More women's sports bars in the works, including in Michigan
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Women's sports bars are springing up across the U.S., 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.
Zoom in: Detroit is among the cities building excitement around women's sports, with local leaders saying they feel optimistic about landing a new WNBA team.
Driving the news: Six women's sports bars have opened this year in the U.S., with as many as 17 on the way in various stages of funding and construction.
- That 17 includes the Final Period, a women-owned sports bar concept in Michigan that hasn't yet determined a location and has sought crowdfunding support.
- Plus, another, yet-unnamed women's sports bar aims to open in Detroit and held a pop-up last month.
Catch up quick: One successful example in the sector is The Sports Bra, a Portland bar dedicated to supporting and showing women's sports, founded in 2022. It is expanding to four more cities: Boston, Las Vegas, Indianapolis and St. Louis.
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.