Looking to capitalize on the recent rise in interest in the World Cup — and looking to follow-up on their inaugural event in 2024 — the Statewide Hispanic Chamber and Evolvere Consulting announced the 2025 version of ‘Countdown to the World Cup,’ will be held June 10 at American Dream.
Luis De La Hoz, chairman of the chamber, said the event aims to bring together main street business — stores that can be greatly impacted by the World Cup.
The event, which is open to all, will be a celebration of the event — and an education on how businesses and local municipalities can benefit.
“We want to keep building the momentum,” De La Hoz said. “This event is really important to local communities, especially our main street businesses.
“In the next six months there are going to be a lot of private events, we want to offer something to the public where everybody is welcome.”
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De La Hoz and Gus Penaranda, the CEO of Evolvere Consulting, having been leading efforts to educate the community.
The two, combined with Elisa Charters, the founder of the Juego.Juegos social scheduling app, created a resource guide — a 9-page PDF guide, which can be found on the website of the N.J. Diverse Business Advisory Council.
The event will be an outgrowth of that and more.
De La Hoz said main street business will be looked upon as leaders — and not just for spots that attract tourists.
“They also have a social responsibility to do more than just sales,” he said. “For example, one of the biggest problems around a global event is human trafficking. The traffickers don’t go to big box super stores, they will go to the local bodega owner or the local grocery store. It’s another reason main street businesses need to be educated.”
That education will come in many places at many times.
Penaranda said the group is hoping to bring their ‘Countdown to the World Cup’ kickoff to Atlantic City around Labor Day.
“We want to bring our message to the South Jersey/Philadelphia market,” he said. “This is going to be a huge event. We can’t do enough to help everyone prepare for it.”
