Local bars and restaurants cater to FIFA World Cup fans

The FIFA World Cup is the world’s most widely viewed sporting event. It’s broadcast to 204 countries on 245 different channels. That’s why Valley bars and restaurants are getting ready to be the prime spot for fans to cheer on their favorite team.

Group play begins tomorrow with Brazil and Croatia at 1 pm, right during the lunch hour.

Local bars and restaurants are hoping excited fans will be rooting for their favorite country while spending some money.

With less than 24 hours to go, crews in Brazil are still putting the final touches on what is expected to be a month of nail biting, edge-of-your-seat matches to crown the best in the world at soccer.

Here in the valley, banners already wave in the wind and a blank brackets waits to be filled out.

“We expect a draw, we expect a lot of people we really do,” said Jackalope Ranch director of operations Randy Araiza.

“We already have fans coming in making reservations,” said Burgers and Beer bartender Jeremiah McKay.

The biggest single-event sporting competition in the world is also the most watched.

“USA soccer fan base is just getting bigger and bigger,” said McKay.

At Burgers and Beer in Rancho Mirage, all 57 of their TVs will be tuned in.

“It’s going to be World Cup central when USA opens on Ghana, you will see how insane it gets,” said McKay.

This is the time of year in the desert where business starts to slow down especially at restaurants. That is why they are hoping that soccer fever will turn things around.

“I do think maybe a 15 to 20 percent increase, maybe more depending on how far the United States goes, and it’s not just the United States, we also have a big Mexico fan base here as well,” said Mackay.

“People are calling right now, wanting to know asking for the game schedule what kind of entertainment we are going to have afterwards,” said Araiza.

Jackalope Ranch also will offer drink and food specials and encourages the whole family to come out and watch.

“It’s great for business, we are thrilled, I can’t wait,” said Araiza.

A big advantage for local businesses this year is the time difference between the Coachella Valley and Brazil. It’s only four hours.

In 2010, South Africa was 9 hours ahead, putting may games in the middle of the night here.

This year almost all of the games will be during the day.