‘We’re having a party!’: Inside a school bus with Scottish soccer fans headed to the World Cup
WGBH • • sports
Key Points:
- Over a thousand Scotland national soccer team supporters traveled from Providence, Rhode Island to Gillette Stadium in a fleet of yellow school buses to watch their team compete in the FIFA World Cup for the first time in nearly 30 years.
- The use of school buses was a cost-saving measure in response to expensive official transportation options, with roundtrip train fares priced at $80 and official bus rides at $95, both considered excessively high by fans.
- Organizers rented nearly every school bus available in Rhode Island and surrounding areas, charging $38 per seat, with proceeds covering transportation, refreshments, and over $16,000 in charitable donations to local organizations including Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
- The event provided a unique cultural experience for Scottish fans, who embraced the American tradition of riding yellow school buses, turning the trip into a festive party atmosphere despite the 90-degree heat.
- Local school bus drivers, such as Paula McFadden from Holbrook Public Schools, found the assignment enjoyable and memorable, even though it deviated from their usual routines and rules.