With the U.S. hosting the World Cup, the spirit of American capitalism has become a main player with the inclusion of hydration breaks, allowing for more commercial breaks, and nosebleed seats costing up to four figures.

Has the futbol financial fever reached Denver in its own way? 

Though watch parties were previously advertised as free, McGregor Square in downtown announced Tuesday it will begin charging for tickets to enter some select group games that include the host countries U.S. and Mexico.

Tickets for entry cost $23.

All other games will continue to be free, as long as they’re not within the window ahead of the ticketed games, according to a social media post from McGregor Square.

McGregor Square’s chief operating officer stressed this isn’t about making profit but, rather, it’s a safety issue.

The first crowds at the U.S. and Mexico games have garnered such large gatherings that it is causing safety issues at McGregor Square, said COO Brooke Bishop.

McGregor Square has a 2,500-person occupancy limit.

The first game when Mexico played pulled more than 2,000 visitors and the U.S. game was “definitely higher,” Bishop said.

The announcement said ticketing for the biggest World Cup games would help McGregor Square better manage the crowds, hire ticketing staff and more security personnel to screen bags, fencing and “other event operations measures,” such as bringing in portable restrooms. She also said they have to arrange extra security measures with Denver police.

“Every single one of those people is a cost. And so those things do add up,” Bishop said.
”This really isn’t a money-making endeavor for us.”

McGregor Square is a mixed-use retail, office and residential project in Lower Downtown next to Coors Field that opened five years ago and was developed by Colorado Rockies co-owner, CEO and Chairman Dick Monfort and a group of investors. It’s been a major extension of the stadium and is one of Denver’s most popular hot spots to watch major sports games.

While it often acts like a public square, McGregor Square is privately owned. The square has previously ticketed major championship games, such as the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup run and the Nuggets’ championship.

Some fans weren’t excited to hear about the change after the tournament had already begun and was initially announced as free entry.

Under the announcement, fans criticized management for charging to watch the games when, they said, people want to celebrate their own community the most. 

“If it was solely about the amount of people, you would do a free ticketed event and limit people, but charging over $20 shows y’all just greedy,” said Instagram user dlmtmx.

Other critics wished McGregor Square would issue free tickets to help limit crowds like Skyline Park has. Another commenter said it is “truly disappointing” the games were limited to 21 years old and up and would limit Mexican fans from watching their national team with their families. 

“The whole point of these events is the organic gathering of community to cheer on our country,” said user mark_j87 on Instagram. “But you chose profit instead, under the guise of ‘safety.’ Maybe you should look up the definition of a ‘square’ and rename yourself.”

Kade Anthony, a 29-year-old from the Washington Park neighborhood, said watching the U.S. play its first match at McGregor Square showed him what it meant to be American.

He recalled chants growing louder after every goal the U.S. scored, hugging strangers, people passing drinks in the heat and the crowd parting to make way for strollers. 

Anthony said he is making plans to come back to watch the U.S. play Australia on Friday but is disappointed after learning about the new ticket charges. 

“It hit like a dagger, because it plainly occurred to me that celebration won’t happen again — not like that, not in that space,” Anthony said.

McGregor Square had to get special permission from FIFA to charge for tickets to screen games. Bishop said she reached out to FIFA’s legal department on Monday to ask permission and was worried it would take a lot longer to get approval.

The ticketed World Cup matches will be Mexico vs. South Korea on Thursday, USA vs. Australia on Friday, Czechia vs. Mexico on June 24 and Türkiye vs. USA on June 25.

While the tickets are currently limited to the four group stage games, McGregor Square will reevaluate future rounds of games, as the World Cup continues. If bigger crowds are expected, Bishop said they’ll consider ticketing again.

“As long as things are staying safe and under control, we’re happy to continue to have as many free as possible,” Bishop said. “But we do have to plan ahead.”

The team at McGregor Square is content with people choosing to go elsewhere and are encouraging people to visit Skyline Park, local bars and other free watch parties to experience the World Cup across the city.

Still, Anthony, the Washington Park resident, wishes McGregor Square’s officials would reconsider, as “these cultural moments are rare.” 

“What I felt at McGregor Square last Friday was freedom, and that was the whole point,” he said. “The least we can do is keep it that way.”