The Sports Fanatic's Paradise

Packers, Brewers and Bucks games just got more exciting!

Fanatics Sports Central is the new upscale sports bar boasting stadium seating, an X-box tournament room and private booths.

I hate when sports bars are marketed as a “guys paradise.” Maybe statistically sports bars attract more men verses women, but I still get a little offended. I am a woman AND I am a sports fan. I can get down and dirty with the guys, drink beer with the best of them and rattle off just as many sports stats as my bearded comrades. Because I don’t fit the description of the stereotypical woman, I wonder why sports bars can’t be a place for the “sports enthusiast” and not just for the guys...

A month ago Fanatics opened its doors in the Third Ward and with it, opened the gates to a sports fan’s heaven. As I found out after my first visit, there’s definitely a little something for everyone, yes, even for the “typical” woman.

It’s a place where you can go to watch the game on a bunch of TVs, plus explore the many different avenues that’ll keep you busy all night long. For instance, during halftime, you can play a game on their X-box, challenge a friend to pool or darts, or fiddle with an online game. There’s even talk that Fanatics will host leagues, which will include darts, foosball and even Madden and Halo!

As I scanned the bar I was in awe of the many luminous high-definition TV screens and my jaw dropped as I realized the 42 HDTVs were dominated by a 150-inch marvel that can display nine games at once - or just one game, really, really big. And to make everyone happy, it’s flanked by six more screens so that, as on Sunday, the Packers vs. Panthers game could be shown at a theatrical scale while the other NFL games went on around it. I was totally overwhelmed!

Eric and I weaved around the enormous crowd that had completely taken over the entire place. We had no luck finding a spot to sit down, so we stood against a wall and watched the second half of the Packers game. That’s when I noticed the bar’s best feature: in front of the daunting video wall was the "stadium" section where 15 leather chairs (two rows) took front and center and made a great place to kick back, relax and watch some football. They even were equipped with a place to store your beer bottle and were backed by amphitheater-style seating that consisted of two rows of comfy booths, each with its own adjustable speaker system. Hallelujah! That’s where a real sports fanatic would sit… and not move.

As a matter of fact, Eric and I had to wait until the doubleheader began before the crowd shuffled out and two leather chairs freed up. But before that, we ended up finding a booth near the bar that had its very own HDTV.

Since Eric and I didn’t get to Fanatics until halftime we were S.O.L. for a while. I'd recommend getting to the bar pertty early if you want to score a good spot to watch the game, especially from one of the inviting leather chairs.

On another note, the stadium section is smoke-free, which is nice for nonsmokers. But, smokers are allowed to light up near the bar or by the pool tables near the front door. I think this was a good decision made by the owners – this way they please everybody.

Meanwhile, people in the booths were enjoying Pizza Shuttle, rounds of Miller Lite and some friendly banter. A Browns fan rose to his feet cheering until a man from the booth next door shouted, “There aren’t Browns fans here. Sit down!” It was fun to see people getting into the game and having a good time.

Besides the abundance of TV sets, Fanatics just opened its full-service kitchen, offering a range of choices from creamy spinach and artichoke dip to baked French onion soup to ribs cooked in an on-site smoker, all prepared by a chef whose résumé includes cooking for the San Diego Chargers and their luxury-box guests, said Thomas Story, Fanatic's website designer.

The bar’s newest addition was built for the sports fanatic wanting the luxury-box treatment and those willing to cough up a $300 minimum bill. If that suits you, Fanatics will let you and up to 14 of your closest friends into its Club Box, a raised, enclosed room where your very own server will take care of your needs while you lounge in leather swivel chairs or on love seats with your own HDTV screens and sound system.

The Club Box can be reserved for parties and special events and would be perfect for my next birthday outing – I always get a bunch of friends together to watch the Packers (two weeks ago we were at the BBC).

I also read that construction is underway for a martini lounge that will adjoin Fanatics. That bar, which will share a kitchen with the sports bar, will feature a wraparound deck outside.

With its continual updates and accommodations, Fanatics Sports Central truly has something for everyone. Check it out for the next game!

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Fanatics Sports Central
185 N. Jefferson St.
Milwaukee WI, 53202
Sunday: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Monday: 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Tuesday through Thursday: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Friday: 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Comments

[Erin]

That place sounds really cool! We'll have to check it out.

[Tommy Boy]

I'm going to have to check this place out for the next Packer game. Your blog makes it sound really cool. The name is a great one!

[bluesphee]

Glad you took me up on the suggestion to write up on it! :) Cool post.

[Karen]

Definitely. Suggestions are always welcomed. Plus, after hearing from many people, including you, that it's worth checking out, I made it a point to go. I finally had some free time on Sunday, so it worked out perfectly!

[Tom Story]

Glad you enjoyed Fanatics. I am going to link the review on the home page. http://theofficialfanatics.com

In the meantimes please join our Fanatics .NET site http://theofficialfanatics.net, if your favorite team is not there, feel free to start your own group.

Cordially,
Tom
Fanatics Sports Central

[Karen]

Tom, I appreciate the link to Play in the City from the Fanatics page. I love Fanatics (!) and have been there several times since my initial visit and this post.

Also, I've joined a couple groups on your Fanatics .NET site. What a cool feature! I'm going to have to start a Steelers group though - even if I'm the only Milwaukee girl to root for them! :)

Thanks again for checking out Play in the City and for linking my entry!

[Karen Saurer]

Turned away from Packer Seahawk game...two girls. Sat in car across from entrance and watched prettier, younger people get inside despite no one leaving....Hello!? Would I recommend this place? Not a chance.

[Karen]

Karen, was Fanatics filled to capacity or something?

I find it odd that Fanatics would do that – I've never heard of a sports bar turning away patrons. If that's the case, I'm pretty disgusted too. I’ve never liked lists or VIP rooms or clubs for that reason. But maybe the other people made reservations. Just a thought. I guess you can't make assumptions.

Sorry you had a bad experience though.

[Brian]

We apologize for your inconvenience but we were at capacity 2 hours before game time. The people that were allowed in had rented one of our two private rooms for the game. We add the amount of people in those rooms into our capacity figures. Again I am sorry, it is never our intention to exclude anyone from enjoying our facility and I hope you give us another chance in the near future.

[Karen]

Brian, thanks for the clarification. I figured it was a misunderstanding and that those who were allowed to enter during the game probably made a reservation or something beforehand.

When you're at capacity, there's not much you can do besides hope that customers understand and come back another time.

Again, thanks for taking the time to explain.