Scotland Fans Win Hearts and Boost Business in Boston

In just over a week, the Tartan Army have drunk the bars of Boston dry and won the heart of the city and its people.

It is estimated around 50,000 Scotland fans have visited the city in the period surrounding Scotland's two group stage matches.

Scotland will play Morocco in the city later and afterwards the hordes of fans that have called the city home for the past week or so are expected to head to Florida.

Many locals say they will be sad to see the Scottish football fans go.

Countless videos of the Tartan Army's exploits have gone viral.

From signing and dancing at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox baseball team, to playing the bagpipes in the suburbs of the city, Bostonians have loved every minute of it.

It's been good for business too.

Devon Savage from Boston Beer which owns the Samuel Adams Taproom said the Tartan Army had "drunk them dry".

She added: "For perspective, from Thursday-Sunday, the Tartan Army drank four times as much Boston Lager as we run through on a typical four-day holiday stretch like 4th of July.

"We had to schedule an 'emergency delivery' on Saturday morning. "We sold over 3,000 pints of Boston Lager over the weekend, with our teams picking up 70 empty kegs on Monday."

A number of other local pubs also reported record sales, beating major events like the super bowl and St Patricks Day.

Sean Hemenway, 28 from Boston said Scotland tops have been flying off the shelves at his classic football strip store.

He said: "By 14:45 on game day, we had sold 67 units. That's a ton. Even USA strips were 29 off the pace.

"I've noticed a lot of Bostonians coming in to buy Scotland tops after meeting the fans out, and Americans don't pledge their allegiance for other countries like that.

"Once the Scots are gone it'll be a day of mourning. You guys are a part of Boston now."

But for locals, the visitors have brought much more to the city than a boost in sales.

In the public park Boston Common on Wednesday a gathering of Bostonians was organised on social media as a chance to bring people together. Hundreds of people showed up.

Those who attended swapped Irn Bru and Root Beer, while Scots and Americans alike chanted "No Scotland, No Party".

One of those who were there was 30 year-old Steve Castigilone from Boston.

"I have completely fallen in love with Scottish people. They've made the cold-hearted Bostonians all warm up," he said.

"You have brought so much joy to our city and we don't ever want you to leave," he said. "I'm not a soccer fan, but I'm now a dedicated Scotland fan."

Christian Harrington, 21, from the suburbs of Boston said: "This is a great sports city, but I think the energy has been low. If our sports teams aren't doing well the city is sad.

"But having you guys here has changed that. You came at such a good time, we needed it. I'm starting a petition to have it renamed from New England to New Scotland."

It's hard to put into words the warmth felt here for the Tartan Army.

Just walking down the street in Boston wearing any type of Scotland merchandise will result in people waving, saying hi or shouting "good luck Scotland".

Many of the people we've spoken to have put the connection down to the "warmth" and "energy" shown by the Tartan Army, as well as historic celtic connections.

There have even been calls for what many people are calling the "cultural exchange" to become a regular occurrence and many Americans have pledged to visit Scotland in the near future.

The state's governor signed an executive order to make Haggis legal again in Massachusetts- although it is still banned by federal law.