Firefly works with festivalgoers to organize soccer games in the spirit of the World Cup
With the World Cup's opening rounds and the seventh Firefly Music Festival coinciding this weekend, festivalgoers decided online that they too wanted to play on the pitch.
The festival obliged and set up "Firefly Fields" in lot 18 behind the main stage. The athletic fields were open for pickup soccer games from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday and from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday. They will be open for any sports throughout the weekend.
The idea originated in a Reddit thread posted about two months before the festival by Kristian Lydon (u/evoke_the_forms). Lydon asked fellow festivalgoers if they wanted to play pickup soccer in honor of the World Cup, which opened play today and runs through July 15.
After about 50 people responded, Lydon posted the idea on Firefly's "contact us" page, and was soon put in touch with Michael Coco, the director of operations for Red Frog Events, which manages Firefly.
"These people really aren't kidding when they say 'fan-curated,'" Lydon wrote in the thread.
Lydon and Coco exchanged messages for about a month. Coco agreed to provide field space and purchase nets and balls. His team used course marking flags from their Warrior Dash event for the boundaries and enlisted the parking lot striking team to draw up field lines.
"It was more than he expected it to be," Coco said.
In past years, organizers generated hype between major acts by playing World Cup matches on the jumbotrons, but they never had organized games.
The idea to set up athletic fields had been considered by Firefly organizers for 2017, but they deemed it too difficult to pull off. Prior to Lydon's pitch this year, the field space was going to be blocked off to visitors. His involvement in drumming up interest prior to the festival and managing the fields during the festival made it possible.
"In my opinion, it’s just as important as the music," Coco said. "Folks come out here to have an experience and discover new things and meet new people. The more things we can do like this, the better.”
Lydon generated interest through a second Reddit thread and a public GroupMe chat. Some formed teams with people from their camp. Others formed teams, including one aptly named “Team Drunk,” in the chat.
“When I saw the thread, I immediately supported it," said Ryan Gallo, who planned to play once he arrived Wednesday.
After the organized games conclude Thursday, Firefly will move two of the goals to the artist area. During the last World Cup in 2014, musicians from different bands played soccer together. They all signed a ball that was auctioned off to benefit St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Firefly's official charity partner.
"The artists loved it and were playing almost all weekend," Coco said.
Now the experience will be taken to the fans.
"We’re always looking for more stuff like that because that’s how you differentiate yourself from most other festivals these days," Coco said. "The biggest differentiator is the stuff we can do outside of the music."
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Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com.
