8 Ideas for Interior Design of Sports Bars

By Michael Goorman, Contributor

The sports bar is the ideal spot for folks to meet with friends, have a beer, and, of course, catch the game. The ability to use sports as a selling point has been a huge reason why the most popular establishments are local, family-owned sports bars.

But there’s more than just showing the big games that make a sports bar a successful venue. Sure, you can’t go without good food and drinks and HD widescreen TVs. But your ambiance matters, too, and your sports bar’s interior design and overall atmosphere are equally important.

Let’s run down some neat ideas that every sports bar should consider.

Upgrade to Ergonomic Padded Chairs

Comfort is a huge factor when talking about sports bars. And guess what? One of the first complaints owners hear about their pubs is how uncomfortable chairs are. They’re the reason why guests get up in less than an hour, exiting the establishment for the last time.

Put some paddings on those seats that match the interior design of the pub. Better yet, pair them with ergonomic chairs. In return, your clients will thank you with a longer stay and perhaps a bigger bill.

Natural vs Indirect Artificial Lighting

There’s a time for natural light and there’s a time for blinders, curtains, shaders, and persiennes. Having the possibility to control natural light dispersion is a big plus to any sports bar. Take time throughout the day to see how the natural light plays with your establishment. Natural light has been shown to fend off seasonal depression and boost one’s mood, so getting as much sunlight into your bar during the day sounds like a great way to keep both your guests and staff feeling good when in your business.

Of course, a lot of sports happens when the sun goes down, so you’ll want to set up some good artificial light, too. The key here is to make sure you avoid beaming direct light into your guests’ eyes. There’s nothing more frustrating than watching a game with other light sources harassing and distracting you from the action.

Instead, try to set up diffuse lighting or hide the bulbs behind lampshades or similar covers. Also, consider using warm light tonalities for a more relaxing ambiance. A lot of what your lighting will look like will depend on your sport bar’s brand and personality, so don’t glance over this part of your interior design.

Your Interior Should Match Your Sport Bar’s Brand

Are you going for a cabin-style look with wood, bricks, and a fireplace? Or maybe for a marble palace design with glass and mirrors? Or are you more of a sports bar where every inch of walls is covered in memorabilia, autograph photos, and newspaper clippings from the local teams glory days?

There’s so many directions your sports bar design can go. This ultimately will depend on your bar’s brand as well as your target guest demographic. Is your current design speaking to those guests and your bar’s theme or could it use a little reworking?

Make Your Sports Bar Interactive

You show the big games, but what if you also hosted some “big games?” Adding some interactive gaming features to your location is a great way to increase guest dwell time, returning again with friends, and having fun while on-site.

This can be as simple as dartboards on the wall, some board games to play in your booths, video games to play on one of your corner TVs, or tabletop games (like pool or foosball) in a side room.

Artwork & Memorabilia

What sports bar is a sports bar without some memorabilia. You don’t need to cover every inch of your location with sports references, but a few pieces of sports-inspired artwork and local memorabilia will help set the stage that you’re a place to come watch the games.

Add paintings, posters, or even graffiti to make your business more vibrant. Also, memorabilia items are great talking points for your guests and make your sports bar look authentic.

There’s no need to spend a fortune on your walls to make the place more attractive. Reach out to local artists, order easy-to-set posters online, or create your own print with inexpensive framing.

The same goes for memorabilia or any other sports gear you’d want to display. Very few customers will care if they’re original or not. The most important things are aesthetics and ingenuity. Head down to your local sports shop and grab a few items. Place them in strategic places around the bar so they’re easily visible.

Optimize Your TV Placement Strategy

One of the greatest dilemmas for bar owners: where do I put my TVs to increase viewing efficiency? Keep in mind that the standard TV has an 88-degree viewing angle, meaning just under a right angle. Usually, people sitting at the sides won’t be able to see — there a few ways to correct such blind spots.

• Use a reflection scheme involving mirrors all around the perimeter.
• Add smaller monitors where needed.
• Place the main TV in one of the upper corners instead of on top of the serving bar.

Don’t Be Afraid to Go Green

Nature and sports are connected. Teams play outdoors on fields of grass all the time. So, why not make your sports bar more “natural?”

Add some vines or crawling plants on your brick walls. Put some non-allergenic flowers on display. Spray some mint or eucalypt-based aromas in the bathrooms for that spa effect. Get creative; however, make sure it’s not over encumbering and that the overall atmosphere is inline with your brand.

Don’t Forget About Your Sports Bar’s Exterior

As a last piece of advice, even if we’re talking about interior design, is don’t forget to set up a welcoming entrance. Specifically, the door color and layout. You want an eye-catching entry that excites the curiosity of passing sports fans.

Ask yourself how you can set the stage for what the experience is like inside your bar with your bar’s exterior design. It’s by no means an easy question, but it’s worth the time and effort to getting it right.

A sports bar, just like any other establishment, needs constant improvement and experimentation. On top of high-quality food, service, and drinks, a successful sports pub needs the right atmosphere. The interior design, artwork, and memorabilia are just as crucial as overall comfort and venue features. Successful owners always put themselves in their guests’ shoes and improve from there.

About the Author
Michael Gorman is a highly talented freelance writer and proofreader from the UK who currently works at superiorpapers.com. Being interested in everyday development, he writes various blog posts and assignment help papers. You can get ahold of his services under the “write my dissertation for me” button. Michael also loves philosophy and discovers new aspects of human existence every day.