The tournament hasn’t even started yet but you can consider our excitement well and truly through the roof because we can now confirm that Road to Victory, the hugely successful fan zone which debuted at the 2022 World Cup, is coming back to Manchester for Euro 2024.
Presented by entertainment pioneers AIX Live – ‘amplified immersive experience’ – Road to Victory (Rtv) first landed at Depot Mayfield for its maiden tournament but now the huge fan park is making its much-anticipated return at a brand new venue just down the road.
Set to take over popular beer garden and food hall Diecast for the first time, RtV is set to welcome around 3,000 fans for every Euros match and will be screening every England game for as long as we stay in the tournament.
And it all kicks off with the Three Lions‘ opener against Serbia on 16 June, which starts at 8pm but don’t worry, the party will already be in full swing hours before then.
Diecast is set to transform into a massive fan zone for Euro 2024. (Credit: Road to Victory)
With over 30,000 square feet of Euros action, including space for up to 2,500 standing fans in the sprawling Brooklyn Beer Hall, multiple screens and one large festival LED screen, this place is going to be absolutely bouncing.
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They make sure of that too, creating an incredible atmosphere with a fully immersive light show, making the entire venue light up yellow or red as corresponding coloured cards are given out and other big match moments (hopefully lots of goals), as well plenty of music, cheering and chants throughout.
Pre and post-match entertainment is great too, with DJs from start to finish, live on-stage hosts hyping up the crowd, quizzes, special guests, competitions and much, much more.
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The Road to Victory team has fine-tuned the experience since their inaugural event in 2022 and given how electric the crowd was back then, we can only imagine how good this summer is going to be.
The venue will open 2 hours before KO and the events are strictly 18+ because yes, there will be plenty of pints.
With Diecast‘s unreal food menu also on offer, you’ll be just as sorted for scran as you are the sport. They’ll be serving up their famous ‘NeoPan’ (Neapolitan meets NYC) style pizzas in various flavours, as well as other easy picky bits like their tater tots straight from the Ramona and Firehouse kitchen.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for hospitality packages – which include one pizza per person, sharing tots, plus table service with ice cold beers to your table for up to eight people per booking – they’ll set you back just £20, or you can enquire about larger booking by emailing [email protected].
Fans are also being encouraged to keep an eye on Road to Victory and Diecast social media channels for further booking links and updates ahead of each game. Let’s hope to see more scenes like this next month. It’s coming home.
A ‘legacy walk’ in memory of the Joe Thompson is taking place across Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
The ‘Walk With Me for JT’, a.k.a Joe Thompson ‘Legacy Walk’, is back next month, and Greater Mancunians are being encouraged to take part.
Returning this year following his tragic passing last April, the now annual charity walk has already raised thousands for charity and is set for another big turnout.
Joe Thompson, an ex-Rochdale AFC and Bury FC player, sadly died at just 36 following a long battle with lymphoma, having been diagnosed three different times in 12 years.
While the young husband and father of two’s story is a heartbreaking one, it has also become a source of inspiration for so many across the North West and, indeed, across the UK, with people once again gearing up to complete a fundraising walk in his name.
Set to honour him by making the journey from his adopted home of Rochdale all the way to Old Trafford, with Thompson having come through Man United’s youth academy, the 15-mile trek will start at his former club’s Crown Oil Arena and stop at Bury’s Gigg Lane as well as Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium.
First held in 2024 under the ‘Walk With Me for JT’ banner, the initial legacy walk saw the Bath-born footballer and countless others complete 21 miles in an effort to raise money for treatment.
Gone but never forgotten, the charity walk survives not only in the hearts and souls of his family, friends and other people’s lives he touched, but in the community spirit that his struggle and immense bravery in the face of illness helped spur on throughout the region and beyond.
Writing on social media, the Thompson family and the Foundation in his memory said, “Last year, he walked beside us. This year, we walk for him. This isn’t just a walk… It’s a promise. A promise to carry his strength, his belief, his light forward.
For every family facing illness. For everyone experiencing loss or hardship. For anyone who needs hope right now. Every step matters. Every mile has meaning. Whether you’ve walked before or this is your first time. You won’t walk alone.”
Join the annual Joe Thompson legacy walk on Saturday 2nd May 💙
Departing from the Crown Oil Arena, the 15-mile walk will finish at Manchester United's Old Trafford 🏟️
They signed off by adding: “Be part of something bigger. Be part of Joe’s legacy. Be part of the movement. Get a team together, invite your friends, colleagues and family and let’s raise funds to support The Joe Thompson Foundation.”
With the event beginning at 11am on Saturday, 2 May, there have already been numerous sign-ups, and you can expect even more to lace up their shoes and pay tribute to a local hero.
If you want to join in the effort and help do your bit, you can register for the 2026 Joe Thompson Legacy Walk right HERE.
Tom Aspinall, Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith and more set to join latest Fight Day 5k in Manchester
Danny Jones
Big names from the world of combat sports are returning to town, not just for the next boxing match happening in Greater Manchester, but for the now regular Fight Day 5k alongside it.
Organised with promoters Matchroom Boxing, local club Manchester Road Runners (MRR), along with a number of other sponsors like Everlast, they’re hoping to make this one of their biggest yet.
Plus, with the likes of Manc MMA star Tom Aspinall in tow and Eddie Hearn himself set to lead the route around central Manchester, there’s just as much reason to be excited by the morning run as there is the next fight.
This event has happened multiple times in 0161 before, but with more people expected to turn up than ever and a homegrown fighter following up later in the day, this one feels extra special.
Scheduled fresh on Good Friday, 3 April (after all, fighters get up earlier than most), the 5k jog around the city centre will be hosted from House of Social – who have been teaming up with MRR for weekly running events since last November – and a whole host of other familiar names are due to join in.
Better still, there’ll be lots of fun to be had later on too, with participants encouraged not only to turn up early and soak up the atmosphere, but to stick around afterwards for a chance to meet Matchroom talents, as well as enjoy a thoroughly deserved post-run drink and chill.
Plus, in case you haven’t tried it before, the scran at House of Social is top-notch and well worth a try.
This latest Fight Day 5k is, of course, being hosted ahead of Sale-born rising star Pat Brown taking on Vasil Ducar on Friday night.
Facing off against the Czech fighter at the Planet Ice arena in Altrincham, the native Team GB boxer couldn’t have put things plainer in his pre-match presser…
So much for trash-talk: he just told everyone how it is.
This will be just the 26-year-old’s sixth fight as a pro, but having won all of his first five fights last year by knockout, we have a sneaking suspicion 2026 is going to be his year.
In terms of his opponent, Ducar is a much more experienced challenge than he’s ever faced before, with a record of 19-7-2 – 14 of those wins also being KOs.
There are still tickets left for the fight, which will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN from 7pm (ringwalks at approximately 9:39pm), and for those of you who want to join in with the partnered Fight Day 5k, you can sign up completely free right HERE.
Danny Jones -
23rd May 2024 
