Bars + Flames = Good Times

[Big D]

If you're logged into HLN, click on this link.

www.horizonleaguenetwork.tv/channel.aspx?VideoID=1340

I think we talked about this either last year or the year before, but it looks like someone actually implemented it. This is a video about a Butler bar that called HLN and got permission to stream the Butler games on their HD TVs. And, from the looks of the TVs, the picture quality is actually good. I don't know how they did this, but I think this is something we need...at least for away games. Maybe a Butler fan can chime in and tell us how the quality is at the Chumley's...

Fury, your next assignment ( ) is to call the local sports bars and convince them that business will increase by streaming these games (at least on some of the TVs).

Now that I think about it, was this done for our soccer games (at Demerit's bar)? This should definitely by done for that sports bar on south campus now...don't know the name of it....

[soccer fan]

No. The feed at Villain's was from a laptop behind the bar, and it kept cutting out.

When it worked, it was OK, but like most of the internet broadcasts I've seen, it wasn't quite ready for prime time. And if I remember correctly, the feed was from UMass, not HLN.

Nonetheless, your idea is a good one. The name of the bar you are referring to is Morgan's, I believe. Junior's is the other sports bar in South Campus, but since it is a Kansas bar (Gale Sayers is part owner), I tend to avoid the place.

In fairness, Morgan's is not a UIC bar, either. They are pretty much agnostic as far as teams go (other than the Bears), they just don't offer drink specials and discounts when Kansas plays like Juniors does.

Not that I blame these establishments for anything. The Flames are on TV so rarely they would be hard-pressed to try to generate business off of them. It is also a well-known fact that one of the biggest Ohio State bars in Chicago is right next to the DePaul campus.

So, until UIC starts to competing at a higher level in NCAA basketball, Villain's is the only real candidate or a UIC bar. Its a shame that it is a mile away from campus, but that's the way it is.

[FuryJP]

If Villains would advertise on campus as a "UIC bar", I think it would get more student business. I've never heard of the place other than when the soccer team was playing.

[spike1057]

Not that this is a huge sports bar. But what about WOW. I eat there before almost all home games. Great wings, cold beer, and a few TV's. One of the workers there, not sure if he is an owner, has season tickets. Maybe its some place this can work out. Close to the campus and they seem to be a UIC bar. Just an idea.

[soccer fan]

Good point, Spike.

WOW is definitely a pro-UIC establishment, and yes its right on Maxwell Street. They've got the Flames logo on the wall, I've seen members of the team in there, and they have enough advertisments on the athletic fields to convince me that they are supporters of UIC and the Athletic Dept. And yes, they have great wings.

It didn't cross my mind because for some reason I think of the place as more of a restaurant than bar, but yes, they do serve beer (but bottle only, I believe).

It would be a good choice for watching a game, probably better than Villains, the interior of which reminds me a little too much of O'Banions:

www.chicagobarproject.com/Memoriam/O'Banion's/O'Banion's.htm

Which in turn reminded me that I am too old to be hanging around joints like that anymore:

vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=2589623

even though I still consider "Smorgasboard Massacre" one of the all-time best names for a rock band. LOL.

Disclaimer: Any similarity between Villains and O'Banion's is strictly skin-deep and only exists in my head.