Where Do You Watch Michigan Football? An Attempt to Compile a Complete Michigan Football Bar List

by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 24, 2008 1:07 PM CDT in Michigan Football

We've all got our favorite place to watch Michigan football. That place where the beer is cold, the food is good and the TV's are plentiful. For some of us, we're lucky enough to watch it from a tiny seat in a crowded Michigan Stadium. For others, we watch it on our couch with friends and family (or sometimes by ourselves so no one gets hurt by the projectiles we throw with each bad call).

But for the majority of Michigan alumni and fans throughout the country, Michigan football is viewed somewhere away from home and away from Michigan Stadium. But where do you go? What about that stupid family wedding that's not scheduled until after the game's over, but is taking place in Atlanta when you live in Dallas? What about the fan who's stuck in New York for business over the weekend, while her friends head out to their favorite bar to watch the game back home. How about the fan who just moved to St. Louis after five years in Florida, where does he go to catch the game?

Where do people go to watch their beloved Wolverines kick the crap out of their opponents? How do they know where to go? For most of us trapped in an unfamiliar City or even in one we've lived in for twenty years, it's hard to find a place to watch the Michigan game. It's even harder to catch a Michigan basketball or hockey game unless you know the right spot.

Well, Maize n Brew is endeavoring to give you that information. I am calling upon you, loyal readers, casual visitors, and people who hate me, to help compile a list of all the Bars, Restaurants, or gathering places that Michigan fans outside of Ann Arbor can go to catch Michigan Athletics and join up with their fellow alumni and fans to Cheer the Victors after every score.

I don't care where it is. If it's a place in Detroit, Islamabad, Tokyo, Tulsa, or Las Vegas, I want to know about it. In an attempt to start us out here are a couple of the places I know of:

Chicago:

Mad River - 2909 N Sheffield - Lots of TV's decent food, high ceilings give it the allusion of extra space, even when it's jam packed. Blimpy Burger references too. Nice eye candy.

Duffy's Tavern - 420 1/2 W Diversey Parkway - Always packed. Great food. Total meat market. Wear protection, you're going to get spilled on (mind out of the gutters, people). TV's everywhere. As a plus they show Michigan basketball AND Michigan Hockey on request.

Washington, DC:

The Pour House - (upstairs) - 319 Pennsylvania Avenue - An old haunt of mine. Totally redone around 2001, decent food and always a spot to sit and watch the game on their pull down HD projector.

Come on folks, help us out. Put your favorite Michigan bar in the comments below so every Michigan fan, no matter where they are, can catch the Wolverines on Saturday!

To help us compile the list, please provide us with:

The Name of the bar or gathering spot;
The Address;
Some factoids about the place;
And if you feel so inclined, a web address, specials, and other fun facts.

Thanks for your help everyone! We'll get the sidebar link up soon with the ever-evolving results.

0 recs | Comment 25 comments |

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In Argentina

I drank away my consternation during the Notre Dame fumble-fest and will be there for the Wisconsin beat-down. Er. I mean, upset of the year! Woooh! Go Blue!
Info:

City: Buenos Aires
Bar: El Alamo
Address: Uruguay 1175, in Recoletta
Website: http://www.elalamobar.com/
The only place I’ve been able to find showing college football in this city. Fans from all over (the US). Games are shown via a Slingbox, so the picture leaves much to be desired, but it’s still the game and the only way to watch them in this country. Food’s pretty decent. Beer’s a bit pricey for BA, but it’s cold. We had at least four random Wolverines there (only one Domer as far as I could tell). Place was crawlin’ with Georgia people. They must have a study-abroad program or something.

Dave, I think this is a great idea. I wish I would have had this lined up without the three week struggle to track the place down.

