Friends open World Cup fan zone at historic baths

Three friends have opened a World Cup fan zone, despite never having organised an event before.

After experiencing packed fan zones during previous matches, Jack Nunec, 29, Jon Beer, 24, and Lewis Atherton, 27, talked about what it would be like to host their own.

The friends never thought their concept would "snowball into an actual event", but after months of planning the three mates have opened a World Cup fan zone at Manchester's Victoria Baths

"It's easy to dream about the concept of a fan zone [but] it was a bit of a semi-fantasy," Jack told BBC Radio Manchester ahead of England's second game of the tournament. "We are so overwhelmed it has become a reality."

Jack, from Skelmersdale, Jon, from Exeter, and Lewis, from New Zealand, met at a football club in Manchester.

Although Jack works in the legal department of an events company, none of them had hosted an event before.

But after years of attending football screening events and fan zones, the group decided there was a gap in the market for a different kind of experience.

"While I had still had really good experiences watching big tournaments at fan zones, I could see negatives and I wanted to do something a little bit different," he said.

When Jack spoke to Jon and Lewis, he realised he was not the only one to feel there was something missing from the large screenings – and the trio set about discussing ideas.

"It was almost a semi-fantasy," Jack recalled. "We would have all these grand ideas that would never come off, about different food trucks or things we had seen at festivals.

"But it never came to fruition because we needed more money, a venue and to get past the red tape – [to] make sure that our compliance is right and all that sort of stuff."

When the trio secured the Victoria Baths in Manchester as a venue, the plan began to come together.

From there, they organised food vendors, music, DJs and an LED screen before setting about trying to promote the screenings – with 500 tickets available for each match.

Following the success of their first screening last Wednesday, the friends have been putting the finishing touches together for England's upcoming game against Ghana on Tuesday evening.

Jack said he was feeling confident that England could win the tournament, after noticing a sign.

"The baths were opened in 1906, and England won the World Cup 60 years later in 1966," he said.

"It almost feels a bit spiritual that we have opened another 60 years after that.

"It feels like we were destined to open at this time and that we're destined to win it."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.