Scotland supporters, known as the Tartan Army, received a heroes' send-off in Boston before beginning to arrive in Miami this weekend for the remainder of the World Cup. Tens of thousands of fans traveled across the Atlantic for Scotland's opening two matches, leaving a lasting impression on the city, with many locals sad to see them go.
Economic Boost and Local Praise in Boston
During their stay, the fans explored the city, attended baseball games, and frequented pubs, providing a major economic boost to the area. Steve Marino, 53, a driver captain on Boston's famous duck cruise tours, shared his enthusiasm. "It has been fantastic having all the Scots in town," Marino told the Record. "They've been positive, they've spent a lot of money, they're happy. There's nothing but positives across the board." He added, "I'll be watching the Scots and cheering you on during the rest of the tournament, there's no doubt about it. We would love to have the Scots back any time."
Marino also recounted a humorous incident: arriving at work one morning to find a traffic cone placed on a huge dinosaur statue beside their ticket office. "It's a mystery," he said. "I know you have the Loch Ness Monster back home, this was a mystery too. The cone somehow ended up on the dinosaur's head."
Rejuvenating the City
Scott Holt, a 49-year-old creative director from New Hampshire and a big USA soccer fan, described the Tartan Army's presence as "unbelievable." He said, "It's rejuvenated the city. It's been great energy. To a man, everyone here has enjoyed having the Scots in town - 100 per cent." Holt added, "It's been nice to have people come over and see America - not just for divisive politics - but for the welcoming people as well. We would love to have you guys back. There's been talk of bringing you back once a year - let's do it."
Boston Globe's Heartfelt Tribute
The Boston Globe, a 150-year-old daily newspaper, published a full-page letter addressed to the Scotland fans in Friday's edition. The letter read: "Dear Tartan Army, You came for the World Cup, but gave us something more. For a week, you turned train stations into sing-alongs, Fenway into a football ground, and an ordinary June into something we'll be talking about for years. Boston has hosted championships, parades, and celebrations of every kind. But we've never hosted guests quite like you all. Thank you for the laughter, the bagpipes and the memories. The World Cup will move on. So will the songs, but we'll never forget the joy you brought to our city."
Sam Kennedy, president of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, also thanked the Tartan Army, noting that their spirit "has no equivalent in American sport."
Arrival in Miami
Supporters have now started arriving in Miami, with temperatures reaching as high as 35°C on Sunday. Karen Dunnery and her husband Michael, both retired civil servants in their 60s, arrived in the city recently. Karen said, "Even walking down the street here, joggers have come by and shouted 'No Scotland, No Party'. They already know. The locals seem really excited that we are here." Michael added, "We're going to be watching the Brazil match from the fan zone. I think that will be fantastic. It's been great to see all the nationalities here already. It's going to be a blast."
William Bannister, 69, a retired civil engineer, and his son Neal, 39, traveled from Boston to Miami. William, from Cumbernauld, said, "It is absolutely superb to be here. I'm 69 years young and I'm taking my oldest boy to our first World Cup away. It's absolutely stupendous. We had a great time in Boston at the Red Sox match and we're going to go to the Miami Marlins tomorrow. I don't think we will be able to drink Miami dry, but we will try our best." Neal added, "I'm melting, but it's fantastic to be here. We're just here to have fun. We've got tickets, we're so looking forward to seeing the atmosphere and to hear the national anthem again."
Iain Porter, 50, from Edinburgh; Billy Taylor, 58, also from Edinburgh; and Alan Taylor, 54, from Aberdeen, arrived in Miami on Friday. Billy said, "It has been absolutely brilliant to be here. Too hot - but superb. I've got no words to describe this heat. It's roasting. But this is such an amazing place." Alan added, "We arrived on Friday and we've got tickets to go and see Uruguay against Cape Verde tonight then the Brazil game on Wednesday. The atmosphere is just picking up now. You can see more and more Scotland fans arriving now. You can really feel it building. It's going to be great."
