Minnesotans out in full force to watch Women's World Cup in Winnipeg
With the Women's World Cup just 90 miles north of the border in Winnipeg, Canada, Minnesotans are driving in droves to watch the U.S. women's soccer team compete against the best teams in the world.
A hotel employee in Winnipeg told the Tribune News Service that he's seen a lot of Minnesota license plates and he can tell a Minnesotan by their accent: "I'd say we're almost being invaded," he said.
The report says more U.S. fans are attending the games in Winnipeg than expected. The result has been bogged down border crossings, jammed hotels and sold out U.S. soccer apparel at Winnipeg Stadium.
The U.S. defeated Australia 3-1 in its opening game earlier this week, and it can pick up a second victory Friday at 7 p.m. against Sweden.
For fans headed to Winnipeg for the games, the Star Tribune advises to cross the border in the morning to avoid longer lines. Some wait times on Sunday night were as long as three and a half hours.
The Grand Forks Herald notes that the easiest crossing into Canada could be via the Emerson crossing in Pembina, North Dakota, where as many as six lanes of traffic are available during high volume times.
A common social media hashtag fans will notice during the tournament is #SheBelieves. It's part of a campaign message the national team is sending to young girls about chasing their dreams.
This embed is invalid