Jillian Hiscock, a lifelong sports enthusiast with a passion for creating an inclusive sports-watching experience, is about to turn her dream into reality. Frustrated by the absence of women’s sports coverage in many Twin Cities bars, Hiscock, at the age of 40, is gearing up to unveil the Midwest’s inaugural bar dedicated exclusively to promoting and celebrating women’s sports teams.
Named “A Bar of Their Own,” the establishment’s moniker is a clever nod to the classic film “A League of Their Own,” which recounts the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Situated in the Seward neighborhood of south Minneapolis, it occupies the former location of Tracy’s Saloon. While additional details are expected to be unveiled shortly, the concept has already captured the imagination of sports enthusiasts.
Jillian Hiscock’s vision for the bar goes beyond merely providing a venue for watching women’s sports; it’s about creating an environment where everyone, especially children and young women, can see themselves reflected in televised sports.
“If there’s a women’s sport we can show on TV, we want to show it. We are talking about everything,” expressed Hiscock in a recent interview with MPR News. “We want to make it easier for kids, and young women in particular, to be able to see themselves on TV.”
The scheduled opening of A Bar of Their Own is in the first week of March, aligning with the Big 10 Women’s Basketball tournament hosted in Minneapolis. The bar aims to shine a spotlight not only on the Minnesota Lynx basketball team but also the Minnesota Aurora soccer team and the upcoming Professional Women’s Hockey team. Additionally, it will champion women’s teams participating in various sports like Ultimate Frisbee and roller derby across Minnesota.
At its core, this establishment is a response to the persistent frustration experienced by sports fans, especially women, when entering a sports bar and discovering that every television is tuned to men’s leagues. Hiscock acknowledges the complexities of speaking up or requesting a channel change, fearing potential rejection, and how it can leave women’s sports enthusiasts feeling like a lower priority.
Currently, there are only three women’s sports-only bars in the United States: The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon; the Icarus in Salem, Oregon; and the Rough and Tumble in Seattle.
In the planning stages of her Minneapolis bar, Hiscock visited The Sports Bra, which became the country’s first women’s sports-only bar upon its opening last year. Her experience there left her inspired and motivated, emphasizing inclusivity and prioritization of women’s sports.
Jillian Hiscock has successfully raised nearly $140,000 through crowdfunding efforts across 30 states, with contributions coming from individuals who may never visit the bar physically. She acknowledges there has been skepticism from some quarters, doubting the bar’s potential to attract audiences for women’s sports.
“We are really excited to prove everybody wrong and let them know, there is a huge, huge market for women’s sports fans,” Hiscock affirmed. A Bar of Their Own aspires to create a welcoming space where fans of women’s sports can unite, watch their favorite teams, and feel valued in the sports-watching community.