The Unwritten Rules of Watching a Game at the Bar

Whether it's the regular season or the playoffs, bars get packed on gameday. There are only so many screens and so many places to sit. Add the heightened emotions that come with sports fandom and you can wind up with a rough night for everyone — fans, neutrals, and staff alike.

The best way to ensure that everyone has a great time is to follow the rules of sports bar etiquette. Unfortunately, those rules are pretty much all unwritten. Rather, they were unwritten. We are going to outline the rules that make sports bars great to come back to game after game.

Generally speaking, bar etiquette for gameday boils down to the principle that you should celebrate your team without ruining someone else's night. That seems simple enough, but there are nuances to the social contract specific to a sports bar that helps people follow that golden rule.

The Best Seat Strategy (And When to Give it Up)

While some places like The Rabbit Hole allow groups to reserve specific viewing areas to watch their preferred game, most of the time, seating at a sports bar is first come/first served. But even then, snagging the best seat at a sports bar comes with important guidelines.

First, we have to look at how to save seats at a bar. When the first member of a group arrives, it's perfectly normal for them to grab a table or spot at the bar and hold onto a seat or two for their soon-to-arrive friends. But it's one thing to hold a seat for 15 minutes and a whole other thing to hold one for an hour. If your friends are super late, make way for people who are actually there on time to watch the game in a great spot.

One of the most underrated game day bar rules is to pay attention to other people's sightlines. Don't hang coats or hats on hooks that will block out someone else's view. And definitely don't elbow your way to a spot directly in front of someone so that you can see the screen and they can't.

Finally, if your game is over or if it is an absolute blowout, give up your prime location to someone else. Sharing TVs at a bar is its own challenge, but everyone will appreciate the fellow patrons who make way for people to watch a close game instead of a laugher.

Volume, Remotes, and Replays

When you go out to watch sports, you can expect to sit down in loud bars full of passionate fans. That's why it's important to do your part to help keep the volume reasonable. Following a few reasonable guidelines will make the experience better for everyone.

Cheering vs Shouting

A great way to maintain a good sonic experience for everyone at the bar instead of fretting about how loud is too loud is to cheer when big stuff happens but chill out during routine plays. Your soccer team scores a goal? Go nuts! Cheer, high five everyone around you, sing a song! Your team passes the ball back and forth in the middle of the field for a few minutes? Complain to your friends, but don't yell about it. It's just that easy.

Don't Demand the Remote

When it comes to bar TV sound and the ultimate choice of which game goes on which screen, the staff has final say. Some places will put up closed captions and leave all of their TVs silent. Some will give a specific game priority for sound. If you want your game on screen and with the volume up, ask politely. The staff will accommodate you as best they can.

Replays and Challenges

In the age of streaming, it's possible to pause and rewind live broadcasts to see important stuff again or catch something you may have missed. If you were in the restroom or otherwise distracted when a big play happens or an important challenge is resolved, don't make a stink trying to get the staff to put it on the TV. Check it on your phone or ask the people around you to describe it. 

When It's OK and Not OK to Trash Talk

A little friendly banter between rival fans is a big part of the fun of watching a game at a sports bar. To keep everything fun and light, be sure to follow trash talk etiquette. The goal is for everyone to have a good time, no matter whose team wins or loses.

Of all the respectful cheering guidelines, perhaps the most important is that you should stick to teasing the team, not the individual you are bantering with. These are just games. There is no need to make personal insults about someone's appearance or family.

And it is especially important to keep it light during major rivalry games. Everyone's blood is already a little hot for those matchups, so keeping things PG-13 and family friendly helps keep a positive atmosphere.

Sharing Screens: What To Do When Two Games Are On

The thing about sports is that a lot of games happen at the same time. A key factor of sports bar etiquette is knowing how to ask for your game to get put up on the screen. Making sure that everyone at the bar is able to watch the game they want to see can be a complicated puzzle, so keep these guidelines in mind when you head out on game day.

• Claim a TV with Courtesy: If you want to watch something other than the marquee matchup, check with the staff before your game starts so that they can work out a way for you to watch what you want to see.
• Sound Priorities: Big game watch party rules state that the local team or major national broadcast gets priority for sound. If you are watching a different game, ask for captions to be turned on or listen to alternate commentary through an earbud.
• Split the Wall: When multiple games are on at the same time, dividing screens evenly among them can be a great idea. Alternating sound between games can work, too — check to see if it is possible to switch audio to the most competitive game at quarter or halftime breaks.

Ordering, Tabs, and Tipping on Game Day

Some of the most important sports bar do's and don't's involve ordering food and drinks. The easier you can make things on the staff, the better they will be able to serve everyone in what is likely a packed house.

• Order in Batches: Help your server out by ensuring that you don't monopolize their time. Put in group orders whenever possible so that they can handle your needs all at once instead of going back and forth constantly.
• Mind the Clock: Be aware of game times so that you can plan your orders to be finished around the same time as your game. That way, you aren't holding a table that someone else could use to watch the game that airs after yours.
• Tabs and Splits: Set up individual tabs so that your server doesn't need to try to split everything for a large group at the end of your game. And if you are going to be at a table with your group for a few hours, remember that tipping at sports bars should happen regularly throughout the game.
• Clean as You Go: As your table finishes fry baskets or wing platters, it can be very helpful to your server if you consolidate your empty dishes and bottles for easy removal.

Inclusivity and Safety are Non-Negotiable

It is so fun to see a bar full of fans from all kinds of different backgrounds wearing different jerseys and cheering for their favorite teams. And in order to keep things fun, it is absolutely imperative that the bar remains a welcoming environment free of slurs and aggressive behavior.

When it comes to safety, that includes keeping out of the way of high traffic areas that servers may need to use to navigate the bar. Additionally, instead of getting in someone's face who is acting out of hand, explain the situation to the staff and let them handle things professionally.

Basically, the key to bar safety is to listen to the staff and keep a cool head. If the staff asks you to tone it down, do it. If someone is crossing a line from friendly banter to potential violence, let the staff know. Just don't be a jerk.

Big Games, Great Times

Whether you are watching the biggest football game of the year, the opening rounds of the college basketball tournament, or a regular season matchup, following sports bar etiquette guidelines will help you and everyone else have the best time possible.

At The Rabbit Hole, you can reserve a watch area for your group or walk in on game day and have a great time. We have 42 big screen TVs and lots of different seating areas and sightline options to help ensure you can see the game you came in for.

Sports are more fun when you're with people, so come out to The Rabbit Hole for the best crowd, the best food, the best drinks, and the most fun you can have on a game day.

FAQ

Can I reserve a TV?

The Rabbit Hole does have reservable areas for group events and you can check with staff ahead of your visit to make sure your game can get on a screen.

Who gets audio?

Typically, audio is reserved for the biggest local game or a major nationally broadcast game.

Is it OK to boo?

You can boo the opposing team or a bad call, but don't boo the other people around you.

Can I bring a handheld radio?

With headphones or earbuds? Sure. 

What if two huge games are tied late?

The game with the most ties to local teams will likely have audio priority, but there will be plenty of screens showing both games at the same time. If possible, the staff may rotate audio between games at commercial breaks or timeouts.