How Much Business Does A Sports Bar Generally Get??

[jay_peezie]

Let me start of by introducing myself...My name is Jay, and i'm a freshman student at San Jose St. University. For my class business plan, we decided to make a sports bar with no real major target fan besides the "sports fan". We will have plenty of promotions, (almost a different promotion daily), especially during football weekends, as well as mondays, and broadcasting san jose sharks events for hockey. We have decided to build from the ground up

My questions are: 1. if we have a budget of about $1.25-1.5 million, is it reasonable for us to break even in capital expenditures by the 3rd year in business?? if we provide a cover charge for events, ($5 cover charge with specials on food & drinks), will we turn off or bring in more customers?? and how much is a damn liquor license???
someone help me!!!!

[MiB ATL]

Welcome Jay,

My name is Ryan, I am also known as MATRIX or MiB. I have worked at a few "sports bars" in my day. One was a very high class, we did not even allow hats after 7pm which at times was huge problem being a "spots bar", but we were even mentioned in Maxim Mag once... Sports bars can do VERY well if ran correctly and staffed well. The most important thing is creating an environment that people who love sports will enjoy more then just being at home...

Now of course this can be done in many ways. Have a large menu and good food. But they do not want to pay tons of money for hot wings and chicken strips either. Also you will have a lot overhead with TV’s and sound. You must have a good sound system and LOTS TV’s. My last club had 5 large plasma’s and 6 big screen's not to mention about 60-70 small 19-21” ones around the whole bar and upstairs. We had a very complex satellite system and great menu with a incredible kitchen staff. The waitress staff and female bartenders too pride on looking cute and sexy so that did the job of getting the guys to come back. At night we switched to a nightclub so it was a very versatile place and did very well.

As far as a managerial point of view not my field, but I am sure David or someone can answer those questions. Nightclubs come and go they are hot one day and dead the next. Bars live forever… My option anyway…

Good luck on your project and welcome to the site!

~MiB

[David]

Jay:

I feel that you can will break even and possibly make a decent profit. This is a question that you and your partners should have addressed in your business plan. With out all of the info, I'm only able to venture a guess.

As for you license, contact the State of California's website. Look under Revenue Department or Liquor Control.

Don't discount your beverages or you food unless you have too. Sure you can do a special once in a while but be careful. I have seen too many bars and clubs offer "cheap" drinks for so long that they have never been able to return to full retail.

[jay_peezie]

Thanx fellaz for the assistance..projections are the next step for the bar, and i'm using some of the info ya'll gave me...and thanx for the well wishes!!!