Thousands of people are expected in downtown Dallas Friday night as Argentina fans return to Klyde Warren Park ahead of their team’s next match and another major event draws crowds just blocks away. The celebration comes less than a week after an estimated 20,000 Argentina supporters packed Kly de Warren Park before Monday’s match, creating a lively atmosphere that officials say they are prepared to handle again. Dallas police said traffic along Woodall Rodgers Freeway had been moving smoothly on Friday afternoon, but officers are focused on safely managing large crowds and heavy traffic as people head downtown after work. Devon Palk, deputy chief of the Dallas Police Department’s Central Patrol Division, said Friday’s timing presents additional challenges compared with the earlier celebration. “I think the biggest difference is with it being on a Friday, so, you know, we do have businesses where folks are getting off of work, not only you’re around the park, but throughout the downtown core. So it’s going to be managing that traffic of the folks coming to the event as well as everyone that’s trying to leave work for the weekend,” Palk said. Police are not planning any street closures but may temporarily block roads if needed to safely move pedestrians. “The biggest, you know, areas around the park here, of course, are the Woodall roads of service roads between St. Paul and Pearl,” Palk said. Dallas police said Klyde Warren Park has hired additional off-duty officers for the event, and the department is deploying extra resources while not anticipating any major issues. Area employers, including Hunt and the Federal Reserve, were advised about the potential for heavy traffic near Klyde Warren Park. Less than a half-mile away, another 10,000 people are expected for the Dallas Arts District’s Flora Street Live festival, which begins at 6 p.m. and stretches along Flora Street from the Meyerson Symphony Center to the Moody Arts Center. Andrea Kim with the Dallas Arts District said organizers are ready for the increase in visitors. “Dallas wants to welcome all visitors from all ranges, and it just so happens to be in the middle of FIFA,” Kim said. Kim said the district has added security and traffic control measures. “We hired additional DPD officers to be crosswalk attendants, and PSO officers, as well, to assist with the traffic control of the region,” said Kim. Police are encouraging anyone attending the events to follow officers’ directions as they manage vehicle and pedestrian traffic throughout the evening. “The biggest thing is, you know, as you see officers out here, if they’re directing traffic or helping people across the street, just follow their instructions,” Palk said. Klyde Warren Park is scheduled to close at 11 p.m. Park officials said the venue has hosted several events with crowds of around 10,000 people and has accommodated as many as 35,000 visitors in the past. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. ...read more read less