A Philly Soccer Bar

[HartwickFan]

Someone started a thread in the US Men Fans & Travel forum asking if anyone is watching the U.S. v. Mexico game anywhere in Philly:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180839

Seeing it got me to lamenting, once again, that Philly doesn't seem to have a place where fans of the US Men's team gather to watch games together. D.C. has Summer's, NYC has Nathan Hale's, and Boston has several bars where US fans gather to watch games. I have to think that there are enough fans in Philly to make it worthwhile for a bar to accommodate us -- we would just need to get organized, and pick a bar to adopt.

I've watched EPL games at the Dickens Inn, but they always seem a bit on the Euro-snob side, and they seem to have carved out a niche for themselves with English expats. I'm not sure whether they would want to become a bar for American soccer fans to watch the American national team.

So I guess I have two questions:

1. Are people interested in getting together somewhere to watch U.S. games in a good atmosphere with other fans?

and

2. If there is enough interest, which bar should we adopt?

Unfortunately, I have commitments this Sunday and Wednesday which will prevent me from watching either game live. But I'd be glad to try to organize something in the future if there is enough interest. And if there is enough interest for the upcoming Mexico and Guatemala games, maybe someone else can organize a party for those games.

[Looper121]

Someone started a thread in the US Men Fans & Travel forum asking if anyone is watching the U.S. v. Mexico game anywhere in Philly:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180839

Seeing it got me to lamenting, once again, that Philly doesn't seem to have a place where fans of the US Men's team gather to watch games together. D.C. has Summer's, NYC has Nathan Hale's, and Boston has several bars where US fans gather to watch games. I have to think that there are enough fans in Philly to make it worthwhile for a bar to accommodate us -- we would just need to get organized, and pick a bar to adopt.

I've watched EPL games at the Dickens Inn, but they always seem a bit on the Euro-snob side, and they seem to have carved out a niche for themselves with English expats. I'm not sure whether they would want to become a bar for American soccer fans to watch the American national team.

So I guess I have two questions:

1. Are people interested in getting together somewhere to watch U.S. games in a good atmosphere with other fans?

and

2. If there is enough interest, which bar should we adopt?

Unfortunately, I have commitments this Sunday and Wednesday which will prevent me from watching either game live. But I'd be glad to try to organize something in the future if there is enough interest. And if there is enough interest for the upcoming Mexico and Guatemala games, maybe someone else can organize a party for those games.


If I wasn't workign during the game, I would be up for it. But I guess that's a lame excuse...

[pasoccerdave]

dcajedi is trying to organize a viewing party at Tir Na Nog.

[dcajedi]

dcajedi is trying to organize a viewing party at Tir Na Nog.

Yeah, even though I'm actually not gonna be there. Nonetheless, the restaurant has really good food, maybe on average $1 more per item than Dickens, and most importantly the staff is very US Soccer friendly and really wants us there. The location is also better than Dickens-- 1600 Arch Street, literally right on top of Suburban Station and across the street from Love Park in the Phoenix Apartments. I would very highly recommend going there and I wish I could join you all but I do have some prior commitments I have to deal with.

[HartwickFan]

Yeah, even though I'm actually not gonna be there. Nonetheless, the restaurant has really good food, maybe on average $1 more per item than Dickens, and most importantly the staff is very US Soccer friendly and really wants us there. The location is also better than Dickens-- 1600 Arch Street, literally right on top of Suburban Station and across the street from Love Park in the Phoenix Apartments. I would very highly recommend going there and I wish I could join you all but I do have some prior commitments I have to deal with.

Sweet! I've never been to Tir Na Nog, but I know that they do show soccer there. And I'm really glad to hear that the staff is very US Soccer friendly and really wants us there. If that's the case, then I think we should adopt it as the official bar to gather it and watch US games. Unfortunately, I can't make it on Sunday or on Wednesday. But I hope at least a few people show up, and that we can make this a regular event...

[Magikfute]

So, it sounds like this Sunday may be a wash, but Tir Na Nog looks good for the future...Let's use this forum to organize some viewing parties for the upcoming qualies.

[CyphaPSU]

Where is this Tir Na Nog and what kind of a name is that? :)

[CyphaPSU]

Ah, it's an Irish name...but I still don't know where it is :)

[Looper121]

Where is this Tir Na Nog and what kind of a name is that? :)

On 16th Street, in the Phoenix building directly across the street from Love Park...You would miss it if you didn't know it was there. They one neon light in the winodw.

[Eddie26]

I would go but I am working during the Guatemala game.

I think the Dickens might be favorable to people going there. I go there a lot (used to be a lot more) and know all the bartenders pretty well. They've always hooked me up with discounts.

[olujosh]

I'm very interested in getting people together to watch USA matches. I sent an email around to about 100 or so people who are interested in soccer at Temple University (on Facebook) and didn't get a SINGLE response about getting together and watching USA vs. MEXICO (granted, it was Easter Sunday, but come on....there's gotta be a few non-Christians at Temple somewhere).

If anyone is getting people together, please let me know.

Tir Na Nog in downtown Philly is a personal favorite of mine, but then again, I haven't been to all of them.

