Touchdown sports bars!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… football season. Waking up last Saturday for the first day of college football season actually felt like Christmas morning.

My friend, Lisa, a hardcore Eagles fan fresh out of Philly, made it her personal mission to find a bar in Charlotte where she could watch her team (when they’re not playing here) without having to be interrupted by shit talking (about the team … not just Vick).

Based on game day patronage, different sports bars throughout Charlotte play for different teams — college and NFL. Dixie’s is the place Steelers fans can go wave their terrible towels, Buffalo Bills fans herd to Town Tavern and Tavern on the Tracks, Strike City is the official Buckeye bar, Clemson congregates at Stool Pigeons Uptown, Beantown in Matthews caters to the New England fans, and the Tarheels paint Angry Ale’s Carolina Blue … and pretty much every sports bar come to think of it.

Meanwhile, Blackfinn was officially stamped the Hokies Headquarters when the alumni packed the place during the ACC Championship game last year — that, and when Wild Wings changed the channel on the Virginia Tech – Georgia Tech basketball game … (don’t worry though, we won both). And an extra point for Blackfinn for playing music during commercials and an extra point for playing the VT fight song when we score.

Blackfinn is also a Florida and Giants bar. Meanwhile, Dilworth Grill has affiliations with Georgia, Michigan State, Auburn and WVU. Lake Norman Sports Grille has a bunch of cocks … as in South Carolina Gamecocks. Wild Wing at the Epicentre is where the Clemson fans go this year. And Bailey’s Sports Grill caters to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Boo! Yes, I’m still bitter – rip tide, R.I.P.

Oh, and Lisa eventually found a nesting spot for the Eagles and NFC East teams — Picassos on East Boulevard.

Considering there are practically enough sports bars in Charlotte to cover every team, all avid sports fans are bound to find a place where they can high five a fellow fan. Also on the roster of sports bars is 1300 SouthEnd Tavern , Jocks and Jills, Situations, Rookie’s Sports Bar and Grill, Sidelines, Hickory Tavern, Steamers Sports Pub, Fox and the Hound… and pretty much any bar that specializes in wings or has televisions. But when the Panthers are playing, every bar is a Panther’s bar – whether the transplants like it or not (sorry Lisa).

In NYC there’s a bar on 39th and Park called Red Sky and when the Redskins play girls get to drink free in the fourth quarter… now doesn’t that sound like a great idea. Hint, Hint sports bars.

And for the record, on the top floor of Blackfinn the men’s room is on the left of the bar whereas the women’s is on the right. I made the mistake of walking in and almost using the men’s room, and just when I thought no one noticed – I received a Facebook message the following morning that read:

Hey how are you doing today? I am pretty sure I saw you in the men’s room at Blackfinn so I am sorry for not saying hi then but I was a little confused.

Sam

Now that’s what I call a flag on the play.

This article appears in Sep 8-15, 2009.