Where to Watch the World Cup?
We’re now a week from the kickoff of the World Cup. Unfortunately, the games are all in the mid-morning, so most of us (including me) will be at work feigning our jobs while watching the sports ticker.
But, should one of us get the chance to sneak out (or are unemployed), where do we go to watch the games? Obviously, the George and Dragon tops the list, but you now how crowded that place will be. Any other options in the metro Seattle area? (Anyone here have a plasma TV they’d be willing to loan me for five weeks?)
I haven’t been there yet myself but I’m planning on watching the World Cup at the Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub. It’s an Australian themed joint on 73rd and Aurora. They’re advertising the WC on their marquee.
Here’s the citysearch profile for it.
http://seattle.citysearch.com/profile/11602368/
Pretty sure that Fado on 1st/Madison (or close by to that) will be showing the World Cup.
http://www.fadoirishpub.com/seattle/
Don’t take my word as law but I’m pretty sure the Irish Emigrant (http://www.irishemigrant.com)? will have it on.
Well, if you are like me and stuck at work during some of the best games – take time and say thank you to the chinese who will be streaming the games to your comp. I have been watching the friendlies and it’s been great. The software you have to download is fine – no viruses or anything else harmful. Check it out at http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/
After doing a bit of research, here are some of the bars/pubs around that will be showing the games. Each will be showing ALL of the games LIVE and most offer evening showings so those of us who work can catch them:
1. Fado – Irish Pub (www.fadoirishpub.com). This pub replays a lot of games more than once.
2. Kells – Irish Pub.
3. Fox Sports Grill – American Bar. This bar has breakfast specials for early morning games!
4. Elephant and Castle – English Pub. This pub will be having contests and trivia during the games and also looks to have good breakfast specials!
5. Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub – Australian Pub.
6. The George and Dragon Pub – English Pub. Get there early!
Hopefully this helps… (It’s amazing the kind of useful things you can do while at work)
Although many of the local bars will have the game, most (so far none that I’ve found) will be showing the HD broadcast. If you’re a HD enthusiast like me this makes a HUGE difference in the overall enjoyment (not to mention picture quality). You see more of the field and the players, ball, everthing are crytal clear. Many of the bars will be showing the games on their fancy new plasma screens but they won’t get the HD feed so you’ll see the same standard definition broadcast only worse. Why worse? Because they’ll expand the 4:3 image to fit the 16:9 screen and visually “crunch” all the players down. The result is a distorted image with short, fat players and standard (if not worse) definition.
You can thank Comcast and the other local cable providers for this dilemma. They don’t offer ESPN2HD in their channel lineup. The only way to get all of the World Cup games (including some of the USA games) in HD is to get Dish Network but if you order it now there’s a 30+ day wait to get the HD receiver. Nice touch. So, now I’m stuck calling around town to find out which bar has Dish Network.
***UPDATE***
Like the place or not, Sport in Fisher Plaza (across from Seattle Center) has Dish and will be showing all World Cup games in their true HD glory! Okay, this post comes to a happy end. Want to meet for a beer? I’ll be at Sport, my “remote” office, for the next month.
What about Mexican bars/restaurants? Last world cup, I watched US vs Mexico at Jalisco’s in Queen Anne and the vibe was great!
Call your local Mexican bar, they might be showing the games too.
Mexican bars are tons of fun for the games, especially the…get this…Mexico games! Have you found one that will have the games in HD?
I haven’t checked, but I would think Sluggers (538 1st Ave S, just northwest of Qwest field) would have the games too.
Great info. I’m flying in with my family on the day before the final and am looking for the best place to watch the game. I’d be interested in folks opinions as they check out the various venues for watching the games.
Does anyone know where I could take my 16 year old son to watch some of the games? Somewhere thatyou could getat leastsome of the vibes you’d getat the George & Dragon
Same with me. I’m from Germany, 20 years and i MUST see the games!
Anybody an idea where they are showing them for “underages”?!
If nothing else, underaged people can watch games at Fox sports grill. They are opening early everyday so all the games can be watched live. I think Elephant and Castle (also downtown) probably also has a section where underage people can watch the games. Another idea is The Ram. They have lots of TV’s, though I’m not sure if they will open early for the games.
I think we should start a list of local places showing the game in HD. So far I know George and Dragon and Sport both have it and they’re opening early for the games. Anyone else find HD spots?
I am latina anyone any place for people under age.My son is 4 years old and love soccer.any recommendation
I’ve heard finn McCool’s on the ave opens up early for viewing the world cup..
Rumor has it Comcast digital cable will be adding ESPN2-HD to their lineup today, which means all you high def fans can watch and/or record the games in their full HD glory. If you haven’t seen the WC games in HD you’re missing out. There is no other way to watch them.
If you are completely shut off from television and Internet you can get the results send to your mobile phone on http://www.sportsnn.com/en/football/fifa-world-cup-germany-2006. The great thing about it is that you can choose exactly those matches or teams you want to receive results for and you can choose if you want half-time results as well. I’ve used it a couple of times for the Champions League matches.
College INN Pub. University District–>The College Inn Pub Shows noon games live and then recasts the morning games at 5:30pm and 7:30pm. It feels kind of ol’Englishy in there, must be 21 though.
Apologies, I see I made an error with the link posted above (the ending dot is included by accident). Here is the link again, but right this time:
http://www.sportsnn.com/en/football/fifa-world-cup-germany-2006
To me where to see a match depends on who’s playing. I’m not going to an Irish bar to watch Spain v. Tunisia, HD or no. I’m going to a Spanish tapas bar or a North African place, even if it’s shown on a small TV with rabbit-ears.
So, I’m asking you all: Which local restaurants and bars are most likely to be filled with one team’s or the other’s compatriots? I’d love to see such a list.
Examples:
* Equador?
* Germany?
* Poland?
* Costa Rica?
The reason I ask: I saw the first Poland match last week while on vacation in NY. The game was showing in what is normally a nightclub, located deep in a Polish neighborhood of Brooklyn. There were easily 200 people in this place, all singing in Polish.
Now I’m wondering, where in Seattle can I find some of that?
Well you know you can find English (George & Dragon by far the best), Irish…oh wait, Australian (see above), Mexican (take your pick), USA (we don’t sing though – bummer!), Italian (all over the place but Mondelo in Beltown that will be going off), among others. I recommend checking out Citysearch for certain ethnic restaurants then calling to ask them where they and their countrymen will be watching.
There’s an old english restaurant in downtown snohomish.
Ponteveccio in Fremont.
This is the place for Worldcup. Not overpacked or obnoxiouslike the G&D. Michele the owner told me that he is opening the restaurant for most games especialy the finals. The food is great and the feel is festive with a little european flare. This is a great pace for familys too. Children are welcome. Have a pannini or pasta with a nice glass of sicilian wine or a cold beer. The service is always awsome here.
Call for game schedule.
http://www.gayot.com/restaurantpages/info.php?tag=SERES9960&code=SE
Map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?city=Seattle&state=WA&address=710+N.+34th+St.&zip=98103&country=us&zoom=8