Road Games

by Reed97 on Sep 24, 2008 1:45 PM CDT 0 recs

Awesome - Our first International bar

Out-friggin’-standing, Andrew. Hope all is well in-country down there!

by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 24, 2008 1:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

UM Alumni Association is a great resource

The alumni clubs in each city (where they exist, of course) typically has game watching locations. For instance, I just got an email from the Chicago club indicating that the “official” locations are Duffy’s and Moe’s Tavern (3518 N. Clark St in Wrigleyville). Back in 99/2000, the official spot was Joe’s on Weed.

Here is the link to the Alumni Clubs webpage. Just look one up in your area. The site will either have the game-watching location(s), or contact info.

http://alumni.umich.edu/clubs/index.php

by georgiablue on Sep 24, 2008 1:49 PM CDT 0 recs

Definitely a great resource, but I've found it's updated rather infrequently

Great point on the UM Alumni website.

Maybe this will be a supplement, maybe a direct resource, but I’m hoping to get a little more detail on the bars and get the names and locations of the those “unofficial” bars Michigan fans tend to frequent.

by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 24, 2008 1:56 PM CDT up 0 recs

Dumb Question

Do the Alumni mind non alumni hanging out and watching the game with them?

by Lostincali on Sep 24, 2008 2:00 PM CDT up 0 recs

Nope, all Michigan fans are welcome

A Michigan fan is a Michigan fan. You’ll get the standard “where’d you live” question, but after you drop some Michigan knowledge on the OLine or how you’ve rooted for UM since 1872, you’re a part of the family no matter where you went or are from.

by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 24, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

Michigan Hockey, huh

I went to Duffy’s last year hoping to catch a hockey game that was on ESPNU. A tournament game – not just some random game against Northern. It was on two tvs (out of 30?) and one was above the door to the place. Fuck Duffy’s.

by antidaily on Sep 24, 2008 2:35 PM CDT 0 recs

I think we were at the same game

Yeah, not the best place for UM hockey, but at least they show it. It’s a significant upgrade over the last 10 years when you couldn’t catch a non-frozen four game ANYWHERE.

by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 24, 2008 2:49 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hockey Talk

Mad River has Duffy’s beat hands-down for hockey. Not only are they accommdating with the table-side TV’s, but they’re even willing to put games up on one of the big screens if you ask—a very good thing when you need to keep texting your buddy who can’t get away from a wedding rehersal dinner but wants you to keep him updated on a too-frequent basis :-)

by WC Wolverine on Sep 24, 2008 5:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Legends Sports Bar (Tokyo)

The only place I have found that shows college football in Tokyo. The games are not always Michigan – a lot of USC and Notre Dame games, but they usually have all of the big games (OSU-Mich, Bowl Games), etc, though they may not always be live (given the 13 hour time difference though thats no surprise).

Legends Sports Bar Tokyo
Aoba Roppongi Bldg. 1F,
3-16-33, Roppongi,
Minato-ku, Tokyo
106-0032

It is right next to Hobgoblin down Roppongi-dori (the Friday’s side)

http://legendsports.jp/

If anyone else knows some other places in Tokyo where I can catch the games, I would LOVE to know.

by kakusei on Sep 24, 2008 10:01 PM CDT 0 recs

UM football in Orlando

Gators Dockside Dr Phillips‎
5142 Dr Phillips Blvd, Orlando, FL – (407) 770-6049‎
www.gatorsdockside.com

This is the Alumni bar for Orlando, don’t get out there as much as I’d like, as it’s about an hour away for me, but there are usually 30+ Mich fans/alums there. They will have the game on multiple TVs, but the number depends on timing vs the other games, particularly the Gators. Pretty good food and beer specials on Saturdays, and the Grilled wings are great. The only downside is even with the large Michigan contingent, we’re still out-numbered which can make days like the Horror rough, but also makes wearing my “Florida Gators, easier to beat the App St.” shirt that much more fun.

by cavalry21 on Sep 25, 2008 7:16 AM CDT 0 recs

dc

Buffalo Billiards ( Dupont Circle )
1330 19th St NW
http://www.buffalobilliards.com/dc/bbdcsports.html

by bsb2002 on Sep 25, 2008 8:39 AM CDT 0 recs

Houston

Pub Fiction
2303 Smith (in Midtown, just south of Hadley)
http://pubfiction.com/

A trendy bar/club at night, but a stellar sports bar during the day. I’ve been watching Michigan games here since the place opened 3 or 4 seasons ago. Great food and drink specials every Saturday, helpful staff, tons of TVs, etc.

