A report says Koffeteria’s sales fell sharply during the opening day of the Fan Festival, despite heavy foot traffic in the area. Hager said road closures and limited parking made it harder for regular customers to reach the café.
The problem, he argued, was not a lack of people. Supporters were nearby, but many were spending inside the official festival zone rather than with businesses on its edges.
“We’re not here to end the party, but this is a really difficult process for us,” Hager said.
That distinction matters. Major tournaments are often promoted as economic opportunities for host cities, yet access can determine which businesses benefit. A packed street is not necessarily a profitable street if customers cannot park, walk freely or find open routes to local shops.
Hager also said local businesses felt excluded from planning discussions and were effectively left to solve parking and promotion problems themselves. Another account from a nearby resident described quieter-than-usual conditions around the café, while access restrictions reportedly affected Hutchins Street.
The street also became an important support area for emergency services during the event, creating a difficult balance between public safety, fan operations and commercial access.
“We felt left out of the conversation,” Hager said.
The wider issue reaches beyond one café. Host authorities need to show how independent businesses can remain accessible when large football events reshape entire neighbourhoods.
The next test will be whether city officials respond with clearer access plans, better communication and practical support before the festival’s later stages and future World Cup events. For local merchants, the hope is that the next big match-day crowd will be able to discover their businesses-not simply pass them by.