The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is sending a specially designed and signed traffic cone to Boston as a token of the new sister city relationship between the two cities, following the Tartan Army's departure from the World Cup host city.
Symbolic Gift Announced on Instagram
In a video posted on Instagram on June 24, 2026, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stuart Patrick announced the gift alongside Andrew Dobbie and Danny Campbell, who waved small Scotland flags and wore football tops. Patrick held a mysterious item under a large flag before revealing the commemorative cone.
Patrick said: "Hello people of Boston. Today I and the business community of Glasgow would like to formally acknowledge your intent to twin with our city. With this commemorative traffic cone stolen from the streets of... sorry donated from the streets of Glasgow. I will sign it here today on the 24th of June 2026 and extend an invitation to you Michelle Wu and Maura Healy to add your signature to this symbolic token of your union. It will be making its way to you shortly."
Response from the Public
The video also showed Andrew and Danny offering a bottle of Irn Bru and a crushed Tunnock's Teacake for the occasion. Over one thousand people commented on the clip, expressing enthusiasm for the Glasgow-Boston union. One commenter said: "This is the best!!! Who is planning the next sleepover … Scotland’s place this time!!" Another wrote: "The summer love story we didn’t know we needed." A third added: "Scotland is bringing us closer to world peace, one traffic cone at a time."
Many Americans tagged Governor Maura Healy and Mayor Michelle Wu in the comments. One person wrote: "@massgovernor is on it I’m sure. Well done boys. See you this July in Glasgow."
Cone Emoji Petition Launched
The gift also sparked a movement to create a traffic cone emoji. Andrew Dobbie revealed he started a petition that had gathered 223 signatures at the time of reporting. One commenter tagged Meta and Apple, exclaiming: "WE NEED TRAFFIC CONE EMOJIS."
Background: Sister City Announcement
On June 18, 2026, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu officially announced the sister city relationship with Glasgow. She celebrated by placing a traffic cone on the statue of Bill Russell outside Boston City Hall. In return, members of the Tartan Army mounted a Boston-themed traffic cone on the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow, which is known for often being topped with a cone.
One American commented: "Boston has peaked. There is no higher honour for us!"
