What makes a bar and pub a sports bar? I guess it would be if they showed sports on TV. But is it just a matter of installing a big screen hunker on every available wall space?
Any "sports" bar who brands itself a sports bar should be cognizant of the flavour of the moment, and not just the same same-old-same-old.
Take for example, Guelph's Arena Bar and Grill and The Real Deal. On the biggest (boxing) fight night of the year, when the Pacquiao-Marquez III fight arguably rivals the historic Ali-Frazier III (Thrilla in Manila) fight, both bars are featuring the same old inconsequential Leafs (historic perennial losers). The woman who answers the phone seems not to know who Manny Pacquiao is, only that she's been answering the phone for the umpteenth time, having to say, "sorry, we don't get that channel". To the managers of these bars, you'd think a handful of pints would pay for the pay-per-view fee on HBO!!
Sports bars should be more than just hanging mass-produced sports memorabilia on the walls; it should be about being cognizant of what the market is for the viewing public. I personally don't frequent sports bars but this would have introduced me to the Arena Bar and Grill and I most likely would have gone back if they showed European soccer on a regular basis (I don't have cable).
To be fair, none of the other bars I phoned were showing the boxing match; but then again, they didn't call themselves "sports bars".
Personally, it's okay because I am able to go to a friend's house to watch the fight.
Most sports bars in the GTA should embrace truth in advertising and rebrand themselves as "Leafs Bars". It's nearly impossible to find a television playing the World Series or the Blue Jays's season opener if a Leaf game happens to fall on that night.
ReplyDelete