Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has confirmed that a traffic cone placed on the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow, bearing the word 'Boston', will be flown across the Atlantic as a gift to the city. The announcement follows the antics of Scotland fans during the World Cup, who famously adorned statues with cones in tribute to Glasgow's iconic landmark outside the Gallery of Modern Art.
Mayor's Announcement
Mayor Wu revealed the news during an interview with the Men in Blazers podcast, stating: "I'm being told that there is an official... gift, repatriating the cone that is on the Duke of Wellington's horse that says 'Boston' on it is being officially flown back as a gift to the city of Boston. So we will receive that very soon." The cone is expected to arrive in Boston shortly, cementing the bond between the two cities after they became sister cities during the World Cup.
Scotland Fans' Impact
Around 50,000 Scotland fans traveled to Boston for the national team's World Cup matches against Haiti on June 13 and Morocco on June 19, resulting in a 1-0 victory and a 1-0 defeat, respectively. The Tartan Army's humor and spirit left a lasting impression on Bostonians, leading to the official twinning of Boston and Glasgow. The cone-placing tradition, a nod to the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow, became a symbol of the fans' camaraderie.
The Boston Cone's Journey
After Scotland's elimination from the tournament, a new cone marked 'Boston' appeared on the statue alongside the original. Scottish entrepreneur Andrew Dobbie, who claims to have created the cone, confirmed on Instagram that he and BBC Scotland's Home of the Year presenter Danny Campbell have been invited to Boston by both the Mayor and the Governor of Massachusetts. Dobbie said: "I can finally tell you the news that I've been dying to tell you all that both the Mayor of Boston and the Governor of Massachusetts have invited myself and Danny Campbell over with the Boston cone. We'll be flying next week all the way over to Boston to visit you all, and we're going to be taking the cone on a tour of all your favourite spots... tell us where we should take the cone!"
Public Reaction
The announcement sparked excitement on social media, with hundreds of suggestions for the cone's tour. One fan wrote: "You need a tracker so we can follow the cone!" Another suggested: "I think it's only fair The Dubliner should have the cone for a day." The official tourism board for Salem, Massachusetts, proposed: "Salem has so many statues..." while Boston Public Market begged: "Bring it to us!" Another enthusiast added: "Boston has missed you! NO SCOTLAND NO PARTY!"
Symbol of Friendship
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce also shared a video expressing hope that the signed cone would be sent from Glasgow to Boston "as a token of our cities' union and Glasgow's intent to twin." The gesture underscores the deep cultural exchange between the two cities, sparked by the World Cup and the Tartan Army's unforgettable presence.
