A groundbreaking sports bar devoted entirely to women’s athletic events is in the works for Boston. The Sports Bra, initiated in Portland, Oregon, aims to offer fans an exclusive venue to watch and celebrate women’s sports.

Vision and Purpose

Co-owners Lydia Coverdale-Perez and Whitney Edwards emphasize the bar as more than just a place to watch games; it’s a platform for promoting women’s sports visibility. “We know that maybe not everyone is as invested in women’s sports, but we really want to be the representation so that you can,” stated Coverdale-Perez.

According to Edwards, there was a compelling opportunity to expand The Sports Bra to Boston. “It was kind of like, ‘How could we say no’ type of setup, and ‘How do we not really push for this?’” she remarked.

Growth of Women’s Sports

The demand for women’s sports has surged, with media coverage increasing by 275% over the last five years. Jenny Nguyen, founder and CEO of The Sports Bra, highlighted this growth, saying, “In 2022, we struggled to find live sports to show on all of our TVs all the time we were open.” Now, the bar often faces challenges in accommodating the high interest from patrons.

Community Engagement

The ownership group comprises eight friends, all of whom have organized events under the banner “Watch With Us Boston” for over a year. They aim to cultivate a welcoming environment that spans generations and demographics—inviting both casual fans and those deeply invested in sports.

“Imagine a place where younger kids can come in with their families, and they can sit down and eat and see women’s sports on TV,” Coverdale-Perez described the ideal atmosphere.

Franchise Expansion

Boston joins Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and St. Louis as new franchise locations for The Sports Bra. Nguyen expressed enthusiasm for this expansion, noting, “Why wouldn’t we want as many people as possible to have that same experience elsewhere?”

Next Steps

The team is currently scouting locations within and around the city, with hopes to launch within the next six to nine months. While a specific opening date has not yet been set, the momentum behind The Sports Bra Boston continues to build.