Providence Set to Sign Friendship Pact with Ayr, Scotland After Hosting Thousand of Scottish Soccer Fans Over the Summer
Celebrations are planned during St. Andrew's Weekend and will conclude with the signing at Providence City Hall.
Photo by N.Millard courtesy of GoProvidence.
It would be difficult to forget the impact the Scottish soccer fans had on Providence when they visited the city this summer for the 2026 World Cup. Men in kilts marched the streets, bars were full of jovial banter, and traffic cones were placed atop the heads of every statue in the city.
On Tuesday, November 10th, Mayor Brett Smiley, along with Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa, Providence City Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, GoProvidence President and CEO Kristen Adamo, and Christopher Marsella of Track15, gathered to announce that Providence is officially signing a friendship pact with the town of Ayr, Scotland. Additionally, it was announced that Providence will host its first ever St. Andrew’s Weekend this month, from November 27th to November 30th.
St. Andrew’s Weekend is intended to honor the lasting connections made this summer between the people of Providence and those of Scotland. While the friendship pact with Ayr is an official formalization of that connection, St Andrew’s Weekend is a tangible way for Providence to celebrate the Tartan Army. Bars and restaurants around the city are offering special promotions for the weekend: G Pub is offering a 25 percent discount on food to anyone wearing a Scotland jersey, Track 15 is offering an array of whiskey specials and is setting up a curling sheet so guests can try their hand at the sport, and Hot Club will hold a contest for anyone who posts a photo of themselves in the bar with a Scottish flag to potentially win a Narragansett beer a day for the month of December.
Of the partnership, Mayor Brett Smiley said, “Scottish fans came to Providence to cheer on their team, and discovered an incredible destination in Providence. They filled our local businesses, gave back to our community and went home determined to keep the friendship going. This pact gives us a way to do that, and St. Andrew’s Weekend gives everyone in Providence a chance to be part of it.”
The Tartan Army gave back to Providence’s community in a way that runs much deeper than soccer. While they were here, they raised $10,000 for Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The impact of their generosity led to GoProvidence and Rhode Island Sports Commission’s recent donation of $5,000 to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, a number that was then matched by a group of Providence bars and restaurants, leading to a total donation of nearly $15,000 to Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charities, which serves communities in South Ayrshire.
Ward 5 Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan stated that “This summer’s World Cup brought so many international soccer fans to our city, who then in turn became fans of Providence. We discovered that the enthusiasm of our Scottish guests, in particular, could only be matched by Providence’s hospitality. Today, we are turning the friendships built during that time into a lasting bond between our two communities. May this friendship mark the beginning of many years of cultural exchange, shared opportunity, and enduring goodwill between Providence and Ayr, Scotland.”
The friendship pact between Providence and Ayr is intended to strengthen the existing bond between the two cities, as well as creating new opportunities for tourism, business, education, and cultural exchange. St. Andrew’s Weekend will be rounded out with a friendship pact signing ceremony with South Ayrshire government officials on Monday, November 30th at Providence City Hall.
Said Kristen Adamo, GoProvidence President and CEO, “When the Tartan Army arrived in Providence, they flooded our restaurants, bars and local businesses. It was an electric summer in the city. Their energy and excitement was palpable. We met new friends, learned new traditions and now we are trying to bring some of that energy back to our local community by celebrating St. Andrew’s Day weekend.”
“We’ve invited Gregor Cowan, the towering, kilt-wearing, red bearded Scotsman who led the Tartan Army march this past summer, to return with his fellow Tartan Army colleague Jason Skimming. So put on your kilt, wear your jersey, and join the celebration. Whether your ancestry is Scottish –or if you want to be Scottish for a day– we’re inviting everyone to participate in the St. Andrew’s Day Weekend festivities.”
Stay on the lookout for more St Andrew’s Weekend events and promotions as it approaches by checking the GoProvidence website here.
