DU Field Notes: Five Places to Watch Sports

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Maybe you want to watch your favorite University of Denver squad. Perhaps you’re a fan of the Broncos, Avalanche, Nuggets, Rapids, Mammoth or some other city’s baseball team. If so, then this edition of DU Field Notes is for you.

We’re going to look at five excellent places to watch sports, ranging from decadent to divey and everything in between.

McGregor Square

Opened in 2021, McGregor Square is the premier location for gigantic watch parties. If your dream is to be smashed into a crowd of people all screaming at the same massive television screen, this is the spot for you. Particularly over the last two years, the new addition to lower downtown has seen heavy use with championship runs by the Avalanche and Nuggets.

It’s not just a great spot for watching sports, it also features some of the most diverse food offerings on this list. Milepost Zero Food Hall is located inside the square and features a 35-tap, self-serve beer wall along with options for tacos, empanadas, pizza, burgers, sushi, ramen and more.

Bonus option: If you’re in search of a similar environment, Tivoli often hosts watch parties when a Denver team makes the playoffs. It’s not for the faint of heart (or someone who values personal space), but it’s about as big of a party as you’ll find during sporting events. 

The Rooftop (aka The Party Deck)

Sigh. We know, we know. It might be a painful experience this season supporting the perpetually poor-performing Colorado Rockies. Some of you will likely avoid it altogether and that’s completely understandable.

But for the rest of us, it’s time to throw on a hat for the Cubs, Cardinals or your favorite east coast ballclub (Dodgers fans need not apply) and step aboard the party deck, perched high above Coors Field near the foul pole in right.

While it’s maybe not the best view of the game action, it does offer a casual, outdoor lounge environment and dozens of televisions playing not only the Rockies game, but other live sports options as well. There’s the bonus of some incredible views of the city and mountains, too.

The Basketball Social House

Switching gears—maybe you want to play some sports before watching them. If so, take a short drive or ambitious scooter ride roughly seven miles down University Blvd. to The Basketball Social House in Centennial.

This 21,000 square foot space is equipped with a full-size, 5-on-5 court alongside smaller set-ups that include hoops, rebounding machines and lounges to comfortably heckle your friend’s poor shooting form.

There’s also a full-size bar area with numerous TVs (often, but not always, centered on NBA and college hoops) and a robust menu to replace all the calories you lost trying to dunk on your buddies.

Campus Lounge

Affiliated with DU alumni in the past and having had numerous owners and updates since, Campus Lounge has been a staple in the larger DU community since 1976. A self-described “upscale dive bar,” it has one of the most varied menus on this list and features a throwback with an old-school salad bar.

The decoration is eclectic but peppered in between are large television screens with a heavy emphasis on Colorado sports, both professional and collegiate. If a DU athletics contest is televised, it’s a safe bet that Campus Lounge carries it. It’s also been the site of official DU watch parties in the past, plus it regularly hosts coach David Carle’s radio show during the hockey season.

Crimson and Gold Tavern

Located remarkably close to campus, Crimson and Gold Tavern is adorned with historical depictions of DU sports history, both inside and out. Everything about the C and G screams college bar, but it still has food offerings and plenty of space for underage patrons or those who don’t partake in alcohol.

It’s also an excellent environment for a game. Don’t just take our word for it. DU Magazine writer Connor Mokrzycki penned this first-person account during DU hockey’s 2022 championship run.

Bonus Round

In no particular order, here are some other options for sports fans in the Denver area. Be advised that some of these bars and restaurants don’t allow underage patrons.

• ViewHouse (Ballpark location)
• The Sports Column (downtown)
• Stoney’s (Capitol Hill)
• The Sportsbook (Highlands Ranch)
• Number Thirty Eight (RiNo)
• Occidental (Highlands)
• The Pioneer (University)
• Stadium Inn (University)