The broadcast of the World Cup final this Sunday in the Plaza del Pilar will once again turn the center of Zaragoza into one of the main meeting points to follow the match. After the large influx recorded during the previous matches of the Spanish national team, the bars and restaurants in the area face the event with forecasts of full house, more staff and a significant reinforcement of the service.
Several establishments agree that the last two matches of España have led to a notable increase in work and sales, especially beverages. They also highlight the atmosphere experienced during the broadcasts, with thousands of people following the match from the square and a clientele made up of both Zaragoza residents and visitors.
In many cases, in addition, the City Council has authorized the installation of outdoor bars to speed up the service during these events, a measure that will be repeated this Sunday.
MORE STAFF AND OUTDOOR BARS TO SERVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
The businesses of the Plaza del Pilar have been preparing for days for a day that they expect to be historic. In the Santiago cafeteria, of the Vaquer Group, they have already reinforced the workforce and increased the stock to avoid running out of stock. «We expect a lot of people because these days we have had a lot of sales, a lot of people. Especially drinks,» says Suedy Rodríguez, a waitress at the Santiago bar. The worker explains that during the last few meetings the pace of work has forced them to constantly replenish drinks and that for the final they have placed a larger order than usual. In addition, they will have reinforcement of waiters and auxiliary staff to meet the demand.
In the Le Manon restaurant they will reinstall the outdoor bar thanks to the special permission granted for these matches. «They have granted us to renew the permit for the bars for Sunday,» explains Nazareth Cobos, manager of the restaurant Le Manon. The person in charge considers that this measure facilitates the service when the square brings together thousands of fans.
THE HEAT TRIGGERS THE SALE OF DRINKS
If there is one product that has marked these days, it is the drink. The high temperatures and the long hours of waiting before the start of the matches have increased consumption in all establishments. «A lot of hydration. People are very thirsty with so much heat,» Cobos points out. The person in charge recognizes that any mass event held in the Plaza del Pilar has a direct impact on the cash flow of the business. «The moment there is a massive event in the square, people consume and with the heat it is very noticeable,» says Nazareth.
MORE TURNOVER AND A PARTY ATMOSPHERE
The increase in customers has also been transferred to turnover. In the El Real cafeteria they calculate that income practically doubled during the first match broadcast in the Plaza del Pilar. «I think it will have been billed twice as much because it is very noticeable,» says Jean Pierre, a waiter at the El Real cafeteria.
To speed up the service, the establishment set up a provisional bar outside where attendees could buy their drinks directly in plastic containers. «On Sunday we are going to expand the outdoor bar so that more waiters can fit,» says the waiter at El Real.
Beyond work, the three establishments put the accent on the atmosphere that has been experienced during the matches. In the case of the match between Spain and France, the Santiago bar highlighted the presence of fans from both countries. In El Real they especially remember the atmosphere experienced during the first meeting broadcast in the square. «It was non-stop from the moment I started work until three in the morning,» says Jean Pierre. The worker hopes that the final surpasses everything he has experienced so far. «This is going to be bursting,» says Pierre.
