ATHENS, OH – When in Athens, there are a plethora of places one could go to watch a NFL game, but because the majority of the city’s population is made up by college students, there are certain places one should go and places one should not, based on your allegiance.
Luckily (no pun intended), the top three supported teams have their own place to watch a game. For the Pittsburgh Steelers fans, they have Lucky’s, for Cleveland Browns fans, there is the Cat’s Eye and for Cincinnati Bengals fans, there is the Red Brick. For everyone else, there is the Pigskin or BW3’s.
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However, you have to be careful where you go, especially if you’re sporting a conflicting team’s uniform. There have been multiple times, most recently on Sept. 27, when Bengals fans have been turned away from the door of Lucky’s.
Sure, it’s good to know where your teams following goes on Sundays, but why do people go there and what is so great about them. Some Athens residents gave there take.
Meg Boley, a junior marketing major, frequents the Cat’s Eye to support here atrocious Browns.
“I go to the Cat’s Eye because that’s where my fellow Browns fans always go. They put the game on the projector so it’s huge and plus they have foosball.”
Tammy Besterman, an OU mom, is also a Browns fan, but prefers to watch the game in a more personal setting when she is up visiting her son.
“I would much rather sit at [my son]’s house and watch the game there. But, I only get the score coming across the bottom because [my husband] and [son] are both Bengals fans.”
Amanda Phillips, a senior studying business, enjoys Lucky’s on Sunday’s to watch her beloved Steelers.
“It’s just where everyone goes, and it’s the best way to get away from the Ohio people and watch a team that actually wins.”
The team closest to my heart, the Bengals, have their home in Athens at the Red Brick Sports Bar. Mike Clifton, a senior communications major, says the Red Brick is “just a cool place to watch the game with other Bengals fans,”
All these places are well and good, but there are few things that beat sitting around a big screen with 25 of your closest friends, having some beers and rooting for your favorite team. Zach Kummer, a senior business major says this is the best way to spend a Sunday.
“There is nothing better than staying at your house and not spending money while cheering the Who-Deys (Bengals) to a victory.
For those who are not of the Big 3 following, you cannot go wrong with either of the other two places highlighted so far: The Pigskin (come on, it’s called the pigskin) or BW3’s (their motto is “Wings. Beer. Sports”). Both places have DirecTV and Sunday NFL Ticket, so they get any game being played, regardless of what the CBS affiliate is showing.
One thing is for certain, there are few things better than rooting your hometown team to victory with other people who share your passion on a crisp autumn day in November.
