Saturday morning there was a large screen in Civic Center Plaza broadcasting World Cup games to a few spectators, yet another poorly executed, self-congratulatory initiative undertaken by San Francisco's Recreation and Park Department.
The broadcast was appreciated by the young man above, though, who seemed to find it a perfect accompaniment for his sunbathing on the hard-packed ground of the plaza.
Thankfully, a group of Colombians showed up to cheer on their country's team in its first match against Greece, which they eventually won. The upcoming telecast schedule, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense, is as follows: Three games each will be broadcast on Monday and Tuesday, June 16th and 17th, from 9AM to 6PM. The big screen will return for another three-game marathon on Sunday, June 22nd, and also on Thursday, June 26th from 9AM to 3PM. After a long hiatus, they will be broadcasting the semifinals on Wednesday, July 9th at 1PM and the Finals at noon on Sunday, July 13th. Be sure to bring a lawn chair.
No matter what they do, that is one stark urban space.
ReplyDeleteDear Hattie: There was actually a lovely lawn which was taken out in the summer of 2008 for a ridiculous temporary "Victory Garden" by then-mayor Gavin Newsom and food maven Alice Waters, and it never got replaced after the garden went away.
ReplyDeleteGrrrrr! Well, I'm glad people got some pleasure out of the World Cup win, anyway, even though jingoism annoys me.
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