So if you can't go to the game and must hit a sports bar...

by JollyAver on Nov 22, 2009 7:45 PM MST Comment 26 comments

Sure, we'd all rather be at the game, but on those nights where you just don't...Where do you go?

I've been stuck on the far west side of town for the last few months, and it's been a bit of a challenge as I haven't really paid much attention on my visits out this way previously...

So here's rundown of the nearby joints I've visited to watch Avalanche games so far this season:

Pifler's - Colfax just east of Simms: probably the best layout for any sized group as it has a large number of flat screen tv's and a variety of watchables to choose from, and even an area with couches Great food, and decent drink deals most nights. Always some Avs fans on hand. Only minus - they don't turn up the volume for the Avs games like I would prefer. I guess it's okay if they treat all other local teams the same way...it's busy and has people cheering for the Avs, so far it gets my high vote. Happy Hour M-F 11am-7pm, different specials every day.

Wrigley's Chicago Sports Bar - Colfax out near Heritage Square: found this place in an internet sweep. Interestingly the same evening as the Avs played the Blackhawks. Haven't eaten here, but I've heard it's good, the drinks are well priced and they have enough wide-screen TV's to please. Game was put on shortly after I walked in the door, always something I make note of, and there were at least some other patrons interested in the game. Not as raucous as I hoped for the Avs. My server was a Blackhawks fan, so that at least made for some good ribbing throughout the night, particularly after the extended shootout win. Placed 2nd in my ratings. Happy Hour M-F 4-6pm.

The Penalty Box - Wadsworth and Jewell: I got all excited when I found this place in the listings just from the name alone. I imagined wall to wall brethren and sisters all worshiping at the hockey shrine. Then I went there and found the following: an exterior reminiscent of an adult book store, and interior filled with..one other patron...who noted my jersey and did express wonderment that to that point in the night a bar by this name did not have the game on any of the TV's. Now to be fair, the barkeep did immediately rectify this situation, and a bar where you can get any drink for $3 at happy hour will remain on my list...but really? Avs game night and no one here to watch. No widescreen TV's here, every TV here would feel right at home in an 80's basement. Online the menu looked great...unfortunately the kitchen was not open when i arrived at 6:30p...Placed 3rd in my ratings even with these discrepancies...Happy Hour M-F 3-7pm

Jose Oshea's - Union and 6th Avenue: to be fair this isn't a sports bar, but they have added TVs in the cantina area. The only real trouble is, the TV's are all mounted at an uncomfortable watching angle. I always exit feeling like I need to visit a chiropractor after an evening here. Now the taco bar is great if you show early for some preparatory drinks, since the games usually miss the happy hour, but advance planning can have you set as far as food an beverage if you note the time and order preemptively. This noted I really haven't hit avs games here since I've not seen anyone else in Avs gear on game night. I also note that one Monday night while I was enjoying another hockey game at this location, suddenly all the TV's were changed to football at blast off volume. Needless to say, I ended my evening there posthaste. Placed fourth in my ratings. Happy Hour 4-6:30p, also 10pm-11:30p every day.

Old Chicago - 32nd Avenue and Youngfield St: got shanghaied here on the advice of a buddy in lieu of another bar in the area that I had thought might be good. Turns out my buddy had been the other bar on a previous outing and I got the feeling that perhaps he was no longer welcome there for reasons he would not reveal, so at OC we landed. TVs right behind the bar, looking good, then for some reason, no Center Ice package, thus no game. Rated last for this reason. Happy Hour M-F 3-6pm, Su-Th 10pm-12am

Anywho, that's my listing, maybe I'll see some of you out and about one night. Now it's your turn to share. Make sure you note where the place is, as you never know when I might get the urge to roll into your part of town and check out an Avs hot spot. Oh, and be sure to note those happy hours all.

MileHighHockey.com is a fan community, allowing members to post their own thoughts and opinions on the Colorado Avalanche and hockey in general. These views and thoughts may not be shared by the editors of MileHighHockey.com.

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What about Ft. Collins?

Anybody know where the good hockey bars are here? I’ve heard that the Pickle Barrel is a decent place to watch a game, but I’m not too well in tune with the bar scene.

"I intend to kick your ass today." - Denver Broncos legend Tom Jackson

by wtnelson on Nov 22, 2009 8:56 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Pickle Barrel whoo hoo! Oh, wait, I think I mentioned that. They’re rangers fans, but otherwise not too bad. Unfortunately, when I was there no other bar could even remotely be considered a “Hockey” bar, just a sports bar.

Get rid of the loser point

09-10 Avs- Nowhere to go but up!

by TheRed on Nov 23, 2009 1:07 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

best it gets is the old town old c’s. they sound a horn for goals (or at least they used to), that kind of thing.

by thedoctor on Nov 23, 2009 9:45 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The Draft - Littleton

It’s in the west parking lot of Southwest Plaza by Wadsworth and Bowles (since you’re on the west side of town). Great sports bar! A half-order of nachos will last you the whole game. When the Avs score, the bartender lights up the red light over the bar and sounds the horn. Good stuff!

I should never be taken seriously.... Seriously!

by AvDog on Nov 22, 2009 11:23 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

The Shack - Littleton

If the Draft is a good sports bar (which it is), then the Shack is a good hockey bar.

Broadway and Mineral.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Aph on Nov 23, 2009 7:48 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm always up for a nacho challenge...

so I may have to see how their half-plate stacks up to Pifler’s sooner rather than later…

We will fight in the mountains. We will fight in the valleys. We will fight on the ice and in the stands. We will never surrender.

by JollyAver on Nov 23, 2009 2:12 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The Shack lists their Happy Hour as Mon-Fri 3-6 PM , Sat & Sun 10-5 PM
Anyone have details on what’s part of happy hour?
I think I’ll head there for Monday evening’s game to check it out.

