Nomad World Pub packed during World Cup's first game: Most unfazed by "favela" display

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- An East Side bar is being called racist, insensitive and belittling, but it is not stopping soccer fans from flocking there. The Nomad World Pub designated an outdoor space to look like a Brazilian slum. On Thursday, as the World Cup kicked off, the bar was packed with fans unfazed by the display -- and those from Brazil say they're not offended by the set up.

At the Nomad World Pub on Thursday, June 12th -- all eyes were on the bar's television sets.

Fans watched Brazil and Croatia battle it out on the field.

What happened during the game wasn't the only source of tension at the bar.

The bar's outdoor space has been made to look like a Brazilian favela, or slum. The design has drawn criticism from people on blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

Writer Dave Zirin tweeted: "Favelas are no joke, and it's not a Samba frat party."

Others echoed his sentiment.

"I feel very strongly that the literal living conditions of other people are not theme parks for us to play in at all," Ryan Findley said.

Fans at the bar from Brazil say the design isn't insensitive.

"It's honoring the hardworking people of the favelas of Brazil. It's like having a little piece of Brazil in Milwaukee and that pleases me," Cassio Muniz said.

Like it or not, the favela replica will stay as the World Cup continues.

On Wednesday, June 11th, there was some talk of a possible protest -- but nothing like that happened on Thursday.

The owner of the Nomad World Pub says the intention wasn't to offend.