KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Downtown Parkville is transforming into an orange celebration as Team Netherlands trains just seven minutes away in Riverside.
Starting this week, the city is painting itself orange to welcome the Dutch team and their fans.
“To be surrounded by it is just… I get chills,” said Denise Glanzer, the owner of White Farmhouse Flowers, which is showing off Dutch pride with orange t-shirts and signs that say “welcome the orange.”
City prepares for visitor surge
Parkville Mayor Dean Katerndahl said banners will go up around Downtown on Friday. With a new Northland transportation plan announced, the city is ready to welcome buses full of visitors dropping off in downtown.
“You can catch a bus from there and go right down to FanFest,” Katerndahl said. “So we’re excited about that, right? Get more people in here.”
American Legion becomes official fan gathering spot
The transformation is a team effort between the city and local businesses. The American Legion is an official gathering place for Netherland fans.
“We are turning our entire space and part of the city space into a Dutch soccer bar,” said Chris Wallingford, commander for the Parkville American Legion. “We are trying to replicate what Europe does in a small piece.”
The effort is catching the attention of the Kansas City Dutch Club.
“We talked to Chris. We shared some pictures with him of what bars look like in the Netherlands. Wrapped in orange with thousands of flags. And he’s replicating the same thing,” said Patrick Bakker, president of the Kansas City Dutch Club.
The transformation will be complete on Saturday, officially making the small alley bar the watch party location in town.
“This is going to be an orange hotspot. And we invite everybody to come here and join us to celebrate,” Bakker said.
Not just for fun, but the American Legion bar is run by volunteers, and proceeds support local veterans.
Just a block away from Downtown at Park University, Team Bolivia held a secret training Tuesday night ahead of their friendly match with Algeria.
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