Australia’s first sports bar designed specifically for women has opened on Sydney’s Oxford Street, but drinkers are divided over what’s on TV.
The two-storey venue, called The Ladies League, opened in August this year with the aim of playing nothing but women’s sport from open to close.
The establishment’s founder, Rose Valente, says there is a huge demand for a venue where people can watch women’s sports together.
“When I started playing football, I would sometimes go to bars and not really feel comfortable,” Valente said ABC.
“There can be so much stupidity and negativity surrounding women’s sports; even if you watch men’s sports you can go to some toxic sports bars where you’re asked if you’re a fan or whatever.
‘Something deep inside me thought: we need a place where female sports fans can come together. Australia doesn’t have anything like that.’
The bar, which opened during the Paris Olympics, is proving a hit, but some fans object that it is aimed at women.
“Just be a sports bar,” one fan posted on TLL’s Instagram page.
Sydney bar The Ladies League exclusively practices women’s sports from open to close
The bar was founded by Aussie Rose Valente who wanted a safe place in Sydney where fans could watch women’s sports
“Imagine if we had a men-only bar!” another commented
“But having an all-male barbershop drives the feminists crazy lol,” a third replied.
Some said female fans should support teams by attending matches, with one commenter writing: ‘I think it’s a great idea. I love watching women’s sports and am a big fan, but this is a fad and won’t last long. It’s the same reason why women’s sports won’t get much bigger. Not enough women are showing up to support this.”
Other fans praised the groundbreaking concept and said they will be visiting the bar soon.
“I can’t wait to see an NRLW match there,” said one.
‘I love it! More of this please!’ replied another.
‘I’m going for a beer soon! I love it! Can’t wait to watch @hawthornaflw,” a third posted.
Some Aussies have taken issue with the bar only showing female sports on the TVs (Photo: A Ladies League staffer)
The owner says she is open to showing men’s sports if the customers want that (photo: some women’s sports decorations at the bar)
In the US, a women’s sports bar called The Sports Bra opened in Portland in 2022 and reportedly made almost $1 million in its first year.
However, banks in Australia turned Valente down for a loan, saying the venture was ‘too risky’, but she went ahead with the project and received huge support from fans and professional female athletes across the country.
“I am 100 percent confident that I will at least get my money back: that’s how much confidence I have in the women’s sports community,” she said.
“That’s how certain I am that women’s sports need a space like this. I’m willing to put every dollar I have into it. I don’t care that I couldn’t get a loan for it; I knew I had to do it and I had to make it happen. Banks see no passion.
“The community is so healthy. It has been so supportive. And I think when you do something positive, you give back to the community; we all help each other, we all want to make each other better. You really feel that in this place.’
While the bar is committed to showcasing women’s sports, Valente says she is open to showing men’s sports if the game is particularly important.
“It comes down to what our customers want,” Valente said. ‘I enjoy both men’s and women’s sports, but our core values are extremely important.
“We will always support women’s sport, and I think the World Cup and the Olympics showed a lot of people how great our female athletes are.
‘They are very marketable. People want to watch them. So we give people what they want.”