Women-Focused Sports Bar Set to Open Soon in Colorado

More than 20 million people tuned in to watch the thrilling NCAA Women's Basketball Championship game between Iowa and LSU earlier this month. According to ESPN, this marked the first time in history that a women's final has drawn a larger TV audience than the men's.

Female athletes are just as powerful, strong, and entertaining to watch in action as male-dominated sports, yet they still receive less air time, lower salaries, and far less publicity.

However, an establishment that's currently in the process of opening is helping to shine a light on women's sports by becoming Colorado's first sports bar catering primarily to women's athletics.

Located at 909 E. Colfax Avenue in Denver, the 99ers bar is named after the 1999 U.S. Women's Soccer Team, which won the World Cup. Miranda Spencer and Annie Weaver decided to open the bar after facing difficulties finding local spots that were broadcasting women's soccer and basketball games that they wanted to watch.

Women's sports bars are becoming increasingly popular nationwide, especially with amazing female athletes like Caitlin Clark dominating the headlines. Spencer and Weaver took inspiration from Portland's Sports Bra for their new bar. In 2023, the Sports Bra reported bringing in $1 million in eight months, showing just how successful the vision is.

Places like these are all about supporting, empowering, and promoting girls and women in sports and the community.

The 99ers bar is still in its construction phase. They hope to start serving Denver sports fans by June, just in time for the summer Olympics when female athletes like Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky will be front and center for all to watch.