Looking Ahead: DC/VA/MD World Cup Viewing

[dale_wilster]

Since many of the live games take place during the workday, I know many of us will try to take some hours off during the day to catch some of the games. Yes, there are plenty of bars that will be showing the games, especially the two weekday U.S. games, but how packed will they be? Will you have be there four hours before the start in order to catch a table or even some standing room? Watching it with fellow fans is the only way to go, in my opinion.

Lucky's Bar and Summer's have been mentioned here, but if everyone knows about these, I figure they will be packed.

Will DCU sponsor something? What are the other options?

[JJJ3]

I imagine the number of bars in the area that will be showing live World Cup matches will be exponentially higher than in 2002 -- a testament to the growing appeal of soccer in our nation and especially in this region.

Off the top of my head, I'm sure the Cap Lounge on the Hill and the Diner in Adams Morgan will be showing all of the matches.

[Bill-DC]

I'm sure Willie and Reeds or Caddies on Cordell in Bethesda will have the games on.

[MeridianFC]

My brother in law will be opening early on weekends and running happy hour specials and game replays during the week at Temperance Hall. He's trying to get in rare German beer (or Bier if you perfer, which I do). Kolsch will probably be first off the block.

I'll post details as they become available.

[Colonial717]

Murphy's in Old Town will have them on I am sure.

[CHICO13]

Kilroy's in Springfield will be showing every game.

[bigredfutbol]

Kilroy's in Springfield will be showing every game.

No kidding? That's really cool.

I hope Summer's discovers that their monopoly is over. From the sound of it, they need a big push to improve service and food.

[Bootsy Collins]

I hope Summer's discovers that their monopoly is over. From the sound of it, they need a big push to improve service and food.
Well, while I'm not a fan of Summers' food by any stretch, and the place has all the atmosphere of a Dennys, Summers' thing isn't "we show soccer." They never had that monopoly. Their thing is what soccer they show. On Friday, for instance, they had the Mexico v. Congo friendly. Today at 3pm you can go there and see Boca Juniors vs. Olimpo; they had a full slate of Serie A matches this morning; on Tuesday afternoon you can catch Osasuna v. Valencia, etc. There aren't many places in the area you can go for that.

[GoDC]

A little out west in Virginia I would expect Ned Devine's in Herndon to show most of the games.

[GlennAA11]

If you happen to be downtown the Goethe Institut which is the German cultural center at 7th and H right by the Chinatown arch will be showing as many of the games as possible in their theater. The place seats about 100 people and apparently they will have German beer on hand. It's a really nice space.

They are also hosting a bunch of soccer themed film programs in the lead up to the WC. Most of the show times are early evening like 6 or 6:30, so if you are in the city you might want to check it out.

Check their website for details:
http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/enindex.htm

[K]

The Pour House will have the games
http://www.pourhouse-dc.com/

And Ventnor Sports Cafe in Adams Morgan- http://www.ventnorsportscafe.net/

The SEs are working with DCU and the Pour House for a huge bash on June 17, obviously when I have final details I'll post.

K

[bigredfutbol]

Well, while I'm not a fan of Summers' food by any stretch, and the place has all the atmosphere of a Dennys, Summers' thing isn't "we show soccer." They never had that monopoly. Their thing is what soccer they show. On Friday, for instance, they had the Mexico v. Congo friendly. Today at 3pm you can go there and see Boca Juniors vs. Olimpo; they had a full slate of Serie A matches this morning; on Tuesday afternoon you can catch Osasuna v. Valencia, etc. There aren't many places in the area you can go for that.

Well, no, it hasn't been for a long time. But they've had soccer since the early/mid-80's, no? The place has a reputation as THE soccer bar in the area, although that's probably changing.

But I get what you're saying. And chances are, the ex-pats will keep the place afloat for quite some time. They probably don't need our business.

[Colonial717]

Remeber also that all of the games are being showed on the ABC family, Espn, Espn2, and ABC. That means that any sports bar is going to be showing it. Probably won't be any atmosphere and have people bitching about a soccer match instead of the 2003 World Championship Cheerleading Competition, but it will be on if you can't get too far away from work.

Other semi-soccer friendly bars:
Kitty O'Sheas at Courthouse metro if Summers is too packed - Pretends to be soccer friendly so it can pretend to be "Irish", but the bartenders are American and bitched about how soccer moms were stupid when I went there to watch DC v. Getafe.

Bailey's at Ballston Mall - Holds large DC playoff games, regularly shows EPL in the afternoons but with no sound while they blast horrible music. I am sure that for a lunch game that place will be fairly empty considering how huge it is and you can find a nice seat in front of a TV and ask them to turn it up.

[NicktheGreek]

Check the Univision/Telemundo schedules for repeat broadcasts incase you can't watch live

[gocaps]

The one thing I'll say about Summers it that the viewing experience there is still better than any sports bar in the area - and not just for soccer places, for any place. They've added banks of flat screen HD TVs (including some giant screens) on the smoking side now too, to go along with the renovation of the non-smoking side they did a few years ago. That bar is one of the only places I've been to where it can be to-the-gills packed and you'll still have a great view almost anywhere you sit.

But it's true that the old Summers monopoly is over...

[dale_wilster]

I don't doubt that there will be a lot of different options, but will the increased attention and interest will these places be packed? I would hate to make plans to go somewhere and be unable to enter due to capacity..

The German institute sounds interesting since there will not be people staking out a spot and having some beers while they wait..

[mselden]

Thanks for all of the good information. Last time around I went to Summers and The Clarendon Grill for all of the US matches. Of course that was a little different because all of the games started around 2:00 AM. I expect the obvious places to be swamped for this cup. The good thing is you could probably pick any less obvious place and make it a great viewing spot by getting a group together. Since all of the games will be during normal business hours, there are countless potential viewing locations.

[PedroUnited]

No kidding? That's really cool.

I hope Summer's discovers that their monopoly is over. From the sound of it, they need a big push to improve service and food.

I went to Summer's to watch a DC vs. metros game last year (DC 3-1 I believe, it was a rainy game) and they wouldn't turn down the house music while the game was on, I asked twice, they said they couldn't do it. What kind of soccer/sports bar is that? Screw that place, never going there again, plus the food sucked. Now that I'm in Richmond, I will be going to Pennylane's. Or I might not get to watch any of the games considering I might be on tour all of June and half of July. Luckily the games are on espn espn 2 and abc, which I'm pretty sure most hotels have.

Pedro

[TMDSoccer]

Any place in G'town showing the games? There's a good American football bar on M Street at about 32nd (Rhino?), but I can't think of any others off the top of my head.

[CHICO13]

The one thing I'll say about Summers it that the viewing experience there is still better than any sports bar in the area - and not just for soccer places, for any place.
Kilroy's has 48 screens including 4 52' plasmas, just saying ;)