Despite the record-breaking heat on Sunday, July 14th, over 1,000 soccer fans and community members from around the region descended on The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center for the soccer celebration of the summer. Hosted by the Tysons Community Alliance (TCA), the Euro Cup Final Watch Party and Family Soccer Festival was the main event of the organization’s Copa Tysons campaign.
Starting at 11:00 a.m., there were a wide range of activities that soccer enthusiasts could participate in including inflatable soccer games, skills contests, freestyle performances with soccer player Imelda Gomez, face painting, and so much more. The first 200 people to the event claimed a free snow cone from NO Snowball Cones, and Mr. Wash Car Wash provided 1,000 free car wash coupons to those who registered for the event.
Attendees also had the opportunity to learn more about Horizon Day Camp – Metro DC, a nonprofit that is dedicated to providing free summer camp and activities to children struggling with cancer. DC United, Washington Spirit, and Loudoun United also brought the party to The Plaza with giveaways and interactive booths.
Local television reporter and media personality, Tommy McFly, emceed the event and launched Copa Tysons branded t-shirts into the crowd.
Once the Soccer Festival ended, hundreds stayed to watch the Euro Cup Final game between England and Spain at 3:00 p.m. The nail-biting game ended with Spain winning and clinching their fourth Euro Cup Championship title.
Die-hard soccer fans could keep the soccer festivities going by watching the Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia at Shipgarten.
TCA launched Copa Tysons in May with a press conference and meet-and-greet with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer team. Drawing on the beautiful diversity of Tysons and the community’s passion for soccer, Copa Tysons was created to bring the community together around one common goal: celebrating the sport’s ability to bring people from a wide variety of backgrounds together.
Leading up to the final games, 11 restaurants and bars across Tysons participated in Copa Tysons by offering specials and hosting watch parties for the Euro Cup and Copa América games.
Building off the excitement and community spirit of this year’s event, the Tysons Community Alliance is already planning next year’s Copa Tysons celebration. Stay tuned for more information.
To learn more about Copa Tysons and TCA’s work to further transform Tysons into a dynamic and inclusive urban center, click here.
