From WNBA Stars to Olympics: Women’s Sports Bars are on the Rise

Female athletes, such as Caitlin Clark in the WNBA and those playing for Angel City soccer club, are paving the way for a new era of women’s sports. The growing fan base of the LA Sparks is also a sign that women’s sports are gaining traction and attention. As a result, Jax Diener and Emme Eddy believe that the time is right to open a sports bar specifically catering to female athletes.

The duo has long dreamt of creating such a space and is now transforming an old Mexican restaurant off PCH in Long Beach into “Watch Me,” a sports bar that celebrates women’s determination and hard work. The name is inspired by the fact that female athletes often have to prove themselves to doubters. The bar will open in July, just in time for the Olympics, with a strong focus on showcasing women’s sports on most of the TVs.

Sports bars dedicated to women’s sports have already proven successful, with “The Sports Bra” bar in Portland generating nearly $1 million in revenue within its first eight months of operation. Jax Diener and Emme Eddy hope to replicate this success in Long Beach, aiming for 95% women’s sports content on display at “Watch Me.”

The couple recently took over the space and have six to seven weeks left on their timeline before opening their doors. They plan to be open every day during the Olympics and then scale back their hours following the closing ceremony. Eddy believes that this concept will resonate well with Californians and expects “Watch Me” to be the first of many similar women’s sports bars to come.