Rikki's to open in San Francisco amid women's sports bar boom
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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."
What's next: Rikki's opening date will be announced in the coming weeks. Located at 2223 Market St.