HOST Act Fails to Pass: Space for World Cup Fans Runs Out
Soccer fans from around the globe are flooding into Manhattan but a bill allowing temporary “entertainment zones” for bars and restaurants to serve drinks outdoors during the World Cup has failed to pass in time.
| 12 Jun 2026 | 02:46
Assemblyman Tony Simone pictured at a presser across the street from Penn Station was pushing a bill in Albany that would have allowed bars and restaurants to expand into the streets with outdoor drinking in designated “entertainment zones.” (
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Fans packed into O’Hanlons to spectate a match. (
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Bars and restaurants are left scrambling for provisions as the World Cup begins. Modelled on legislation passed in Washington state, Assemblyman Tony Simone had hoped that his bill, backed by city council member Virginia Maloney, would add to the city’s preparations to house the estimated 1.2 million visitors.
Bill No. A10339 would have permitted supplemental “entertainment zones” for municipalities with pre-existing liquor licenses, allowing patrons to drink and enjoy the matches outside. “I was proud to introduce the HOST Act to support our small businesses and engage communities across the state in the World Cup,” said Assemblymember Simone.
Simone, representing the 75th district of Chelsea, Midtown Manhattan, and parts of Hell’s Kitchen, presented the HOST Act bill to the public in early 2026 to prepare the otherwise unprepared city. Simon shared at a press conference in April that host cities such as Seattle, Washington, and San Francisco have already signed similar legislation.
Previously, as expressed by the New York City Hospitality Alliance’s lawyer, Robert Bookman, efforts to pass the bill began too late, as it had to pass through both houses, the governor, and then finally be reviewed by the State Liquor Authority. With World Cup matches already underway without the bill passed, small businesses in Manhattan are sure to struggle managing the overwhelming crowds pushing their legal capacities. Nevertheless, Assemblyman Simone is still hopeful. “I’m glad to see the city and state taking multiple actions I’ve called for to better prepare us for the games and look forward to reintroducing the full bill next year so we can better prepare in advance for future major events,” He shared with Straus News.
On June 11th, the New York City Tourism + Conventions launched a citywide dining program encompassing cuisine from all five boroughs. The organization shared that almost 900 restaurants, bars, and food establishments will take part, offering $26 specials along with collectible borough cups starting June 11th up until the final match. “The World Cup will bring an unequivocal energy to New York City, and the Five Borough Winners Special is designed to connect that vibrancy to local businesses across all five boroughs,” said Julie Coker, President and CEO of NYC Tourism + Conventions.
In response to the tardy bill, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation allowing bars and restaurants across the state to serve alcohol until 4:00 AM from June 11, 2026, through July 20, 2026, the duration of the tournament. This changes very little for Manhattan, yet other areas in the state will surely profit from the extended closing times, increasing tourism and World Cup-related spending. On June 9th, Hochul posted on X advertising her newly passed bill. X users responded with mild concerns about public safety due to intoxicated fans.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also made an effort to improve viewing opportunities in the city by announcing a free-to-attend watch party for the final match in Central Park on July 19th. During the announcement, Mamdani shared that the event will include live music and food vendors. “The most iconic match of the most iconic tournament in the world deserves to be watched in the most iconic park in the world,” said Mamdani.
The well-established O’Hanlon’s pub, located on 14th Street in the East Village, is one pub in Manhattan that expects to reach capacity for each game. Cristiano, the owner and manager of the pub, was admittedly unaware of the HOST Act prior to speaking with Straus News but nevertheless shared concerns. “The hosting of the World Cup has been very poorly prepared,” Cristiano says. Even for a bar like his, with above-average indoor space, there are still worries about satisfying visitors. “It’s going to be out of control; it’s going to be insanity,” he says. Cristiano’s concerns do not just lie within his operation but rather with other establishments in the city. “Many sports bars [in the city] are not soccer bars,” Cristiano claims. “They don’t know the magnitude of the crowds soccer brings; they will be unprepared.”
Cristiano believes that support for hosting the World Cup should have come not only from local government but, more significantly, from the President’s Administration. “Trump has imagined the whole thing as a money grab, rather than a cultural transformation,” he says.