10C
HOMECOMING SECTION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008
GAME DAY
Game Day After College: Where to watch the games after you graduate
BY ALICIA BANISTER
Kincade's is located at 950 W. Aramige in Chicago, Ill. 60614.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Backpage is located at 14723rd Ave. in New York, NY 10028-1967
CONTRIBUTED BY CHRISTY BANISTER
If you have ever wondered where you will watch KU games once you are an alum and have moved away, you may find comfort in knowing that many bars pride themselves in being a KU watch site for sporting events. After speaking with several alumni who live across the country, I found that watching KU games with hundreds of other fans does not end once you leave the hill. There are KU bars all over the country decked out with flags, bartenders wearing KU stickers or in some cases bartenders making special drinks named after the Jayhawk.
KINCADE'S CHICAGO
In Chicago there are quite a few KU watch sites, including Junior's, which is owned by previous KU all-star Gale Sayers. Will Cook, 2001 graduate and Chicago native, watches the KU games at Kincade's. "All of the KU bars in the city are special in their own right, but for me the bar of choice has always been Kincade's. The back room called Lucille's, or better known by KU fans as Lucy's, is the best place to watch a KU game in Chicago," Cook said.
If you show up to Kincade's hoping to watch the game, you may want to get there early. Cook said there can be up to 300 people for a regular season game and close to double that for more important games. If after graduating you have any interest in getting together with alumni outside of watching the games together, there are also special events within the select cities planned. In Chicago, there are several events throughout the year, including a cruise for Big 12 alumni, Cubs games and even the Chicago Blues Festival.
UPPER DECK SCOTTSALE, ARIZ.
If graduation takes you to the southwest, you can find many alumni gathered at The Upper Deck, in Scottsdale. Carol Hilbert, fourth-generation KU alumna.
said that the two-story bar fills up entirely with KU fans for big games, and a small number even come out for those pre-season games. The bar was especially full on the day of the championship game last year — one of Hilbert's favorite memories from watching KU play.
"It would be hard to beat feeling like we were all instantly transported to Lawrence, Kansas when Mario hit that three pointer. People were hugging and crying and jumping up and down just like at any Lawrence bar, packed with KU fans," Hilbert said. So even if you aren't watching the game in Lawrence, you can still feel like you are at the Upper Deck.
VILLAGE POURHOUSE
& BACKPAGE
NEW YORK, NY
New York City is home to two KU watch sites where bartend
ers wear KU stickers and fly KU flags. David Griffith, KU alumnus, goes to The Backpage on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Walking into this bar feels like walking into any of the bars on Massachusetts Street. "We have had a Jayhawk flag hanging on the wall for a number of years. Subsequent to this year's basketball season, the owner bought a KU National Champions banner and has it hanging prominently over the middle of the bar," Griffith said. Another KU watch site in the city is the Village Pourhouse located in lower Manhattan. Carrie Coulson, KU alumna, attends this bar for every game. When Mario Chalmers, former KU basketball player, hit the magical three to send the championship game into over time, the Village Pourhouse went crazy. Coulson said the best part about watching the games there is seeing familiar faces, which can be hard in a city so big.
The New York alumni also get together for multiple events outside of games, such as an outing to the Bronx Zoo and Jayhawks on Broadway, where alumni go out to eat and see a Broadway show together.
THE MCKINNEY AVENUE
TAVERN
DALLAS. TEXAS
If you head south post-graduation, you will find alumni watching games at The McKinney Avenue Tavern (or the MAT to regulars) in Dallas. Laura Veazey, KU alumna, said this bar was where the majority of the younger alumni watch the games, but that other site sites in the city are very accommodating to families. Veazey said the MAT has been a watch site for six years. If you are thinking of attending this bar for
100 fans with the way we were cheering." Being a KU alumni means more than just great sports to Bocox. "Being a KU alumni to me means feeling proud about where I went to school, knowing the great academic reputation it holds as well as the great sports tradition the school has as well."
the homecoming game you may not find many alumni around. Veazey said most of the alumni return to 'the hill' for it. Veazey said that being a Jayhawk means a lot to her and that "it's a great feeling to see someone in KU apparel, tell them 'Rock Chalk', and get a 'Rock Chalk' right back."
JB'S SPORTS BAR ORLANDO, FLA.
So whether you end up on either coast, the south or stay close to Kansas, know that an establishment to watch KU games, or even events to attend with fellow alumni, are always within reach.
Orlando is home to JB's Sports Bar, which is a KU watch site, as well. Kirtus Bocox, 1996 graduate, said the turnout was not quite as
large as the other KU watch sites across the country, but that the bar attracts several tourists because of its location. Bocox said the size of the crowd is loud regardless. "I had just moved from Kansas City and maybe my over-optimistic enthusiasm about the crowd size caused me to set up enough tables decked out in crimson and blue to be able to seat about 100 people ... when 15 people showed up I was disappointed, but at the same time it was great to hear all of us cheering and screaming for the Jayhawks. It might as well been
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Village Pourhouse is located at 64 Third Ave. Corner of 11th Street in New York, N.Y. 10003