Sports Bra made history as the first women's sports bar to exclusively show women's sports. This time, the company announced its franchising and expansion plans.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Sports Bra has announced plans to franchise and expand to other cities.
Now an iconic Portland destination, the venue made history in 2022 as the first women's sports bar to exclusively show women's sports. Jenny Nguyen, founder and CEO of The Sports Bra, created the bar concept to continue her mission of supporting, empowering and promoting women in sports. He said he plans to spread it nationwide.
“When we first opened Sports Bra two years ago this month, we never expected it to impact so many people so quickly,” Nguyen said. “Now we know we are just getting started.”
The investment from Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and husband of legendary tennis player Serena Williams, will help fund expansion in partnership with Ohanian's 776 Foundation. All proceeds will be reinvested into girls' and women's sports, according to a news release.
“At Seven Seven Six, we are passionate about the incredible advances in women's sports,” Ohanian said. “Our foundation is proud to support Sportsbra, a welcoming place for everyone to celebrate the achievements of athletes.”
Sportsbra said the announcement of Bar's expansion comes at a defining moment for women's sport. The 2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament reached 18.7 million viewers, surpassing the men's tournament. The U.S. Women's National Soccer Team broke viewership records at the 2023 Summer FIFA Women's World Cup.
“If you look at all these sports right now, you see undeniable excellence from women,” Ohanian said in an Instagram video. “I'm just looking for all the ways we can strengthen and build the community and do it in a way that's meaningful to the community. Every bar I've ever been in has only displayed men's sports. Just random people wandering in. Y: “Think about how everyone was already doing that here and how it started to spread.”
Sports Bra opened in April 2022 and quickly gained extensive national news coverage and became a destination for local patrons and tourists alike. It continues to fill the space for watch parties and events, usually drawing so many people that the bar has to put a full sign on the door.
“This is an exhilarating time for women's sports, and Sports Bra has proven that there is a strong need for more spaces to celebrate women,” Nguyen said. “We envision a future where sports bras are everywhere, doing what we do best: supporting women.”
No word yet on where the sports bra plans to expand.
