The game is changing. While men’s sports have traditionally dominated viewership ratings and the go-to-games for bars and restaurants to tune into, women’s sports are experiencing a surge in popularity and interest. The success of NCAA Women’s Basketball and WNBA, FIFA Women’s World Cup and NWSL, along with Boxing and Tennis Grand Slams underscore the growing audience and enthusiasm for women’s sports. That means now is a great time for your bar or restaurant to jump on the band wagon and make the most of the momentum. DIRECTV for BUSINESS offers programming packages that will help you get in the game and access women’s sports year-round.
Want to learn more about DIRECTV for BUSINESS? Check out our packages today!
WOMEN’S SPORTS IS DRIVING MORE VIEWERSHIP THAN EVER BEFORE
The 2024 season shattered the glass ceiling in women’s sports – take a look:
- NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship drew an impressive 18.7 million viewers making it the most-watched basketball game, college or professional, men’s or women’s since 2019
- The WNBA attracted an all-time record of more than 54 million unique viewers and a record 22 regular-season game telecasts averaged at least 1 million viewers.
- Similarly, the NWSL has seen consistent growth over previous seasons and set league records during the Championship Game and Skills Challenge
- The Paris Olympics made history by being the first games to have an equal number of men and women athletes and those women athletes became key in driving the highest ratings of the 2024 Games as the women’s gymnastics team drew 12.7 million spectators, more than the first round of the NFL Draft and all single NBA final games in 2023.
- During the 2024 Games the gold medal match between the USWNT and Brazil averaged 9 million viewers – the highest since the 2004 Athens games.
- The Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fight averaged 74 million viewers, making it the most-watched professional women’s sporting event in U.S. history.
- Tennis remains a cornerstone for women’s sports with events like Wimbledon and the US Open setting global viewing records and bringing in new fans.
THE RISE IN SPORTS BARS DEDICATED TO WOMEN’S SPORTS
According to an NBC News article, women’s sports bars are forecasted to quadruple their footprint across the U.S. in 2025 and it’s no coincidence that this boom compliments the increased viewership and popularity of professional and college women’s sports over the past few years. The Sports Bra in Portland, OR, which opened in 2022, is cited as being the first bar dedicated to showing women’s sports and has now become so well-known they’ve announced plans to franchise. Additionally, three women’s sports bars have opened this year, and more are expected soon with venues in every region of the country, including major cities like New York and San Francisco to smaller cities such as Cleveland and Kansas City. Many of these bars are women-owned, creating spaces that not only celebrate women’s sports but foster a sense of community, inclusivity and empowerment – a place where everyone is welcome.
TAP INTO THE GROWING WOMEN’S SPORTS TREND
By now you know interest in women’s sports is rising but unfortunately many people find it difficult to find a bar or restaurant that show women’s games. According to a poll by Seton Hall University, 37% of the general population and 51% of sports fans said that they would watch more women’s sports if it was more easily accessible. And it’s not just women driving interest in women’s sports – 30% of men watch more women’s sports in 2024 than the year prior. What’s more, data also reveals that viewers of women’s sports tend to follow more sports leagues, six to be exact, than the average American. This creates a great opportunity for your business to become the go-to for women’s sports and beyond.
BENEFITS OF SHOWING WOMEN’S SPORTS AT YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS
Here are some additional benefits to showing women’s sports at your bar or restaurant:
- Fill Off-Season Gaps: Women’s sports can be a great way to drum up business during the off-season of sports such as football and men’s basketball to help bring in fans year-round
- Gain New Customers: Show women’s sports on the big screen and appeal to a wider customer base and attract those who may not typically come to a sports bar or restaurant
- Capitalize on Weeknight Programming: Many women’s sports air on weeknights, which can help boost business during slower times
- Get a Leg Up on the Competition: By showing women’s sports, you can gain the edge over other sports bars and restaurants that have yet to take advantage of the growing trend
GET A WINNING PACKAGE THAT OFFERS WOMEN’S SPORTS
DIRECTV for BUSINESS offers comprehensive packages that are your ticket to showing the best in women’s sports. Get ready to show NCAA women’s sports, WNBA, PWHL, women’s soccer and so much more. DIRECTV for BUSINESS customers also enjoy 99% worry-free signal reliability*, hassle-free customer service and free standard professional installation. Plus, with the help of DIRECTV’s Sports Bar Finder we make it easy for fans to find you.
CHOOSE DIRECTV FOR YOUR SPORTS BAR OR RESTAURANT
Ready to bring women’s sports to you and your customers? DIRECTV for BUSINESS offers the ultimate sports experience with exclusive programming such as ESPN+ for Business, MLS Season Pass and Apple TV+’s Friday Night Baseball combined with professional sports packages such as NFL Sunday Ticket via EverPass Media, MLB Extra Innings®, plus college sports and more. Call 855.919.0807 to get started today!
*Based on a representative study of national cities
