Latest news with #Untapped
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
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.
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Seattle pub helps lead women's sports bar revolution
Women's sports bars are on the rise — and Seattle is helping lead the charge. 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.
Axios
5 days ago
- Business
- Axios
The Sports Bra, a women's sports bar franchise, is coming to Boston
The Sports Bra, a franchise dedicated to women's sports, is expanding to Boston, the company announced this week. The big picture: The Sports Bra is will be the third Boston-area bar to show predominantly women's sports — a space that's on the rise in the U.S. What's happening: The Sports Bra didn't say when or where the Boston franchise would open, but noted that it would air games from the Boston Fleet hockey team, Boston Legacy FC and other women's sports teams. Franchises are also opening in Indianapolis, Las Vegas and St. Louis, the company announced. The Sports Bra will be in good company in Boston, joining Parlor Sports in Somerville and fully-women-owned Drawdown Brewing in Jamaica Plain. Zoom out: Six women's sports bars have opened this year, with as many as 17 on the way. 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.
Axios
6 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Rikki's to open in San Francisco amid women's sports bar boom
Bars dedicated to women's sports are having a moment — including in San Francisco. Why it matters: With viewership and attendance for women's sports soaring — including with the debut of the city's first WNBA team — fans are building new hubs that are about more than simply watching games. Driving the news: Six women's sports bars have opened nationally 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 haven't specified a timeline. Zoom in: Rikki's, San Francisco's first bar dedicated to playing all women's sports, is expected to open in mid-June in the Castro. The bar is named after Rikki Streicher, a community leader who owned several lesbian bars in San Francisco for many decades — including the historic Maud's, the city's first, which operated for 23 years and inspired a documentary after it closed in 1989. Streicher's bars served as cultural beacons that were especially meaningful in a time when lesbians were often unable to openly express their sexuality and women were legally prohibited from bartending. What they're saying: Rikki's aims to honor the late gay rights activist's legacy by serving as an inclusive space to find community and convene to cheer on women's sports, its co-founder Sara Yergovich told Axios. "People are so excited — the response has been phenomenal," she said. "It's the perfect time with the Bay FC, the Valkyries and this increased professional-level interest in women's sports in San Francisco. It felt like all the stars were aligning." Zoom out: Beyond San Francisco, The Sports Bra in Portland opened in April 2022, followed by Rough and Tumble Pub in Seattle and Whiskey Girl Tavern in Chicago 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 to expect: The fun and camaraderie of team sports with an atmosphere that's welcoming to everyone, including non-traditional sports fans and the LGBTQ+ community. The bottom line:"They've become centers of social, economic and political power in the communities where they exist," said Kaitlyn Laabs, who is making a documentary about women's sports bars called "Untapped."
Kuwait Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Three challenges England face as Test season begins
LONDON: Ben Stokes's England face Zimbabwe on Thursday at the start of a defining year of Test cricket with sterner challenges on the horizon against India and Australia. The four-day match at Trent Bridge will be followed by a five-Test series against India starting in July before England attempt to wrestle the Ashes from Australia later this year. AFP Sport looks at three of the key issues facing England's red-ball side: Ben Stokes' fitness The England skipper is making a determined attempt to resume his Test career as a fully fledged all-rounder, even abstaining from alcohol to return to peak fitness. Stokes is due to make his Test return against Zimbabwe, ranked 10th globally, having been sidelined since December after tearing his left hamstring in New Zealand. He rushed back from a similar injury last year and was unable to play a full part with the ball. Stokes said he had changed his approach to rehabilitation this time, cutting out alcohol. 'There's so much more cricket, there's so much more in the schedule that it's just impossible for the body to be able to withstand all of that anyway without the downsides of what a couple of beers at the end of the day can do to you for the next day,' Stokes told the Untapped podcast. The 33-year-old averages 35.55 with the bat, including 13 hundreds in his 110 Tests, with his lively seam bowling yielding 210 wickets at a shade over 32 apiece. But those figures are deceptive and do not tell the full story of Stokes' capacity for match-winning contributions. England would love to deploy him as a genuine fourth seamer as this would allow them to field three fast bowlers without weakening their batting. Life after Broad and Anderson This will be England's first home summer for years without either Stuart Broad and James Anderson, the pair ranking as their country's highest wicket-takers in Test cricket. Anderson retired last year and replacing a pair who took 1,308 Test wickets between them was never going to be an easy task. England's plan to rely on express pace has been hampered by injuries to Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Olly Stone and, more recently, Brydon Carse. Showing a degree of flexibility in their thinking beyond the use of sheer pace, England have now picked uncapped Essex paceman Sam Cook to face Zimbabwe. Cook has taken 321 first-class wickets at an impressive average of under 20 without being lightning fast. Top-order problems Zak Crawley averages 30.51 in 53 Tests, with just four hundreds. These are modest figures for an opening batsman, with Crawley struggling badly on the recent tour of New Zealand. Yet England coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes have kept faith in the stylish 27-year-old. The aggressive way he bats fits in well with the team's attacking 'Bazball' approach to Test cricket and he has the capacity to build big innings, with a double century to his name. Ollie Pope, so long England's preferred option at number three, is another batsman badly in need of a big score. Pope deserves credit for taking on a position that star batsman Joe Root does not like, but an average of just over 34 from 55 Tests is testament to a career that has blown hot and cold. It is asking a lot to expect Root and rising star Harry Brook to keep bailing England out. Runs at the top of the order will be vital in their quest to build towards the series against a powerful India team and top-ranked Australia. — AFP
