Hudson Valley bars are preparing for hopefully just one more Knicks playoff game and many World Cup soccer games over the next month, and have even been allowed to stay open late under a temporary state law.
Newburgh Brewing Company and fan site Big Knick Energy have been bringing sports fans together through the first four games of the NBA Finals, creating scenes of jubilation captured and shared by brewery staff.
They are also planning World Cup events, beginning with a block party on Friday during the U.S. soccer team's first game against Paraguay.
The temporary law allows all bars in New York State to stay open until 4 a.m. to allow them to accommodate fans of teams playing late games.
Staff said the block party, though, will stay under control.
Per a permit ironed out with city officials, they will stop serving alcohol outside at 9 p.m. which should move much of the party inside, one way they said they will be able to cut down on noise or other possible disruptions in the neighborhood.
"Everything is family-friendly. Everything is pretty tame," manager Dan Mires said. "We are a responsible steward for the city and our customer base loves that, honestly, about us."
At County Fare Bar & Grill in Wappingers Falls, owner Dana Tompkins expects many young people to show up to cheer on US team midfielder — and Dutchess County's own — Tyler Adams, much like they did during the 2022 World Cup.
Tompkins said the presence of children tends to keep adults under control.
"There are watch parties with fourth-graders sitting at one table and old man sitting at another table," he said of a typical crowd for a World Cup game. "We've created an environment that is very family-friendly."
Village residents like Joe Vaccarino are fine with safe, violence-free parties.
With the Knicks one win away from a championship and World Cup soccer just starting, they expect some noise from the bars.
"But it's good noise," Vaccarino said. "It's not crazy noise. It's the way it should be."