Untamed Spirits: Los Angeles’ Pioneering Women’s Sports Bar

In the heart of Los Feliz, a groundbreaking establishment has opened its doors—Untamed Spirits, the first women’s sports bar in Los Angeles. This venue is making waves in the local community by providing a dedicated space for fans of women’s sports.

A Dream Realized

This initiative is the brainchild of married couple Stephanie and Janie Ellingwood, who envisioned a vibrant community hub that celebrates female athletes. Their journey began after a frustrating experience at a local brewery, where they found the sound was not turned on for a Women’s National Soccer team game despite a sizeable audience. Stephanie reflected, “Why do we have to keep searching for places that aren’t going to play the sound of a game that clearly everybody wants to watch, why not do it ourselves?”

Community-Centric Vision

Untamed Spirits has quickly established itself as a gathering place for like-minded fans. The bar is designed to be family and pet-friendly, accommodating both women’s and men’s sports. Janie noted that the establishment encourages interaction among patrons, saying, “The clientele just ends up talking to each other as if they’re already friends.” Their goal is to create an environment infused with community spirit—“people say this place is a vibe,” she added.

Trailblazers in Women’s Sports Bars

Untamed Spirits follows in the footsteps of Watch Me! Sports Bar in Long Beach, which was established nearly a year earlier by Jackie “Jax” Diener and Megan “Emme” Eddy. Jax had long dreamt of owning a sports bar, a vision reignited by the opening of another female-focused venue, The Sports Bra in Oregon. “Everyone said there’s no way you can open a bar restaurant in under a year, and I said watch me,” she recounted, highlighting the doubts she faced on her journey.

Meeting Community Demand

The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. On opening day at Watch Me!, patrons reported waiting in line for four hours, which showcased the demand and potential for such venues. “It proved to us we were filling a void,” Jax stated, emphasizing the importance of community feedback in shaping their bars.

Looking Ahead

As both Untamed Spirits and Watch Me! thrive, the owners see great potential for enhancing visibility and accessibility for women’s sports. Stephanie noted, “You see the numbers; clearly people want to watch,” highlighting the importance of offering viewing experiences tailored to female athletes.

Total Experience Redefined

Both bars illustrate a growing trend: the creation of safe and welcoming environments for women’s sports fans to come together. With the summer 2024 Olympics approaching, the enthusiasm surrounding women’s sports continues to burgeon, reaffirming the need for dedicated venues like Untamed Spirits.

In conclusion, Untamed Spirits not only represents a milestone for women’s sports viewership in Los Angeles but also reflects the vibrant community spirit and a commitment to inclusivity in sports culture.