Official watch parties and great bars to cheer on the Huskies in CFP Championship Game
The University of Washington Huskies take on the University of Michigan Wolverines Monday in the College Football Championship game under the lights of NRG Stadium in Houston. To cheer on UW, several venues around Tacoma will host watch parties, including the University of Washington-Tacoma.
We’ve also rounded up a list of several bars in the area that had the televisions blaring the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day and will likely be raucous again Jan. 8.
And as one astute commenter on Tacoma’s Reddit page noted when a local inquired where to watch, “This is the biggest game in UW history since 1991, so I imagine every sports bar in the state (yes, even Pullman) will be playing it and have a decent audience.”
Indeed, the Huskies were named co-national champions 33 years ago — a generation! — after winning the Rose Bowl. The opponent they defeated 34-14? Michigan, in what was then a Rose Bowl standoff between the Pac-10 and Big Ten champions.
UWT, which opened downtown just one year prior, in 1990, will host an official ticketed watch party at Poquitos and Stadium Golf. Wear purple and gold, they say!
Here’s where else around Tacoma to watch Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies in the CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T.
HUSKIES WATCH PARTIES
POQUITOS & STADIUM GOLF, HOSTED BY UWT
▪ 649 Division Ave., 253-900-2405, poquitostacoma.com
▪ Tickets: $10 ($15 at the door, if available) — advance registration recommended via events.uw.edu
▪ What to know: Official UWT viewing party, tickets include taco bar and nonalcoholic beverages; both restaurants’ regular menus and full bar available. Doors open at 3:30 p.m.
THE GRAND CINEMA
▪ 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma, 253-593-4474, grandcinema.com
▪ Tickets: $20, advance purchase recommended via grandcinema.com
▪ What to know: Tacoma’s independent movie theater will livestream the game. Seating is first-come, first-served. Make it a full UW day by catching “Boys in the Boat” at 11:30 a.m. or 2:15 p.m.
EMERALD QUEEN CASINO
▪ EQC Event Center, 2920 E R St., Tacoma, emeraldqueen.com/cfb-watch
▪ Tickets: No cover, but early arrival recommended for prime seating.
▪ What to know: Free viewing party at the 20,000-square-foot event center. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., 21+ only.
BEST TACOMA BARS FOR CFP CHAMPIONSHIP
WEST END PUB
▪ 3840 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-759-2896, westendtacoma.com
▪ Monday hours: 11 a.m.-midnight
▪ What to know: Spacious sports bar with three big rooms and 30 screens, including enclosed and heated patio. Full bar and food menu of pub classics. All ages until 9 p.m.
COLES BAR & GRILL
▪ 5811 N 51st St., Ruston, 253-267-1914, colesruston.com
▪ Monday hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
▪ What to know: Intimate neighborhood bar with big screen. Full bar and food menu of pub classics, including awesome hand-breaded onion rings.
BEER STAR TACOMA
▪ 4328 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-300-7747, beerstarusa.com
▪ Monday hours: 3-11 p.m.
▪ What to know: Ample bar and table seating with dozens of taps focused on PNW beer; outside food allowed; sound-on for the game.
GIG HARBOR BREWING CO.
▪ 3120 South Tacoma Way, 253-474-0672, gigharborbrewing.com
▪ 3155 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, 253-313-5745
▪ Monday hours: 3-8 p.m.
▪ What to know: Both intimate brewery taprooms prepped for viewing, with pints a-plenty. Snacks available for purchase and outside food permitted.
7 SEAS BREWING CO.
▪ 2101 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253-572-7770, 7seasbrewing.com
▪ Monday hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
▪ What to know: Vast brewery taproom will pull down its projection screen and turn the sound up for the game. Order burgers and salads from Canteen by Camp Colvos; outside food permitted.
THE RED HOT
▪ 2914 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-779-0229, redhottacoma.com
▪ Monday hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
▪ What to know: Popular beer bar and hot dog shop with projector screen pulled down for games, including audio for the college championship.
LUCKY SILVER TAVERN
▪ 2605 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253-472-0360, instagram.com/theluckysilver
▪ Monday hours: 2 p.m.-midnight
▪ What to know: Longtime Tacoma haunt under new ownership that regularly plays college ball on the ample screens. Full bar and short-but-sweet food menu, including hand-cut fries.
THE RAM RESTAURANT & BREWERY
▪ 3001 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253-756-7886, theram.com/menus/wa/tacoma
▪ 10019 59th Ave. SW, Lakewood, 253-584-3191, theram.com/menus/wa/tacoma
▪ Monday hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. in Tacoma, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. in Lakewood
▪ What to know: Spacious restaurants with full bar, house beer, big food menu and lots of screens.
CHAMBERS BAY DISTILLERY - UP TASTING ROOM
▪ 3610 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, chambersbaydistillery.com
▪ Special Monday hours: open in time for 4:30 p.m. kickoff
▪ What to know: Lounge-like bar serves cocktails with Chambers Bay’s own spirits plus select wine and beer alongside flatbreads, charcuterie boards and a pulled pork sandwich. The game will be on!
TK IRISH PUB
▪ 109 S Meridian, Puyallup, 253-504-4791, tkirishpub.com
▪ Monday hours: 11 a.m.-midnight
▪ What to know: Cozy Irish pub with full bar and handcut fries. Micro Monday specials include $4 pints and $3 White Claws.
THE LOOSE WHEEL
▪ 715 River Road, Puyallup, 253-848-4444, theloosewheel.com
▪ 6108 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-301-1647
▪ Monday hours: 9 a.m.-midnight in Puyallup, 11 a.m.-midnight in Tacoma
▪ What to know: Ample screens at lively sports bar with full bar and food menu — look for specials and details on Facebook.
THE REDD DOG - PUYALLUP
▪ 10305 156th St., Puyallup, 253-268-0517, theredddog.com
▪ Monday hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
▪ What to know: U-Pour bar (beer, wine, cider, plus mix-your-own cocktails) with open seating and full menu of pub food, including pizza and sandwiches; 25% off U-Pour taps if wearing Huskies gear
MCNAMARA’S PUB & EATERY
▪ 1595 Wilmington Drive, DuPont, 253-964-9200, mcnamaraspubandeatery.com
▪ Monday hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
▪ What to know: Spacious restaurant with full bar and menu of Irish and American pub food.
This story was originally published January 5, 2024 at 5:00 AM.