Bars hope Italy kick-start sales

Bar owners and event organisers are hoping today’s Italy and Ireland games will kick-start sales and enthusiasm for Euro 2012 after a sluggish start to the championship on Friday night. Attendance at the Euro 2012 village in Ta’ Qali National Park on Friday was described as “normal, not too many but not too few”, by Gayle Callus, a spokesperson for organisers Studenti Demokristjani Maltin. But he was hoping for a bumper crowd of 1,200 supporters today when local favourites Italy take on reigning champions Spain at 6 p.m. The Euro 2012 village is the only open-air venue showing the games, with an 8x6-metre mega screen, ‘aqua football’, DJs, bars, food stands and even a free camping area to entice fans. “We wanted to create the perfect place for supporters to enjoy the games together. We hope to attract around 20,000 people throughout the tournament,” Mr Callus said. Paul Byrne from The Dubliner in St Julian’s said enthusiasm for Euro 2012 had not yet reached the fever pitch levels of the World Cup in 2010, but he was expecting a packed house today when Italy and Ireland kick off their campaigns. “I think bars have been quieter so far this year in general, but that might be because...