But despite the continued attacks on queer people, the popularity of women’s sports bars, which typically attract a large queer clientele, hasn’t slowed. In fact, more women’s sports bars than ever before are popping up from coast to coast, with the number of bars expected to quadruple across America by the end of the year.
Like many other women’s sports bar owners, opening a spot had been on Diener’s mind for years, but it wasn’t until she saw Jenny Nguyen open The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, in 2022, that she realized her dream could really become reality.
Considered by most to be the first bar of its kind, Nguyen told CNBC that “the only competition is the status quo,” and by catering to fans often pushed out of sports spaces, she tapped into an unfed market, with her business racking in almost $1 million in its first eight months.
Nguyen has continued to be a key player in the ongoing success of women’s sports bars. Just last year, The Sports Bra announced that it had received a major investment from the 776 Foundation, owned by Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband of tennis player Serena Williams who herself has always been vocal about supporting women in sport and has been a big draw for fans at Nguyen’s bar. With that investment, The Sports Bra is franchising, with plans to open locations in cities across the States, fostering more women’s sports and community building.