OT: Where to watch the World Cup in Ann Arbor?

Submitted by Talpostal on

Having not experienced a World Cup in Ann Arbor before, which bars do you think will be the most packed and/or rowdy for USMNT games? I've heard good things about Conor O'Neill's, but I figure that BDubs and Cantina might have good crowds as well. Where will you guys be watching the games?

Sandler For 3

June 7th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^

Supposedly Packard Pub has been renovating their downstairs for the World Cup. It's a pretty good place to watch the games with tons of TV's there. I'm not sure what their hours will be during the world cup but currently they're only open nights. They do have $3 pitchers now and 1/2 off all appetizers as they attempt to gain some popularity.

Sandler For 3

June 7th, 2010 at 2:16 PM ^

Yeah I'm on record as saying they'll have new ownership by this time next year. There was so much excitement for it and within a week it was empty. If they had built up a following with these specials for the remainder of last semester they wouldn't have the problems they have now. $10 pitchers just don't fly with college students. Neither does shitty service. 

Tim

June 8th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^

Not even just the specials, but the atmosphere is a clusterfuck (you're a sports bar, not a dance club), and what the hell is this business of being closed during the day in the summer? They do realize that summer is when they'll get most of their daytime business, right?

The ownership is just completely clueless. It's sad, because they're the infinityth business in a row to fail at that location because of terrible management.

Some mysterious blogger who identifies himself only as "Tim" reviewed it a little while back.

MGoBender

June 7th, 2010 at 3:24 PM ^

Packard Pub really needs to get their shit together. It has a lot of potential, but a lot of aspects of it are juuuuust off.

DITTO.  They over-charged me $40 (!!!) for lunch on my debit card.  After an in-person visit, a phone call, and an email they refused to refund me.  As such they've lost my business (easily a couple hundred dollars over a year) and the business of my friends (thousands of dollars in business).  Morons.

OMG Shirtless

June 7th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^

Never start a tab in a bar with a Debit Card unless you absolutely have to.  Many of the POS (Point of Sale) computer systems put a hold on your account for an amount such as $75 when it verifies the validity of the card.   Basically the computer wants to make sure you have $75 before you start racking up a tab.  Vegas can go as high as $200.  For some reason, actual credit cards don't react the same way.  

There is nothing the restaurant/bar can do once its on there, you have to wait for the charges to clear your account, short of fronting you the money, which you know damn well isn't happening.  It Typically takes 5-7 business days.  The bank will explain to you that it was in your debit card agreement when you opened your account. 

Also, don't use your debit card for things like Jet Ski rental on vacations, a lot of those places put the deposit on your Debit Card, and it will hold the money for up to a week waiting for the charges to clear, which is a pain in the ass when you're on vacation and you have a $300 hold on your checking account.

Maybe all this shit has changed in the past few years, who knows.

MGoBender

June 8th, 2010 at 10:13 AM ^

For sure.  I always avoid starting a tab with my card and I try to avoid places I know will want my card (or I get a table).  I learned your whole lesson when I first went to NY for a job interview and the hotel asked me for a credit card and told me they would be putting a $200 hold on it until I left.  I was all "WTF??" but it worked out.

In this particular situation me and one friend got lunch and split a pitcher.  We got our receipt and I paid with my check card.  Something I literally do at least once a day.  Got the check back, $16, cool.  Checked my online statements a couple days later and I was charged something like $48.  Went in to explain and they did nothing.

Whatever, their loss.  Like I said, I'm in AA for at least another year and they are a geographically convienent bar that would have received much business from my friends and I.  Not anymore.

speakeasy

June 7th, 2010 at 1:42 PM ^

The UM soccer supporters are going to be at the Blue Lep, and I watched a lot of games at Charley's during the Euros a couple years ago. Charley's management is soccer friendly and just about every TV there will be on soccer matches.

jamiemac

June 7th, 2010 at 1:45 PM ^

I dont know of any goodt spots in specific, but I am sure most pubs will be rocking the soccier. I live a few miles south, I'd be up for a meet to watch some.

And, if you dont mind me hijacking this World Cup thread, I'd like to pimp out that latest JCB Post on the World Cup. I do so because it was penned by MGo regular JG2112. He discusses the impact of the various injuires that have already taken a toll on the event.

Its a good read, much better than anything I could have done.

van

June 7th, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^

Great place to watch a game, but get there early. In 2006, it was insanely crowded (in a good way) for US games.

jeag

June 7th, 2010 at 2:06 PM ^

The food's nothing special, but I always thought the Arena was an underrated place to watch soccer. Each booth has its own personal flatscreen, and they have Fox Soccer Channel. That doesn't really matter for the World Cup, but it's nice on that off chance you feel like watching Blackburn v. Spurs on a Tuesday.

kurpit

June 7th, 2010 at 3:40 PM ^

hands down, Connor O'Neill's.

I watched a lot of the '08 Euro Cup there and it was incredible.  Lots of foreign-born transplants come out to Connor's so you get a much more passionate crowd than I saw anywhere else.  We got a game going down at Elbel after the finals with a bunch of guys from all over the world.

M-Wolverine

June 7th, 2010 at 4:07 PM ^

But I would guess Connor O'Neil's.

But look around and see where the local organizations from the countries that have a shot are going to be.  Back pre-Connor, Scorekeepers, which I generally don't like, had huge Brazil and Italy groups for the Final, that made it more fun.  (And used to be old Touchdown before that, so, it changes).

I will be watching it in glorious HD at home...lol.

badewunmi

June 8th, 2010 at 8:50 AM ^

New Life Church is showing selected games through out the world cup in their auditorium for no charge.  You can bring food/drinks/snacks and come and watch.  Come and go as you please and seating is pretty much guaranteed....seats 400+ people. 

 

Check out the website for more information:http://nlcweb.org/worldcup