Last Sunday, Tom’s Watch Bar near Coors Field in Denver transformed into a buzzing venue for enthusiastic viewers gathered to watch the season finale of ‘Love Island USA.’
Unlike the typical sports fans who flock to the bar to support local teams such as the Colorado Rockies or the Denver Broncos, this crowd was there for a different kind of excitement.
Much to the delight of the fans, Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales were crowned the winners, prompting an electrifying reaction from the crowd.
‘Absolutely, there might have been louder cheers in there when they picked the winners than when Aaron Gordon hit the last-second three-pointer to win a game, literally,’ said Dan Stillman, the operating partner at Tom’s Watch Bar, reflecting on the overwhelming exuberance in the room.
While sports are usually the main attraction at bars, the rising popularity of ‘Love Island USA’ offered a fresh opportunity for establishments to attract revenue while showcasing a different type of entertainment.
By streaming episodes live like a sporting event, bars not only boosted their profits during the slow summer months but also invited a diverse range of fans into their spaces, creating an energetic new atmosphere.
Lyndsey Spano, owner of DNVR Bar, shared her excitement about the influx of new patrons during their own watch party for the finale, reaching capacity at roughly 152 guests.
‘We bleed money in the summer,’ Spano admitted, highlighting how this event contributed positively to their bottom line.
In contrast to the typical game day vibe, the fans at DNVR Bar dressed in more fashionable attire rather than their usual sports jerseys, showcasing the unique demographic drawn by ‘Love Island.’
‘It was just like a Broncos, Nuggets, Avs game where, you know, when you hit a goal, people are clapping, people are cheering,’ Spano commented, comparing the lively atmosphere to that of any sports event.
The excitement in the room mirrored the exhilarating environment of traditional sports games, as laughter, cheers, and applause erupted throughout the finale watch.
The nature of ‘Love Island’ aligns well with the ethos of a sports bar, where patrons thrive on communal experiences and shared enthusiasm.
Additionally, the setup of a bar with multiple screens ensures that every guest has a good view, whether they are there for a sports game or a reality show finale.
This reality show has a distinctive twist as it empowers viewers with a direct influence on the competition’s outcome through voting, adding an interactive element that captivates audiences.
‘Love Island’ encourages viewers to actively participate by voting for their favorite couples in real-time, fostering a deeper engagement with the show and its contestants.
The investment of the audience is crucial as they vote on which couples to keep in the competition, and those who attract the least votes face elimination.
As of mid-July, the show’s popularity skyrocketed with over 5.5 million downloads of the Love Island USA app, which underscores the level of engagement from the audience.
Social media buzz has also shown to have a significant impact, leading producers to reevaluate cast decisions based on viewer reactions.
The frequency of episodes—airing six days a week—allows fans to stay invested while also bringing a live-streaming dynamic akin to popular platforms like Twitch.
Season formats consist of more than thirty hour-long episodes, keeping viewers hooked with character development and story arcs.
As bars like Tom’s Watch Bar and DNVR Bar successfully tapped into this trend, the outlook for watch parties centered around other reality shows remains uncertain yet promising.
Both bars are open to exploring future watch events, following their excitement over the successful finale gathering.
DNVR Bar, boasting nearly every streaming service, will consider other shows and engage with audiences for their preferences.
As the fall season approaches, integrating reality programming with live sports events may present challenges, but Spano remains optimistic about accommodating both audiences in different spaces of the bar.
This could also bode well for fans of ‘Love Is Blind,’ which has a season filming in Denver set to air later this year.
According to Stillman, the finale of ‘Love Island’ became Tom’s Watch Bar’s second-busiest stretch in the past year, trailing only behind the Rockies’ opening day.
He is contemplating hosting the ‘Love Island USA’ reunion planned for August 25, while both he and Spano have expressed interest in organizing events for ‘Bachelor in Paradise,’ which airs on Mondays summer.
‘We need to think outside the box as a brand,’ Stillman emphasized.
The buzz around reality TV watch parties indicates a potential evolution in the traditional sports bar paradigm, opening doors to new events and diverse audiences.
These watch parties, laden with excitement and shared experiences, signal a turning point in how bars can adapt to the changing entertainment landscape.
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