LET’S kick things off by getting the important questions out of the way: it’s Heineken, it’s on draft, and, no, we don’t know the price of a pint. 

For the next four weeks, Glasgow Green and it’s Euro 2020 fan zone will be the place to be for this summer’s football. It’s the space that everyone – for better or worse – has been talking about and tomorrow it will welcome its first punters when the tournament begins. 

To give fans a taste of what to expect, the Glasgow Times went along earlier today for a sneak peek behind the scenes as the finishing touches were being put in place. 

Glasgow Times: Aimee Harper, left, and Justine Ralston make sure the space is spick and span Aimee Harper, left, and Justine Ralston make sure the space is spick and span

The first thing we noticed? The space. There’s tons of it. Yes, it might be because we’ve spent the last year locked up, but goodness it felt good to move around between the different areas of the fan zone. 

Walking in from the Greendyke Street entrance and past the loos (blue, if you’re wondering), we were greeted by the biggest ball in Glasgow on our left and a mini-pitch on our right, which is part of a family sport arena. 


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But we weren’t there for the toilets or novelty, Euro-themed fitba. The reason 6000 people per day will head to Glasgow Green is to watch the continent’s best teams in action and the good news is they appear to be well catered for. 

With rows of picnic benches as far as the eye can, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Yogi Bear fan club is in town. But instead they’ll play host to bums on seats as supporters watch the creme de la creme of European football on three large screens, which seem perfectly placed to showcase the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Grant Hanley.

Glasgow Times: Craig Malloy tries out the football pitch in the family sport zone Craig Malloy tries out the football pitch in the family sport zone

On either side of the arena are drinks stands and food vans, which should cater for most palates while costing more than seems reasonable.

However, we know not everyone is smitten with the fan zone and it’s shame Glasgow Life boss Billy Garrett wasn’t able to make it along as there remain some serious questions, which couldn’t be answered by a sneak peek preview.

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For instance, why has the council’s arms-length body prioritised opening it ahead of other venues while they and their users remain stuck in purgatory without any answers? 

It’s wonderful to give fans the chance of having look something to look forward to and it’s only right we make the most of the city’s historic opportunity at hosting the Euros.

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But what of Glaswegians – read also ‘taxpayers’ – who have no interest in fitba and just want to take their kid along to have a look at their favourite books? Surely it doesn’t have to be an either or situation? And that’s even before we get into the debate about nursery graduations and soft play areas. 

Glasgow Times: Our reporter Jack Haugh enjoyed an exclusive look at the fan zone Our reporter Jack Haugh enjoyed an exclusive look at the fan zone

One image perhaps summed it up best: the People’s Palace – left to rot for longer than seems fair – peeking enviously from behind the large screen TVs and Heineken tents at what will surely be a bustling hub of life for the next four weeks. 

But this is a debate for another day and for now we can safely say the fan zone should live up to all expectations. Just if you were lucky enough to get a ticket.