DTLA Sports Bar & Grill

2025 might be cursed when it comes to my attempts at trying to do 500 New Things. I got sick at the beginning of the year, which derailed my first attempt. I started working on a new show that was a bit of a mess which ate up my time (and sanity) for the second attempt. And now, with my new version, the 2nd new thing I attempted turned out to not be new at all.

Sports bars in LA are somewhat notorious for being not great and, often, short-lived so my interest was piqued when I saw a new sports bar had opened in DTLA. A quick Google search showed that DTLA Sports Bar & Grill was right next to Dames and Games, a strip club / sports bar. Dames and Games basically is two bars - a strip club and then a connected back bar area that I thought maybe they had closed off from the strip club area. I thought that was a curious decision but I decided to check it out for Monday Night Football anyway.

When I arrived at DTLA Sports Bar & Grill, I quickly learned that… it was just Dames & Games. There was nothing different besides new branding on the window but even the awning still says Dames & Games. Apparently, they only open the smaller bar area during the day and then they close it at night and shift everyone over to the main strip club area.

The bar was pretty much dead which means the handful of girls working there are going to be laser focused on trying to chat you up. You pretty much can’t go to Dames if you really want to watch a game because the dancers are going to fight for your attention the whole time. The ladies ended up being nice so it’s not the worst place to go for the Thursday or Monday Night game if you aren’t that interested in the two teams and want an ego boost of pretty, young ladies hitting on you. And if you’re into the Dames more than the Games, dances are $25 for one, $125 for ten minutes (which doesn’t feel like much of a bargain), and $300 for VIP thirty minutes,

Given the dearth of sports bars in LA, I might go back one of these days but I really was hoping for more of a traditional sports bar to call home. I miss having a regular spot to go. Alas, the search will continue.