DENVER — The Premier League is hoping enthusiasm for soccer in the United States continues to be a mile high.
The league launched its Coast to Coast activation series
in Denver on Friday, Aug. 21 with an Arsenal watch party for the defending champions’ season opener against newly-promoted Coventry City. The match was the first of the 2026-27 Premier League season and the EPL is celebrating all 20 clubs across the United States on opening weekend.Fans of all ages attended the Arsenal watch party, including families, lifelong Gooners and newcomers since the club won the 2025-26 Premier League title. Supporters could take a picture with the Premier League trophy, enjoy food from the local restaurants within McGregor Square and bond with fellow Gooners.
There was a sing-a-long of the club’s anthem, "The Angel (North London Forever)" before kickoff and then Arsenal won 3-0.
David Pritchard said winning the Premier League last season meant "the world." He has been an Arsenal supporter for more than 20 years because his brother put him onto the club.
"Unfortunately, he’s working today," he said. "But I came and wanted to show up and show out.”
Melkam Teferra was another longtime Gooner who said he's been supporting the club for more than 30 years. He brought his 5-year-old son, Levi, with him.
"He’s supposed to go to school today, but this is a moment we’re both going to remember for a long time," he said. "He is a big Arsenal fan, especially with the World Cup. He’s just into soccer right now, so it’s the perfect time.”
The Premier League had 182 players participate in this summer's World Cup, the most of any league. The tournament, which was held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, broke viewership and attendance records. Manchester City's Erling Haaland captured hearts across the globe with his friendly antics and other stars like Arsenal's Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka, Levi's favorite player, left their mark on American sports fans, too.
"As we go into next season, we want to showcase all of these amazing players and stars that we have to our fans," Akash Jain, Premier League U.S. Managing Director, said in a media roundtable ahead of the watch party.
Kevin Rowe grew up in England and has been an Arsenal supporter since he was 4 years old. He moved to Colorado five years ago and said being able to engage with his childhood club where he's living now is "incredible."
"Actually, my friends are all at the game today, so to be amongst Arsenal fans is amazing," he said.
Rowe has a tattoo of Arsenal's cannon badge on the side of his leg. He said he got it when he was 17 years old.
"Just Arsenal through and through," he said. "It’s life at the end of the day. So, permanently on me and permanent Arsenal fan. Gooner for life.”
Ashley Cole, Premier League Hall of Famer and member of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” team that went undefeated in 2003-04, was part of the celebration. He took photos with fans and shared some words with the crowd about the difficulty of defending a championship.
"He's our best-ever left back and we had a good chat," Rowe said after getting a picture with Cole and himself holding a scarf in front of the trophy. "I'm really happy to see the trophy. We had an incredible season last year and I think we're gonna do it again. Back to back."
Cole also played for Chelsea, AS Roma and the Los Angeles Galaxy. In the media roundtable, he said he has fond memories of traveling to the United States.
"Whatever city I've been in, I've always felt welcome when I've came here," he said. "And just the enthusiasm and power of love and togetherness that the American fans have, I think that's unique."
The unifying power of soccer was on full display at the World Cup. All of Kansas City joined the Netherlands in their Oranje Fanwalk. Scotland's Tartan Army developed a special bond with the city of Boston.Lawrence, Kansas, embraced Algeria.
That same spirit is something the Premier League hopes fans continue to connect with.
"During the World Cup, you saw that football brings people together in such a unique way to be able to showcase their fandom," Jain said in the media roundtable. "... We think the World Cup just showed what's so special about football and the football fan community, and we're excited to to really kick that off with this season."
Stan Kroenke's success assisting in Arsenal support?
Arsenal is part of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which is helmed by entrepreneur Stan Kroenke. The group also owns the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, MLS’s Colorado Rapids, NHL’s Colorado Avalanche and NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. The Rapids mascot, RapidMan, and Arsenal’s mascot, Gunnersaurus Rex, mingled with fans.
Jayden Jackson and Olivia Angus attended the watch party together. Jackson, a Denver native, said that seeing Kroenke's success with his other teams convinced him to be an Arsenal supporter.
"We just have a really good following here in Denver," he said. "Kroenke brought the Denver Nuggets a championship and he brought one to the Gunners last year and so we’re rocking with the team.”
Jackson was wearing the club's red home kit and Angus was donning the blue bruised banana away kit, which Jackson called "gorgeous."
“We definitely got the best jerseys in the Premier League this year," he said.
Premier League announces Denver as host for 13th Premier League Mornings Live fan fest
At the Arsenal watch party, the Premier League announced it is returning to Denver on October 10 and 11 for the 13th edition of its “Premier League Mornings Live” event. The free fan fest has seen 120,000 total fans attend its previous stops in the Tampa area, Kansas City, Chicago, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, Boston, New York and Washington, D.C.
"Denver shows up for signature events like this. That's why it's exciting for us," Matthew Payne, executive director of the Denver Sports Commission, said in the media roundtable. "... We've had a really good run with soccer events here, either at Empower Field or Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. We've had really good sellouts. People like their soccer here, so we're excited to show off the signature event for Premier League."
Denver's strong local soccer scene includes the Rapids and NWSL's Denver Summit, who are in their inaugural season and Payne said has given the sports community an "extra boost." USWNT stars Mallory Swanson, Lindsey Heaps and Sophia Wilson, along with 2022 No. 2 pick Jaelin Howell, all call Colorado home.
USMNT great Tim Howard, who holds the record for most saves in a World Cup match and played with Premier League clubs Manchester United and Everton, had a stint with the Rapids.
The Premier League said that Colorado soccer fans have an interest that goes beyond their rectangular state.
"What we have seen in Denver is that fans are getting up early to watch their favorite clubs and players on a regular basis," Jain said. "It's a very important market for our broadcast partners, NBC and USA. We've seen great viewership figures here."
Cole added that the Premier League making an effort to connect with supporters in the U.S. is a sign of appreciation and reciprocation for their efforts.
"We will travel here, and we'll show support and we respect and give you your praise because we know you have to wake up really, really early in the morning to watch the games," he said. "It's more of a little thank you for everything you've done for us."
Those early birds might get to see themselves on TV because “Premier League Mornings Live” serves as the backdrop for the Premier League's television coverage and features Howard, Rebecca Lowe and other popular media personalities.
“Premier League Mornings Live” will be held at Union Station in downtown Denver. The building reopened in 2014 after extensive renovations and has now become a hot spot for local celebrations, including Colorado Rockies Opening Day festivities and Summit FC's inaugural kit reveal.
"For NBC, it's important for them to have an iconic location that's the backdrop of that broadcast," Jain said. " ... Union Station really rose to the top of that list, an iconic space in the city, which is centrally located, well-connected, and then provides the footprint for us to create that in-person activation. So all those ingredients really, really pointed to this being a perfect location."
"With the transit options that happen here at Union Station, it kind of being the barbell connector to the spine of the city with 16th Street happening and going all the way into Civic Center Park, connects to all of our hotels, restaurants, it makes a lot of sense for a gathering place for a lot of people," Payne added.
Through events like this, the Premier League wants supporters in the U.S. to know they are seen.
"The Premier League is felt every day across America," Jain said. "And if you want to engage with it, we're here to offer you these amazing experiences."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Premier League kicks off US campaign with Arsenal watch party in Denver
