🔍 The background
Now is the perfect time to be a women’s sports fan. With more extensive media coverage and increased exposure, it’s easier than ever to watch your favorite athletes and leagues, reaching a wider fanbase. Despite the availability of various streaming channels and subscriptions, finding your team’s game at home can still be a challenge, not to mention finding it at a bar.
Bars are a significant part of sports culture, offering a space to connect and commiserate. However, even though they are not labeled as “men’s sports bars,” there is an unwritten expectation that men’s sports will dominate the screens. While major events like FIFA Women’s World Cups watch parties draw large crowds, it can be difficult to replicate that excitement or secure screen time once the tournament ends. More often than not, women’s sports fans have to settle for a small TV in the corner, if the game is shown at all.
Despite these challenges, bars dedicated to women’s sports are emerging across North America, demonstrating their popularity and profitability. From Vogue to NPR to Forbes, both the public and investors are recognizing the value of providing a welcoming and safe space for women’s sports fans. If you build it, they will come.
🏅 The trailblazer
2512 NE Broadway Street. Make a note of this address – The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon. This now-famous bar was just an idea in Jenny Nguyen’s mind as she watched the thrilling 2018 NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball final on a small, muted TV at a pub. The desire to create a space to watch, celebrate, and support women’s sports lingered with Nguyen, but it wasn’t until she lost her job as an executive chef in 2020 due to the pandemic that the idea started taking shape.
Despite facing challenges in securing loans during a tumultuous time, the women’s sports community rallied behind Nguyen and raised over $100K through her Kickstarter campaign. The Sports Bra officially opened on April 1, 2022, just in time for the NCAA women’s Final Four. The bar received overwhelming support from customers and media coverage has been continuous.
Along with the Kickstarter funds, Nguyen invested her life savings to open The Bra, and within eight months, the bar recorded nearly $1M in revenue. This success caught the attention of entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams’ husband, who invested in the bar with plans to franchise it.
🌟 Names to know
☕ Rough & Tumble Pub | Seattle, Washington
Founded by soccer enthusiast Jen Barnes, Rough & Tumble Pub is Seattle’s hub for women’s sports. Opening shortly after The Sports Bra in December 2022, the pub has quickly become one of the top sports bars in Seattle, with 18 TVs and seating for 250 fans. Barnes and the pub are part of the ownership group for the new USL W League team, Salmon Bay FC, which includes NWSL players, WNBA owners, and former MLS players.
⚾ A Bar of Their Own | Minneapolis, Minnesota
Inspired by The Sports Bra, Jillian Hiscock opened a women’s sports-focused bar after struggling to find a place to watch the Minnesota Gophers women’s softball team play in the NCAA tournament. A Bar of Their Own, opened in March 2024, has quickly become a favorite among Twin City sports fans, with support from prominent figures like Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Minnesota Lynx and Team USA women’s basketball.
⚽ The 99ers Sports Bar | Denver, Colorado
Dedicated to the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup-winning USWNT squad, The 99ers Sports Bar will open its doors on November 22nd in Denver. Co-founded by Annie Weaver and Miranda Spencer, former teammates turned business partners, the bar aims to provide equal coverage of women’s and men’s college basketball, promoting parity in Mile High City.
📢 In their own words
Watching sports in person is made even more special by the people you watch it with. Here are some quotes from women’s sports bar owners and customers about what makes each space unique and welcoming.
“Rough & Tumble is not just a fantastic restaurant and sports pub – it’s a place where people from all walks of life can come together to catch a game or participate in events celebrating local teams and athletes, with a focus on women’s sports.”
— Kate Lambert, Rough & Tumble regular
“A Bar of Their Own provides a safe and comfortable space for everyone to come together over women’s sports. It’s a true community where we can share our passion for women’s sports and support each other through the highs and lows of the games.”
— Jillian Hiscock, A Bar of Their Own owner
“By promoting equality and offering a dedicated space for women’s sports fans, we are not only growing the fan base but also changing the way we view sports fandom together.”
— Jen Barnes, Founder & CEO, Rough & Tumble Pub
“From the moment Rough & Tumble opened, my friends and I have dubbed it ‘headquarters.’ It’s a safe place where I can be my true self and share my love for women’s sports with like-minded individuals.”
— Rachel Horgan, The Weekly Podcast
