New Things #6 - Skyduster Sports

Skyduster Sports is the latest brewery to hit DTLA, opening in June in the Fashion District in the same area as Rossoblu and Dama. For people unfamiliar with DTLA, the Fashion District might make you think of Rodeo Drive and fancy shops but it’s pretty much the opposite of that. It’s mostly just shop after shop of the same quinceañera dresses and cheap suits and then a lot of wholesale spots. Also, to be generous, let’s say that it is a block away from Skid Row. It’s not a great area. When Superfine Pizza opened up in the area a while back and they went credit card only because they were afraid to have cash on hand in the area.
That being said, Rossoblu, which is either closing soon or going through a rebrand - it’s unclear as of yet - is one of my favorite restaurants in LA and the space itself is a nice oasis in the middle of urban decay.

The Skyduster beer is quite good and the space is fine - a smallish area inside and then some tables outside. There’s a big projection screen and then six our so TVs. I’m a little surprised that they went with the name Skyduster Sports because, talking to other bar owners over the year, I’ve learned that there’s a fear of the sports bar label because it limits the potential clientele. LA isn’t the best sports city and apparently a lot of barflies avoid the sports bar vibe but, on the other hand, there’s a dearth of good sports bars in DTLA so maybe this could fill a void.

My initial take is that Skyduster might go over a rebrand sooner than later because while the sports angle is fine, it wasn’t that crowded and the inside area seems too small. There are a couple of TVs outside but I can’t imagine ever going to watch a game there and being happy about sitting outside unless I’m at the table right next to the TV.
Skyduster did do one thing that I think is a must now - they played music during the commercial breaks (they played the game audio for the game on the big projection screen.) They didn’t have enough TVs for all of the morning games, which is a bit of a downer. Unlike other breweries in DTLA, there wasn’t anything else to do - Arts District Brewery and Boomtown Brewery have a bunch of games. But the biggest issue for me is that area. You really need to be a destination for this spot to work and right now, I’m just not seeing this as a place I’d rally people to come to to watch games.
I might give it another go - it’s probably better for single game options like Dodgers, Lakers, or Sunday Night Football - but it kind of feels like a neighborhood bar in a neighborhood that a lot of people avoid.