Go College Bowling In The Cherry Creek Valley by Laura Lieff College football is an extremely popular sport in the Cherry Creek Valley above and beyond the local Colorado teams such as the University of Colorado and Colorado State, which are struggling. Many people have migrated to the Valley from all across the country and have brought with them their love for various favorite college teams. Groups of like-minded fans gather together and adopt a bar in the Valley to watch their favorite team in action.
One of the newest sports bars in Cherry Creek North, Brandon’s Pub on Second Avenue and St Paul Street, has been adopted by the fans of the Auburn University Tigers who have a possible shot for the national championship. When the Auburn game comes on, all 17 television screens switch to that game and the Auburn cheering fans start screaming for their team while singing team fight songs and belting out cheers. When the Tigers score a touchdown, Brandon’s does shots, normally based around the team’s colors — orange and blue. There are also special menus with reduced prices which change every game day. Brandon’s owner Clemente Martinez declares, “They love their team and know how to have a great time. It’s almost like being in a big sky box at the stadium — it is that electric.”
A few blocks north at 575 St. Paul is the self-proclaimed Alabama Crimson Tide headquarters at the Irish Hound. During halftime the fans play bar games such as Big Buck Hunter and Pop-A-Shot Basketball while enjoying their famous menu items such as smoked pork and homemade potato chips. Irish whiskey and Irish beer are guaranteed to never run out. The ’Bama fans seem every bit as rabid as the hated rivals from Auburn.
Which brings us to our holiday suggestion for Chronicle sports fans. Why not watch this year’s bowl games by going to the sport bars in the Valley that have adopted one of the teams playing in a particular bowl. You’re going to have a good time and maybe go to a sports bar you never have been to before. There are always food and drink specials, and it is a wonderful way to meet a lot of fun people.
“My Saturdays revolve around college football games and they are pretty much the main social event of my weekend,” said Valley resident and Iowa Hawkeyes fan Erica Garvey. “Honestly during the fall I don’t really go out at night unless Iowa has a night game. Watching the game is one of my favorite ways to relax, unless my team is losing.”
Garvey continued, “I love watching football, but I admit that I go for the social aspect. It’s great to be surrounded by a hundred people all cheering for the same team. The enthusiasm is infectious and I always find someone to chat with. In fact, I met one of my best Chicago friends at a Steelers bar!” When they put out the list of dates, times and teams playing in bowl games just consult our handy list below for where to go.
Among the top sports bars that sponsor fans of a particular university expected to go to a bowl game are:
Alabama — Irish Hound, 575 St. Paul Street (just off 6th Avenue) Arkansas — Choppers Sports Grill, 80 S. Madison (just down from Gates Tennis Center) Auburn — Brandon’s Pub, 3027 East 2nd Avenue (Cherry Creek North) Boise State — Old Chicago, 1415 Market Street (Downtown Denver) Iowa — Sports Column, 1930 Blake Street (Downtown Denver) LSU — Brooklyn’s, 901 Auraria Parkway (One block from Pepsi Center) Michigan State — Blake Street Tavern, 23rd & Blake (one block north of Coors Field) Nebraska — Cap City Tavern, 1247 Bannock Street (Golden Triangle) Ohio State — Croc’s Mexican Bar & Grill, 1630 Market Street (Downtown Denver) Oklahoma State — The Fawning Goat, 846 Broadway Street (near Governor’s Park) Oregon — Jackson’s All American Sports Grill, 1520 20th Street (across from Coors Field) South Carolina — Don’s Mixed Drinks, 723 East 6th Avenue (south of Cheesman Park) Texas Christian — The Elm, 5001 East Colfax (Park Hill) Wisconsin — Swanky’s, 1938 Blake Street (Downtown Denver)
Ever since Jenn Sterger (most recently of Bret Favre fame) was discovered by ABC Sports doing a camera shot of the fans at a Florida State game, there has been an ongoing debate concerning which college team has the most attractive female fans. After touring the sports bars during the college bowl season, you can go to our Web site ( www.glendalecherrycreek.com ) and vote for which team has the most beautiful women cheering them on in the Cherry Creek Valley.
posted: January 16, 2011
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Inherited from a prior tenant and built into the vision from the get-go, and makes some really great 'za. The then Bar Pie pizza is obscenely great, with a crispy crust that is reminiscent of matzo.The deep dish pizza is a pure mozzarella Chicago-style that is crazy good. 