Detroit’s first self-described women’s sports bar is trying to make its pop-up vibes permanent. Bar IX has kicked off a crowdfunding drive to lock down a brick-and-mortar spot downtown, hoping to turn its shoulder-to-shoulder watch parties into a full-time home where women’s leagues own the TV screens. Organizers are asking supporters to pledge early and circle the end of June for an in-person launch party.
Campaign Numbers And Goals
According to FOX 2 Detroit, the campaign is aiming for $125,000 and had already pulled in about $25,100 ahead of the launch party. Perks for backers range from shirts and stickers to VIP access to the opening celebration for those who get in early. “We’re really trying to encourage building the grassroots support,” founder Alissa Graff told FOX 2 Detroit while laying out her vision of a community built around women’s sports.
Kickoff Party Details
Bar IX has a crowdfunding kickoff party set for June 30, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Detroit Shipping Company. The group’s site teases a night built around women’s sports trivia, a DJ, and the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup on the big screens. The RSVP page on Partiful breaks down the schedule for the evening and directs would-be donors to the pledge form if they want to chip in before they show up. Organizers say trivia prizes and other activations will keep things lively throughout the night.
A Local Moment For Women’s Sports
The fundraising push lands at a time when women’s professional sports in Detroit are on the rise. The PWHL is adding a Detroit franchise, and interest in women’s basketball has surged, creating new demand for venues that put women’s leagues front and center, as reported by WXYZ. Local outlets have also tracked Bar IX’s evolution from one-off pop-up nights to a full-blown crowdfunding campaign, noting both the packed events and the Title IX–inspired name behind the concept in coverage by WDET.
How To Support
Supporters can make a pledge through the campaign link listed on Bar IX's website and lock in their plans for the June 30 kickoff on the event page at Partiful. For more reporting and background on the effort, see the coverage from FOX 2 Detroit.
