The first women's sports bar in Columbus is taking shape
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Columbus has no shortage of sports bars, but a new project aims to create a dedicated environment for cheering on female athletes.
Why it matters: Women's sports are booming — with fans that engage at a higher rate than those of men's sports — but there are few public spaces emphasizing their events.
Driving the news: Amy Cooper, a lifelong athlete and Columbus firefighter, is looking to open Raise the Bar, which would be the city's first women's sports bar.
The vibe: Cooper grew up in Youngstown, where her grandfather owned a tavern, and has fond memories of sports bars that were welcoming and friendly rather than rowdy and boozy.
- "Everybody knows your name," she tells Axios. "It's a stop on your way home from the grocery store and a lot more community-oriented."
Between the lines: Cooper says there are some "awesome" sports bars in Columbus, but she knows it's a struggle to convince them to show women's sports on the TVs — let alone turn on the sound.
- "It might sound like no big deal, but the fact that we have to walk in and encounter that and ask and get the eye roll … it's not an environment I want to be in."
The big picture: Cooper is far from alone.
- From Caitlin Clark to the growth of the NWSL, interest is skyrocketing.
- Raise the Bar is inspired by concepts in other cities, especially Minneapolis' A Bar of Their Own, and similar bars have popped up in Portland, Pittsburgh and Austin.
What they're doing: For now, Raise the Bar is still in fundraising mode, hosting watch parties at bars like Rumours and Land Grant and looking for partnerships with other establishments and professional teams.
- Cooper has been in touch with the Fury, the Squirrels, the Eagles, the Chaos, OSU women's basketball and even Ohio Roller Derby.
Behind the scenes: Cooper already has the support of one of Central Ohio's sporting greats, Basketball Hall of Famer Katie Smith, a Logan native who had her number retired at Ohio State.
- Smith tells Axios that Columbus has a "great fanbase" for women's sports, and she is excited to be able to watch games with fellow fans.
What they're saying: "Having a focal point for women's sports is something near and dear to me," Smith says. "I'm pumped that there are more and more people who want to support and go to these spots. To have one in Columbus would be amazing."
What's next: Now it's time to find a location.
- Cooper says she knows it's going to be "centrally located" but is keeping an open mind.