So, Euro 2024 kicked off. Big football fan here, so naturally, I wanted to catch the games. Then I remembered, oh right, I’m in Shenzhen.
The Time Zone Problem
First thing I did was check the match times. Germany’s hosting, which means… yep, crazy hours for us here. We’re talking 9 PM, 12 AM, and the killer 3 AM kickoffs. My sleep schedule already took one look at that and started crying.
Okay, where to watch?
My first thought was, maybe I can just stream it at home. Easy, right? Wrong. Fired up the usual websites on my laptop. Some were blocked, some were super laggy, like watching a slideshow. Found a couple of Chinese platforms, but my Mandarin isn’t quite good enough to enjoy the commentary, honestly. It just wasn’t the same vibe.
So, plan B: find a bar. That’s the proper way anyway, right? Get some atmosphere.
The Hunt for a Bar
Started searching around. Asked a few buddies. Looked on Meituan and Dianping. Seemed like the best bets were over in Shekou or maybe Futian CBD, places where more foreigners hang out. Found a list of potential sports bars that might stay open late for the games.
- Some places said they’d show the 9 PM games, maybe the 12 AM ones.
- Finding one reliably open for the 3 AM matches? That was tougher.
My First Real Attempt
Decided to try for the England game. Think it was a midnight kickoff, not the worst. Picked a spot in Futian that looked promising online. Got a Didi, headed over. The place was decently busy, a mix of locals and expats. They had the game on multiple screens, which was good.
The atmosphere was okay, not electric like back home, but people were watching. Grabbed a beer. Then another. Watching football makes you thirsty, you know? Problem was, getting home after 2 AM. Finding a Didi took ages. And yeah, work the next morning was rough. Really rough.
Trying the 3 AM Challenge
A few days later, there was a game I really wanted to see, but it was a 3 AM start. Italy, I think. Debated just skipping it. Sleep is important, guys. But the FOMO kicked in. Found a bar in Shekou this time, heard it was the spot for late games.
Getting there wasn’t too bad, but man, staying awake until 3 AM just to start watching? That takes dedication. Or maybe just poor life choices. The bar was packed, mostly expats, really into it. Felt a bit more like a proper football crowd. Stayed for the whole thing. Left around 5 AM. Felt like a zombie.
So, What’s the Verdict?
Watching Euro 2024 in Shenzhen? It’s doable. But it takes effort. More effort than just flipping on the TV back home.
- You gotta fight the time difference.
- You gotta find the right spot, ’cause not everywhere stays open or shows the games.
- You gotta be prepared for late nights and tired mornings.
- Or you find a reliable stream, maybe get a 加速器 sorted, and watch quietly at home in your PJs.
For me, I ended up mostly catching the 9 PM games, sometimes the midnight ones if I didn’t have an early start. The 3 AM games? Only for the really big matches, or if I had a day off after. Mostly relied on highlights the next day. It’s just tough balancing being a fan with, you know, actual life and sleep here in Shenzhen.
It’s an experience, for sure. Makes you appreciate watching games at normal hours! But hey, finding those little pockets of football fans in the middle of the night, sharing a beer, it has its own charm too.
