Where The Action Is

The Number of Gay Sports Bars Across the U.S. is on the Rise

That’s good news for sports fans in our community, who want and deserve a place where they can hang out with like-minded friends and catch their favorite teams. This March Madness, the following gay sports bars will be rocking with college basketball fans wearing their team’s colors and chanting things like “Bear Down,’ “TAR … HEELS” and “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!

Roscoes on 7th
4531 N. 7th St. Phoenix
This long-standing central Phoenix neighborhood sports bar has been collecting accolades since it opened in 1996. By always staying one step ahead of their clientele to provide a top-notch sports environment, they’ve maintained their status not just as a great gay sports bar, but as one of Phoenix’s best sports bars period. Cardinals, Suns, Diamondbacks and ASU Sun Devils are naturally popular, but since the Valley of the Sun welcomes transplants from all over, the odds are decent you’ll find a fellow (fill-in-the-blank) fan at Roscoes. With 13 LCD screens and some of the best “bar food” in town, there’s no reason to stay home for March Madness this year; the craziness can be found at Roscoes on 7th.

Sidelines Sports Bar
2031-A Wilton Dr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
All of south Florida knows about Sidelines, which carries the torch as that region’s only gay sports bar. Located in the gay mecca known as Wilton Manors, sports fans are never more than a few feet from a hi-def screen, so catching tournament games here is a breeze. The owners never take a day off from ensuring the best possible experience for their patrons, and it shows. In early 2011 they reopened after a $20,000 renovation, and are boasting a new smoke-free policy. Staying ahead of the curve is the way Sidelines stays on top as one of the country’s most admired gay sports bars.

Gym Sports Bar
167 8th Ave. New York City
Guys head to Gym because they like men, sports and a good time. And all three of those things can be found in heaps, thanks to a reputation in the community that keeps growing and growing. Here the competition to stay afloat can be fierce, which is why Gym remains both classy and welcoming, and why it is a home for many gay athletes in the city. Gym gives as much to the community as it gets. Oh, and when you watch the NCAA tournament at Gym, you better know your stuff – this is New York City, the biggest sports town in the world!

Nellie’s Sports Bar
900 U St. NW. Washington D.C.
This is probably the most historic of the gay sports bars we are recommending. The building is included on the African-American Heritage Trail, residing in the rich-in-tradition U Street area of D.C. Antique showcases, historic photographs and a vintage scoreboard also add to the old-time feel of the place. Featuring 10 flat-panel TVs, a stadium-sized screen, three distinct bars, free Wi-Fi, and a menu featuring everything from traditional Nachos to Tzatziki and Pita and their famous Nellie Burger, this mid-Atlantic bar is the perfect home to fans of the two biggest powerhouse conferences in the land: the Big East and the ACC. See who comes out on top at Nellie’s.

Woof’s
2425 Piedmont Road NE. Atlanta
The regulars at this eight-year old establishment are very adamant about its status as the best gay bar in the country. We should expect nothing less, since folks down South take their sports very seriously. Sports is number one at Woof’s, being gay is second. But no matter what, you can always find this place bursting at the seams when a big game is on. With 31 televisions occupying the 3,800 square feet, basketball fans can expect to miss none of the action when it comes to a tournament that may have as many as six games going at once.

Fritz
26 Chandler @ Berkley St. Boston
As a pro sports town, Boston has few equals. The fans here love their Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins. College basketball may not be on the same level here, but you can still expect Fritz to be the place to be come tournament time. Boston’s only gay sports bar boasts a high-definition satellite system and six flat screen plasma TVs located throughout the bar, so you'll always get a prime view.
The after-work crowd is always happening at this South End establishment, but count on the action starting even earlier in March, as games tip off just in time for Fritz’s daily opening at Noon.

Crew
4804 N. Broadway St. Chicago
With its close proximity to Wrigley Field, sports is always in the air at Crew. Since 2004 the owners of this establishment have made sure that important sports action is never anything but top priority. The staff here is required to know what games are on and at what time; that may present a challenge with so much happening in the early rounds of the tournament, but the customers here have come to expect it. Big 10 fans have a lot to be excited about this year, so expect them to turn out in droves to Crew, which features 16 DirecTV screens, 3 HDTVs and one giant 92-inch screen as the bar’s centerpiece.

Woody’s Sports and Video Bar
4011 Cedar Springs Rd. Dallas
There are over a dozen gay bars in and near the Oak Lawn area of Dallas, but only one fills the needs for gay sports fans. The key here is the friendly and helpful staff that keeps customers happy and well-imbibed. With two levels and three outdoor patios featuring 20 flat screen TVs, the game you want to watch never has to be out of view. And since football season will have been over by a month (this is Dallas Cowboys territory, after all), expect this 70+ year-old building to be packed to the rafters with basketball fans come tournament time.

Pilsner Inn
225 Church St. San Francisco
Since 1980 Pilsner Inn has been home to many of the Bay Area’s gay sports teams, and a spot many sports fans go to catch their favorite team on TV. It has repeatedly been cited as having the best beer selection in San Francisco, with over 30 on tap. The garden patio is a great retreat for those times when a number 1 seed is playing a number 16. But at all other times you can enjoy the action on two widescreen televisions inside.





Madison Pub
1315 E. Madison St. Seattle
This is a football town, and the folks here are still reveling in the Seahawks surprising success in the NFL Playoffs. But with Isiah Thomas’ son (Isiah Thomas Jr.) leading the nearby Washington Huskies into the tournament – with a chance to go deep – this will be THE place in Seattle to catch all the games. As you might expect in the Pacific Northwest, this spot has an impressive selection of micro-brewed beers on tap.