I’m tight with the management here, so I always try to stop by on Thursday or Friday to make sure we’ll get the Michigan game on a couple of prime TVs and, when possible, with the volume over the PA. They accommodate us almost every time — unless Texas or Texas A&M are playing at the same time. When this happens, I arrive early to pick out a good spot, and then brace myself for the Aggie/Whorn invasion.

I’ve noticed a decent (6-10 folks, in addition to my crew) Wolverine cheering section so far this season, mostly decked out in our colors. Good to see others hopping on board.

This Saturday might be tough — Texas-Arkansas is at the same time. Might have to watch from the comfort of my couch.

by jlc21 on Sep 25, 2008 12:08 PM CDT 0 recs

i assume they might have the big10 network?

ive lost satellite until at least October 7th due to the hurricane. I’m not sure what the broadcast schedule is the next two weeks so i may make it uptown and join in.

by formerlyanonymous on Sep 25, 2008 8:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Honolulu/Hawaii Kai

East Side Grill- University and King (Next to H1 and UH)
The Shack- Keahole at the Safeway Shopping Center

by Hawaiian Neal on Sep 25, 2008 12:11 PM CDT 0 recs

Boston

The Place
2 Broad St
www.theplaceboston.com

by circles1129 on Sep 25, 2008 2:19 PM CDT 0 recs

Lexington SC

Wild Hare on rt1

by bruno6u on Sep 25, 2008 4:34 PM CDT 0 recs

Northern Virginia

Ballston Metro Stop

Baileys on Wilson Blvd.

They have like 90000 tvs and a little map listing what games are played on what tv. UM games are usually in the back room on a huge projection screen with loud sound

by brownmac on Sep 26, 2008 10:23 AM CDT 0 recs

If you're too lazy to make it down to Lincoln Park

Nevin’s Pub
1454 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201

Pretty decent place to watch games. I’d guess about 7-10 TV’s depending on if they open the second room. Last year there were always several different crowds watching games on the Big Ten Network. Usually the Michigan group was the biggest. It was absolutely horrible during The Horror, because every obnoxious Northwestern student was rooting against Michigan. Other than that day it has always been pretty fun.

by jallotta on Sep 26, 2008 10:57 AM CDT 0 recs

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

We have a few die hard alums here in malaysia. On normal game days, we’ll hook up on the net for the radio feed from mgoblue or streaming on mypsp… on The Game day, well gather somewhere and watch live streaming from my psp.

go blue brothers!

by kubs on Sep 27, 2008 9:18 AM CDT 0 recs

You sir, take the prize!

Kuala Lumpur? Holy crap. Meats and cheeses to you!

by Maize n Brew Dave on Sep 29, 2008 9:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

Saint Joseph, MI

West side of the state, where I’m at.

Vickie’s Sandbar
2701 Lake Shore Drive
Saint Joseph, MI
http://www.vickiessandbar.net/

I’m not going to lie and say it’s the world’s best football watchin’ bar, ‘cause it’s not, but it’s a Michigan bar, team logo decal on the bar mirror behind the booze. We get our share of Notre Dame fans given our close proximity to South Bend, and a handful of Michigan State fans. But Michigan is the bar’s team. Good folks, small room (quaint, really), and bartenders that ring the bell when Michigan scores. And if it’s UM-OSU, UM-ND, or UM-MSU, you might get the fight song played loud on the stereo system for a Michigan touchdown.

"Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth." -- Bob Arum

Camden Chat
Bad Left Hook

by SC on Sep 27, 2008 5:35 PM CDT 0 recs