We will fight in the mountains. We will fight in the valleys. We will fight on the ice and in the stands. We will never surrender.

by JollyAver on Nov 27, 2009 2:31 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Can't find any info on The Draft other than the address...

when is the Happy Hour? If they have a light and horn I gotta get there to see it…but only when drinks are discounted.

We will fight in the mountains. We will fight in the valleys. We will fight on the ice and in the stands. We will never surrender.

by JollyAver on Nov 27, 2009 3:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Boulder advice?

This winter break will be my first time being 21 in the states and I’d like to catch some Avs games out in Boulder

by wflan on Nov 23, 2009 12:03 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Lazy Dog Tavern on Pearl Street shows Av games prominently, from my experience. Also, Harpos on Arapahoe between 30th and 28th is a good place to catch the Avs.

And with the 32nd pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the Red Wings select: Someone other than Ryan O'Reilly. LOL@Detoilet.

by Bob in Boulder on Nov 23, 2009 1:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Seconded on the Lazy Dog

The owner is a big Avs fan, and it’s going to be the only place on Pearl to catch the game. Plus their food is good and their selection of draft beers is solid. Beware if there is a football game, however, you may be relegated to the back with the other hockey nuts.

by Muzia on Nov 24, 2009 8:34 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the list.

I may make the trek down into town sometime and try some of these out.

Get rid of the loser point

09-10 Avs- Nowhere to go but up!

by TheRed on Nov 23, 2009 1:11 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Sobo 151

Best freaking sports bar I have been to in Denver. Its a Czech bar, so they are pretty into hockey there. Plus you can get some food that is hard to find at other places around town.

http://www.sobo151.net/

The best I say!

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Aph on Nov 23, 2009 7:50 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

+1 for Sobo 151

Haven’t been there in about a year since I moved to Aurora, but they always had the game on loud, sometimes had a dj, decent drink specials, dollar shots after Avalanche goals, and they would turn on a specific game for hockey fans that came in on non-avs game nights.

by Jimmy_the_scumbag on Nov 24, 2009 11:56 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Guess I'll have to try this one out

likely on Thursday evening next week 12/3 …what’s the parking situation like around the area?

We will fight in the mountains. We will fight in the valleys. We will fight on the ice and in the stands. We will never surrender.

by JollyAver on Nov 27, 2009 2:35 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

There are something like 12-15 well lit spots behind the bar, you’ll have to get there through the alley. And there’s usually parking on the street as well. It’s good, I’ve never had to walk from farther than from directly across the street

by Jimmy_the_scumbag on Nov 27, 2009 6:59 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

A good start to some new haunts...

Be sure to include that info for Happy Hours. I can always squeeze in early to fill the tank for less $$.

We will fight in the mountains. We will fight in the valleys. We will fight on the ice and in the stands. We will never surrender.

by JollyAver on Nov 23, 2009 2:09 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Find anything good in Arvada?

I live there but for some reason, most of the bars I have gone to are really indifferent to the Avs. They usually don’t have the game on unless they have many TV’s (four or less and they probably don’t) but they don’t mind turning the game on for you. And don’t even bother trying to find a Sunday Avs game during football season in a bar. They usually have enough arguments over what football game to have on their tv’s nevermind another sport entirely.

Hopefully #9 is not ten less than #19

by InYoFace on Nov 23, 2009 6:30 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Don't know Arvada

But from my experience, the Buffalo Wild Wings down south always have hockey on, even non-Avs games. Now, that may be because they have about a billion TV’s in there, but its better than nothing.

And when it IS Avs games, they will always have at least one of the big screens showing it. So its kind of bland and chain-like, but you can get beer and watch hockey there.

Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Aph on Nov 24, 2009 7:37 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I thinks it's just inside westminster but...

Although not a Sportsbar…the La Estrellita off of 88th and Wadsworth used to have the Avalanche games on all the time. they’ve since dropped the burrito bar they had for happy hour, but I think you can still get happy hour drinks + chips and salsa there…

We will fight in the mountains. We will fight in the valleys. We will fight on the ice and in the stands. We will never surrender.

by JollyAver on Nov 27, 2009 2:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Deweys

There’s a Dewey’s American Grill at both Broadway and C-470 (highlands Ranch) and one Federal and Belleview (Sheridan/Englewood). Both are excellent places to catch a game IMO.

Also Aph is right, Buffalo Wild Wings has so many TVs that even if the game’s not on (and it usually is) they can change whatever is on to your game.

The New Improved Avalanche. Now with Real Coaches!
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Nov 24, 2009 7:58 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

I think I've eaten at one of these before...

so I’ll put it on the agenda for next Wednesday’s game 12/2 and give my results.

We will fight in the mountains. We will fight in the valleys. We will fight on the ice and in the stands. We will never surrender.

by JollyAver on Nov 27, 2009 2:44 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Great Resource

I don’t know how things work too well here at MHH, but I consider this list of good hockey bars to be as important a resource as the game schedule and glossary of inside terms. Is there any way this can be made a “sticky” or permanent resident so I don’t have to go searching each time I’m looking for a new place to catch a game?

Just a request from a lazy lover of hockey bars.

If Santa comes down my chimney wearing those Red Wing colors, he's going to wish he didn't exist.

by Dixomatic on Nov 25, 2009 4:07 PM MST reply actions 0 recs