(What’s this about? Read this.) Pistons fans are everywhere, they just need to find each other!
If you know where fans in and around Chicago get together to watch games without feeling outnumbered and/or having to argue with the bartender to change the channel, tell us in the comments. If you don’t know where to find other Pistons fans but wish you could, leave a note and maybe suggest a place.
Here’s a short list of various places to watch Pistons games, or any other Detroit teams’ games in Chicago…
1) The Tin Lizzie - Clark, N of Fullerton
2) Duffy’s - Diversey and Sheridan
3) O’Malley’s - Lincoln and Belden
4) The Gin Mill - Lincoln and Montana
Although I live in Champaign, IL, I’ve spent lots of time in Chicago and I’ve watched lots of Pistons games there. Most of the time I’ve spent in Chicago has been in Lincoln Park, and there are surprisingly lots of Pistons fans in the area. It’s not uncommon to see Mark Aguirre jerseys all around DePaul’s campus.
The primary bar I’ve watched games at is called McGee’s Tavern. It’s located at 950 W Webster Ave (at Bissell St.), and it was voted the best bar in Chicago to watch any game (not just Pistons) within the past couple of years. They have delicious food, and more flat-screen TVs than you can count. There are always people there drinking and watching sports.
By the way, on weekends the Bloody Mary Bar is amazing. So is the Spanish omelet. And the spicy chicken sandwich.
While I now live in Iowa City, Iowa (stunningly similar to Ann Arbor, very progressive, major university town), I had spent the last 8 years in downtown Chicago. I visit often, at least once a month now. Most of my friends in Chicago were from Michigan, as Chicago is Michigan’s “second downtown”. As Crumski mentioned, there is no shortage of Pistons fans in Chicago…
Over the last four or five years, I had been to every Pistons game in Chicago against the Bulls. When the Stones weren’t visiting, however, I’d watch at friends houses for the most part. Its really difficult to get volume at a bar, even if there are plenty of Pistons fans in attendance.
One tip, however– the front room bar at Duffy’s on Diversey has small LCD screens affixed to the bar, and the ‘tenders will usually let you turn up the volume. While Duffy’s is plenty on the douche side, the employees are good people and respect our Pistons addiction.
Im hoping to be moving to Chicago next year to study Postgrad marketing, so I’ll definetly check out some of those bars Jay mentioned. Its gotta beat watching the games on League Pass here in London on my laptop mostly on my own in the middle of the night.
I DJ at Northside in Bucktown and I make sure the Stons are on most of the TVs.
Tin Lizzy is straight but doesnt have that great of food options.
Does anybody know of a place where pistons fans meet and watch the games in Atlanta? I know there are a good number of fans here from the amount of people I see at Hawks games. I’m trying to find out if there is a sports bar or hangout where I can see Game 3.
Long time reader of the DBB, first time poster.
I was in Chicago for Game 6 against the Celtics due to having tickets to the Cubs game earlier that day. I had read up on some of the bars from the earlier posts and decided on The Tin Lizzie (mostly due to the fact that it is only a mile and a half from Wrigley Field). My friends and I arrived there about an hour before tipoff and were able to get a great seat in the back in front of large flatscreen. Overall the atmoshpere was great for the game and the majority of people were there to watch the game. There were a lot of people in Pistons, Red Wings, and Tigers shirts (didnt see any Lions apparel, wonder why that could be). They had the game commentary piped in through the speaker system and the crowd was very into the game with tons of cheering especially as the Pistons built there 10 point lead. We did not order any food so I can’t comment on that but we had about 8 beers and 3 mixed drinks between us and the tab was slightly over $40. Overall I would say it is a great place to watch a Pistons game in Chicago.
I just moved to Chi a couple months ago. I wear my D cap everywhere I go, haven’t had any trouble. When I was here visiting in June looking for job/apartment during the finals, I watched the Celtics with the title at Hamilton’s on Broadway/Devon. Good atmosphere for NBA action, not sure about Pistons games yet.
I don’t have a TV in my apartment, but I’ve got a sick desktop and a decent laptop. Last week I ordered a Slingbox SOLO from Amazon.com (free shipping, no sales tax) and had it shipped to my parents house in Belleville, MI. My dad’s gonna hook it up in my old room to the Dish Network DVR and I’ll be getting all our 400+ channels including HBO’s/Showtime’s etc all in HIGH DEF!
So my place will definitely be rocking final countdown for most of the games. When I have time to go out I’ll for sure hit up some of the places Smyk posted and reply once more with thoughts.
I’m the Manager at Red Ivy, a sports bar in Wrigleyville with what many think is the best Pizza in Chicago, but if we were to offer the Pistons and Red Wings Games with volume, what kind of crowd would people be interested?
I think you guys could do quite well. Don’t underestimate how many Detroit fans are here in Chicago. I would be there for sure. (I live about a block south of Red Ivy).
Wrigleyville could use a Michigan-friendly bar to watch pistons games! All the other places to watch are further south in lincoln park. I would so be there.
@Scott:
As long as Matt isn’t working there any more… he’s a bastard!! Kidding, I used to work with Matt at Underground Lounge a few years back. Welcome to DBB, Scott!
-Mike Payne-
(Matt Atkins, that is)
I live in Wrigleyville and would absolutely attend.
I’m in Chicago during the Holidays and will be moving back there full time at some point (probably at least two years away though). I will definitely be there when I’m in town.
Yes, please make Red Ivy a Detroit sports bar! I think Red Ivy is a solid bar, but the only Detroit bar around there is Tin Lizzie and that place is smallish with lackluster food. Do it! Do it….
The GIN MILL has closed. There is a bar called avenue tavern (possible gay bar as its close to boystown) but they have the old English D hanging on their doorstep, at least they did during our WS run.
as for Red Ivy becoming Detroit friendly…love the idea. Would spread out the Detroit bars nicely.
Food for thought, I’ve been in CHI for almost 3 years now and I meet more people from Michigan than I do from Illinois. It’s truly astounding. So as the manager of Red Ivy, you will not be placing your bar into a pigeon hole, rather expanding the patron base as Detroit fans will have another place to watch DET sporting events.
Ummm. That would be awesome. I live in Uptown and would love having a bar that close. I do have League Pass, so I wouldn’t be there for every game, probably big match ups and playoffs. Also - if you were to show Michigan college sports you might attract even more people. I definitely echo the sentiment that there are a down of Michiganders in Chicago. I am all for it.
@Nick:
Avenue Tavern is not a gay bar, not remotely so. Its also four blocks south of the Boys Town border. Its owned by a UM alum, so they’re very supportive of DET sports.
I would be there. I’m a huge Detroit fan in Chicago.
I’m originally from Flint, but I went to school at DePaul University in Chicago. Whenever I wanted to catch the Pistons I went to one of the college bars on Lincoln Avenue. The Gin Mill is an MSU bar that plays all Michigan based teams, but it’s just so-so. Kelly’s is another bar near DePaul, on Webster and Belden I believe, that has like 100 TVs so I imagine you could go there for games as well. Also, Kelly’s has dollar burgers which are phenomenal.
My bad. Didn’t see the post above saying Gin Mill was closed. I’ve only been gone for 4 months. What happened?
Gin Mill has re-opened as Hi Tops and is still an MSU hangout. Too bad the MSU/UofM game is tonight too, no clue where to watch the Pistons/Bulls game outside of United Center now!