20 March 27th-april 2nd, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | A sports bar built with women in mind Corley and Moore designed Title 9 with women in mind. That meant opting for lots of natural light and colors that are “bright and happy and somewhat feminine,” Moore says. The chairs and bar stools in the dining room are padded to make a few hours of watching a game more comfortable. Megan Greenwood understands what it’s like to carve out a space for women in a male-dominated area. Greenwood Brewing is one of the state’s few woman- owned breweries. When Greenwood opened her taproom downtown in 2020, the airy space, decorated with shiplap, natural stone and curved brass lamps, felt distinct from the industrial man-cave aesthetic frequently found at craft beer bars. “Women aren’t always considered when creating a space,” Greenwood says. “When they are considered, you can really tell.” When Greenwood was opening her taproom, women voiced requests for comfort, safety and cleanliness – traits of a bar that should be implicit but aren’t always a guarantee. Patrons at Title 9’s opening weekend clocked those kinds of details. Some said Title 9 was the type of place they’d feel comfortable going to solo or could leave a drink unattended without concern. Others are looking forward to seeing women’s games. “I’ve gone to other sports bars before specifically to watch a women’s soccer game,” says Bea Ronan, sipping an Espresso Marta-tini on Title 9’s patio under an orange umbrella. No more having to find a bartender, ask them to put the game on and to know the channel. “It’s like, OK, here we go!” she says. “At least here I know there’s a chance it’s already on.” There is also a sense of celebration, not the gatekeeping that women often encounter at sports bars. “I don’t feel like I’m going to get quizzed when I say that I like sports,” Jennifer Wolf says in the dining room. Her T-shirt reads: “Everyone watches women’s sports.” The food and drinks are a key part of the vibe, too. Ronan’s friend Melina Cox-Ferreras noticed that Greenwood is among the beer options. “It’s really cool to see them collaborate; I like that,” Cox-Ferreras says. The Greenwood beer on tap is Herstory Pale Ale, which is also poured at Phoenix Mercury games. It’s one of several beers, ciders and wines from women makers available at Title 9, which also includes Drop of Sunshine, Bivouac Ciderworks and the gluten-free Holidaily Brewing Co. The cocktail menu features classic drinks named in honor of iconic athletes – the Biles Bloody Mary, the Billie Jean Spritz, the Coco Gauff Colada. Corley also came up with signature drinks for herself and Moore. The Coach A is a Cadillac margarita made with Don Julio 1942. The Kicking Kat Collins is a spicy, pear-infused take on the gin-based sparkler. There’s plenty of food to pair with those drinks. You can load up on gut-busting game-day snacks like loaded fries, onion rings and sliders topped with gooey pimento cheese and bacon, or find lighter options such as cauliflower wings, a broc- colini sandwich and a quinoa salad. On opening weekend, Kris and Robbie Burgess rocked Mercury Ts as they sipped Bloody Marys. They gave Corley the branded basketball, explaining that the bar owner is like family. Robbie’s sister played basketball with Corley at Phoenix College. Now the Burgesses have a 19-year-old daughter playing college basketball in Michigan. “To know that these places are opening up and she’s going to have a place she can go to enjoy sports with her friends, I love it,” Kris says. While Title 9 undoubtedly focuses on women’s sports, it’ll also air men’s games – something that held true during the opening weekend. “We’re not excluding men by any means,” Corley says, “But this is for the women, and it’s about the women, and it’s about time.” The owners want Title 9 to become a destination. And not just for this moment when America is starting to realize that everyone watches women’s sports. “At the end of the day, we’re a space where people can come and enjoy commu- nity, come together and dream,” Corley says. “A little girl can come sit here and dream about being on these TVs. With that comes action. We don’t even know how great this is going to be. But we’re here for it. And we’re excited.” Title 9 Sports Grill 4221 N. Seventh Ave. Game On from p 19 Audrey Corley started as a player and became a coach at Phoenix College. (Audrey Corley)