[Eddie26]

I'm very interested in getting people together to watch USA matches. I sent an email around to about 100 or so people who are interested in soccer at Temple University (on Facebook) and didn't get a SINGLE response about getting together and watching USA vs. MEXICO (granted, it was Easter Sunday, but come on....there's gotta be a few non-Christians at Temple somewhere).

If anyone is getting people together, please let me know.

Tir Na Nog in downtown Philly is a personal favorite of mine, but then again, I haven't been to all of them.

Most of them/us did get together. Some didn't because of work obligations.

I go to Temple. There doesn't seem to be much soccer interest. I was going to talk to student affairs about maybe running a trip to go to the Meadowlands for a Metros game or when the US plays there this summer. I see kids all the time in soccer clothing but whenever I stop them to talk they have no clue and have it because it's "cool". I am a huge Chelsea fan, no bandwagoner, and saw a kid in one yesterday. He only had it because, "He's Russian." Enough said. I've seen people in MLS stuff and it's the same thing. It really pisses me off. Is soccer clothing now "cool"?

[olujosh]

As far as MLS clothes being worn "because they're cool"...I don't get that very often. Whenever I stop someone who has an MLS shirt, they at least have a clue. Might not be a die-hard....

Saw a girl the other day with a Mike Petke shirt (Metrostars) who seemed to know her stuff...that was refreshing...

It's the Euro soccer jerseys where you'll find people who don't have a clue. Some people will buy a jersey when they are overseas on vacation, or a friend/relative went to <insert foreign country here> and brought them back a souvenier.

I don't think I've ever met someone who was a Chelsea fan BEFORE 3 years ago. This is a real treat for me...congrats.

[Eddie26]

As far as MLS clothes being worn "because they're cool"...I don't get that very often. Whenever I stop someone who has an MLS shirt, they at least have a clue. Might not be a die-hard....

Saw a girl the other day with a Mike Petke shirt (Metrostars) who seemed to know her stuff...that was refreshing...

It's the Euro soccer jerseys where you'll find people who don't have a clue. Some people will buy a jersey when they are overseas on vacation, or a friend/relative went to <insert foreign country here> and brought them back a souvenier.

I don't think I've ever met someone who was a Chelsea fan BEFORE 3 years ago. This is a real treat for me...congrats.

Three years? Even that would be considered "old" these days!

Seriously though, we have a group of Philly Blues that have been getting together for Chelsea games at the Dark Horse for around the last 5+ years or so. When started, there was around 5-8 of us. Now we don't get a whole lot more than that but every game has 3-4 "new" people show up. I've taken the stance of you can't turn them away. You have to just support their supporting Chelsea.

[dcajedi]

See I stopped going to Dark Horse because they very specifically do not care about American soccer. I used to call them regularly to ask if they were showing US National Team games (this was about fall 2002 to I would say spring 2003) and they just kept saying no. So I found Tir Na Nog, went there for a game, and it stuck.

[Eddie26]

See I stopped going to Dark Horse because they very specifically do not care about American soccer. I used to call them regularly to ask if they were showing US National Team games (this was about fall 2002 to I would say spring 2003) and they just kept saying no. So I found Tir Na Nog, went there for a game, and it stuck.

That might have been the old owners. I can't remember when Paul, James, Matt, etc bought the place but it was around then I believe.

[olujosh]

See I stopped going to Dark Horse because they very specifically do not care about American soccer. I used to call them regularly to ask if they were showing US National Team games (this was about fall 2002 to I would say spring 2003) and they just kept saying no. So I found Tir Na Nog, went there for a game, and it stuck.

Yeah, I have a really hard time giving money to support Eurosnobs....hopefully this is no longer the case.

[Eddie26]

Yeah, I have a really hard time giving money to support Eurosnobs....hopefully this is no longer the case.

I hate that word. What is a "eurosnob"?? Honestly, I need a definition. I need to know if I am one. It's just used so often.

[n4100]

I hate that word. What is a "eurosnob"?? Honestly, I need a definition. I need to know if I am one. It's just used so often.
No, you're not a eurosnob, Eddie. I come closer to being one than you. As I understand it, its an American who only watches and supports European teams, not MLS or the USNats. Seeing as you actually attend MLS games, I don't think you fall into that definition. Me, wellllll, I've never been to an MLS game though I do catch them on the tv, and even own a Fire jersey, but frankly, Arsenal and the premiership get more of my attention.

[Eddie26]

No, you're not a eurosnob, Eddie. I come closer to being one than you. As I understand it, its an American who only watches and supports European teams, not MLS or the USNats. Seeing as you actually attend MLS games, I don't think you fall into that definition. Me, wellllll, I've never been to an MLS game though I do catch them on the tv, and even own a Fire jersey, but frankly, Arsenal and the premiership get more of my attention.

Well Saturday's Metros game was my first. I've always watched and supported the USMNT but own both a USA jersey and an England one (Terry). The EPL still gets most of my attention but this year I am making a big time effort to follow MLS. I actually enjoyed my first game, loved it actually even though the stadium was empty.