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Game On
Sports bars are booming, and Seattle’s getting more of them
By Sarah Stackhouse June 24, 2025
Turns out, people really love yelling at TVs together.
The sports bar market is projected to grow from $22.6 billion in 2023 to $34.3 billion by 2030, according to a report from For Insights Consultancy. What’s fueling the boom? A combination of more leagues, more live events, nonstop streaming, and a growing appetite for screen-filled, high-energy places to gather. Globally, more people are watching sports than ever. And maybe, after a few years of holding back during the pandemic, we’re still craving that shared experience — just a little more controlled than a crowded stadium.
We’re seeing it play out here in Seattle. Last month, the city landed a new Professional Women’s Hockey League expansion team set to begin play this fall, and the Storm recently signed a major local TV deal.
Bars are getting in on the action, too. Tom’s Watch Bar, a national Denver-based chain, opened its first local outpost earlier this year near Climate Pledge Arena — a 24,000-square-foot, two-story bar with wall-to-wall screens and full surround sound. The menu offers some classic game day food — burgers, ribs, tacos, and nachos. Two more Seattle locations are on the way: one in the Stadium District, and another planned for a northern neighborhood, with details still to come. Across the country, the company plans to open 10 to 12 new bars in the next 18 months.
Women’s sports bars are also on the rise — their numbers are expected to quadruple this year. Rough & Tumble opened in Ballard in 2022, and owner Jen Barnes has plans for a second location. Now comes Pitch the Baby, a new Capitol Hill bar set to open this summer. It’s European-inspired and focused on women’s sports. Drinks are classic (martinis, Peroni, local beer, natural wine), and food served from sibling restaurant Condesa next door is inspired by the food of Mexico City with a Moroccan twist. Expect tostadas, papas, and other spicy plates.
With more places than ever to cheer on the Storm, Seahawks, Reign, Mariners, Sounders, Kraken, and even UW teams, Seattle fans have options. And if you’re skipping stadium traffic and $15 beers for tostadas and a booth, you’re not alone.
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