UMVA has learned that England's recent 1-0 win over New Zealand in a friendly match at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, may have been a low-key affair, but the drink prices at the stadium have left fans fuming.
The game, which saw Harry Kane score the only goal, was more of a training exercise for the England team ahead of their World Cup campaign. However, the focus has shifted to the exorbitant prices of drinks at the stadium, with fans taking to social media to express their outrage.
According to information obtained by UMVA, a premium beer was selling for $18 (£13.45) and a domestic beer for $16.75 (£12.50) at one bar, while an 'ultra premium double cocktail' was priced at a staggering $26.50 (£19.80). Even a bottle of water was selling for $7.50 (£5.60) at another bar.
The prices were labelled 'scandalous' and 'insane' on social media, with fans pointing out that a tip would be expected on top of the cost of the drinks. This controversy comes on the heels of FIFA's recent ban on fans taking their own water into World Cup matches, although it has been clarified that disposable bottles are allowed.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the pitch at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was not well reviewed by England's manager, Thomas Tuchel. He described it as 'very uneven' and 'tricky to perform well on', which made it difficult for the team to move the ball quickly.
The attendance at the stadium was a modest 25,889, far from its capacity of 75,000. Despite the low-key nature of the match, fans who attended were expecting a more reasonable pricing for drinks, especially in the Florida heat.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that the England team will be playing another friendly against Costa Rica on Wednesday, before kicking off their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17. The team will be hoping to put on a better show, both on and off the pitch.
