2 days ago
Women's sports bars are booming across the U.S.
Women's sports bars are springing up in multiple cities, growing from one to 11 in just three years.
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: Six women's sports bars have opened this year, with as many as 17 on the way in various stages of funding and construction.
At least eight have announced plans to open by the end of this year. Others have indicated 2026 or have not specified a timeline.
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 and Tumble Pub in Seattle followed later that year.
By the end of 2024, three more had opened: A Bar of Their Own in Minneapolis; Watch Me! Sports Bar in Long Beach, California; and The 99ers Sports Bar in Denver.
What they're saying: The bars "galvanize the community," says Kaitlyn Laabs, who is making a documentary about women's sports bars called "Untapped."
"They've become centers of social, economic and political power in the communities where they exist."
The vibe: Bar owners mix the fun and camaraderie of team sports with an atmosphere that's welcoming to everyone, including nontraditional sports fans and the LGBTQ+ community.
"Let's bring people in that have always been a little timid about going to a sports bar," says Monica Brady, co-owner of upcoming Kansas City women's sports bar The Dub.
Friction point: Some bar owners, such as Watch Me! owner Jax Diener, have gotten sexist and anti-LGBTQ+ hate.
Between the lines: Many of these bar owners also struggle to secure small-business loans, increasing the barrier to opening, Laabs says.
Brady tells Axios she and her business partner were rejected for a loan four times. She said lenders cited high collateral requirements, risk, and inexperience in the industry as factors in the rejections.
Many women's sports bar owners have turned to crowdfunding.
Stunning stat: In 2023, women received less than a third of the Small Business Administration's loans despite owning about 43% of America's small businesses, according to the SBA.
