World Cup experience: Mamdani admin closing off streets outside 50 NYC schools for Soccer Streets' events | amNewYork

"The Soccer Streets events — a partnership between the city and the open streets nonprofit Street Lab, as well as the yogurt brand Chobani — will include activities such as pickup games, running drills, and painting team flags, according to City Hall. The pop-up activation events have been running since May 1 and will continue through the last day of school on June 26; however, Mamdani's office did not immediately specify the days or hours during which they are taking place."

"Mayor Zohran Mamdanis administration is closing blocks outside of 50 schools to vehicle traffic at select times for soccer-related events, his office announced on Monday. The matches there will take place over eight dates between mid-June and mid-July. Mamdani framed the announcement as part of his efforts to make the World Cup experience accessible to all New Yorkers who cannot afford the exorbitant ticket and transportation prices to make it to the games in person."

"“Soccer Streets takes that energy directly into our neighborhoods — closing streets to cars, opening them to play and making sure this celebration isn't reserved for people who can afford a ticket,” Mamdani said. “Open Streets is one of the best tools we have to reclaim public space for the public, and these activations are another step toward bringing the World Cup to our city's young people.”"

"“The World Cup is about more than the games in the stadium,” Maya Handa, the city's World Cup czar, in a statement. “It's about sparking the joy of the game in young people and bringing communities toge” The city will also host one free fan zone event in each of the five boroughs, where New Yorkers can watch the games together without paying."

The mayor’s administration will close blocks outside 50 schools to vehicle traffic at select times for soccer-related events before the FIFA World Cup final. The Soccer Streets program is a partnership between the city, Street Lab, and Chobani, featuring pickup games, running drills, and painting team flags. Pop-up activations began May 1 and will run through June 26, the last day of school, with specific days and hours not immediately provided. The mayor said the events aim to ensure every child can experience the joy of the game by opening streets for play and making the celebration accessible to families who cannot afford tickets or transportation. The city will also host free fan zones in each of the five boroughs to watch games together.

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