Seattle pub helps lead women's sports bar revolution
Why it matters: With viewership and attendance for women's sports soaring, fans are building new hubs that are about more than simply watching games.
Driving the news: Three years ago, there was only one women's sports bar nationwide — now, there are a dozen, says Kaitlyn Laabs, who is making a documentary about them.
Six women's sports bars have opened this year, per Laabs' count, with as many as 21 on the way in various stages of funding and construction.
Catch up quick: It all started with The Sports Bra, a Portland bar dedicated to supporting and showing women's sports founded by Jenny Nguyen in April 2022.
Rough & Tumble Pub in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood followed later that year.
By the end of 2024, three more women's sports bars had opened across the country.
What they're saying: The bars "galvanize the community," says Laabs, whose upcoming documentary about women's sports bars is called "Untapped."
The vibe: Bar owners mix the fun and camaraderie of team sports with an atmosphere that's welcoming to everyone, including nontraditional sports fans, according to Monica Brady, co-owner of Kansas City's upcoming women's sports bar The Dub.
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