I know a bunch of people on the boards are from the DC Metro area, and what I'm wondering is how many people would come to the bar I currently work at [Houlihans in Chantilly, VA] if it was a soccer bar on saturday/sunday match days? I'm asking because I'd like to turn it into one of those, but I'm not sure my GM will let me unless we know for certain there's some kind of desire for it. So if you live around Northern VA and want a closer football bar than DC, chime in and you just might get it!
You'll get a lot more response if you also post this in the DC forum under MLS Team Forums in my opinion.. Good luck with the bar project!!
I will be over in early March so I'll be happy to attend if you give an exact location where you are. I'll be in the "Middleburg and Manassas" area. JEFF.
You can try to ask your current customers as well by giving them questionnaires when you serve them a drink. If there is a demand, but not many people want to go, you can make one section for football fans. The pub where my cousin goes to has about 2/3 floors, so they are big enough to rent one of the rooms to a group of Arsenal fans. The fans can watch the football match on their big screen, while your 'boring' customers can chat to their friends on the ground floor, in their usual way. By the way, the pub is in Barnet, North London, where there is a large number of Arsenal fans, so there is a high demand in that area.
This sounds like the best idea ever! Unfortunately, I'm in Boston. Just the same, good luck. I have the luxury of several places to watch most games, but most folks can't pick and choose. I'm sure DC fans want more soccer bars.
As a Gooner in DC proper, Chantilly is a bit too far. There are three soccer bars in DC that I know show EPL and other leagues (Lucky Bar, Capitol Lounge, Fado). Another in Arlington (Summers) that also shows EPL and other leagues. There are several others that show DC United games as well. I'm not sure how much demand is not captured by these locales. And yes, due the "brilliant" success of DC United in the last three years, DC fans have been drinking quite a bit... Although our team did the right thing and beat Sperz "old boys"!
Chantilly would be closer for me, but I don't mind the 40+ minute trip each way to Summer's because I know I'm supporting a place that not only shows the EPL games from FSW, but also gets the CL games from Setanta even if only a handful of people show up for some of them. That said, the more local choices the better so good luck with it.
The "official" galaxy fan club has a good web site, and they organize all sorts of activities through their board. You may want to look at something similiar out there...or get one started if they (DC)don't have one. Try to think outside the box when looking for supporters in the area. The wider the audience you reach, the more likely you are to get takers. Good luck, hope it works out for you.