Metra warns of high ridership Thursday thanks to World Cup

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Metra is bracing for higher ridership Thursday as Chicagoland residents head to Grant Park to watch the World Cup match between the U.S. and Germany.

The match is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. CT and event organizers say they will begin admitting spectators to the Butler Field viewing party site at 10 a.m. They will not be adding any extra trains because of the event, and are warning riders to expect minor delays due to longer dwell times at stations to accommodate the extra riders, as well as very full train cars especially immediately before and after the event. Morning and evening rush hour trains may also be fuller than normal.

Metra is also banning alcohol from all trains on Thursday. Fans are not permitted to bring their own alcoholic beverages to the viewing event at Butler Field either. Metra will also increase its police presence on trains and in stations Thursday.

Sunday's viewing event to watch the match between the U.S. and Portugal drew more than 20,000 people to Grant Park, and Thursday's match is expected to draw an even larger crowd.