MLS is Back And So Are We! (Virtually)
/The MLS is Back tournament kicks off in just a few days, and we would like to take this opportunity to share the outline of our plan for supporting the team throughout the tournament. Obviously we wish we were back at Nippert with you all, not to mention how much we wish we could throw back a couple liters at Mecklenburg Gardens with everyone. But the reality of the situation is that we are still in the middle of a global pandemic with cases continuing to rise. We are hopeful that we will still get the opportunity to gather in person this season, but for now we want to stay on the side of caution and safety and keep our members safe and healthy.
MLS is Back Tournament
We met with Mecklenburg Gardens a few weeks ago and we are thankful with the changes they made to ensure everyone is social distancing and safe. They will be open for the match against Columbus on July 11 at 10:30pm, and also the match against New York Red Bulls on July 22 at 8pm. They are also offering takeout if that’s what you prefer. We are not planning to meet as a group in any official capacity, but if you personally feel comfortable with going out, they will be showing the matches in the Bier Hall. Here we’ve outlined the steps they are taking to keep their customers safe. Please be respectful of the rules and regulations that they are implementing for the benefit of all of their customers.
All tables are six feet apart, and the bar has six-feet spacers for forming lines. We encourage all guests to remain six feet apart from others when possible.
Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the building.
Table service is available for those who prefer it.
We encourage all guests to remain seated when possible, and partake in table service to reduce movement.
Any object a guest touches (menu, salt shaker, etc.) is sanitized before given to another guest.
All staff members will be wearing proper PPE including masks.
Please bring a mask with you and wear it any time you get up from your table and when you enter and leave
Bier Hall capacity is 100 people, and seating will be awarded first come, first serve.
Biergarten and Main Dining Room seating is available to those who prefer to be more distanced; however we do not have televisions in these areas. (Guests may bring their laptops or phones and use our wifi to stream games).
All of this in consideration, we still encourage our members to continue to social distance and watch the matches from home. We won’t be selling memberships at Mecklenburg Gardens during these matches. Memberships are still available to order over at our store and we have begun shipping orders out again this week. We will be hosting a Zoom (chaos) call during each match so that we can all hang out and cheer on our team together. We have a 100 person limit so get in the call quick if you want to participate! Check the #gameday channel for the link to the zoom meeting. If you would like a Mecklenburg Gardens virtual background, you can go here to download one! In the spirit of more game day participation, we have planned out a theme for each match. Keep an eye on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more details on how to participate via social media. We will be picking our favorite post for each match/theme and that person will win some DI swag.
Saturday July 11 vs Columbus Crew: Present your meatiest (or meatless) grill creations for our match against “Flavortown SC” #FlavortownSC
Thursday July 16 vs Atlanta United: Show us your best breakfast spread to kickstart your morning! #BreakfastWithDI
Wednesday July 22 vs New York Red Bulls: Show us what local brew you are drinking and crush those empty cans. #CrushThemCans
The Future
We do not know what the league’s plans are following this tournament, but whatever they decide to do we will support in a way that protects the safety and health of our members. We are committed to following the guidance set forth by the CDC, WHO, State of Ohio, and City of Cincinnati for any events we might host.
Stay safe & Juncta Juvant!
The DI Board