and hospitality industry, nonprofit organizations, and local and state governments in New York through the expected increase in revenue."

Local businesses are set to play a big role in the World Cup experience after plans for an official FIFA Fan Fest in Liberty State Park were shelved.

There will be opportunities for fans to gather and watch games at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens between June 17 and June 26, and at the Rockefeller Center between July 4 and July 19, but full details of what will take place in those venues are still not available.

It means the type of official FIFA Fan Fest that has featured in host cities at previous tournaments, often free to enter and showing all of the tournament's games each day, will not take place in the New York/New Jersey region, which could make this proposal to allow outdoor alcohol service at individual bars and restaurants more pertinent.

"Clearly, we'll have to move fast," Simone said, via Gothamist, when questions were raised as to whether it might be too late to push through the proposals.

"It actually is a more controlled way of ensuring that small businesses can take advantage of the World Cup coming to New York City."