A new sports bar of Champions?

For roughly two decades, Champion’s reigned supreme as the definitive hot spot for local sports fans. But like any great empire, their time in the sun was fleeting. It all came to an end in 2002 after the Alcohol Beverage Control Board suspended their license, which quickly led to the bar’s closing. The vacant bar soon became Blue Gin, a swanky lounge in its own right but a far cry from Champion’s gritty college vibe. After four years of European styling and overpriced drinks, Blue Gin is out and Champions is back on the scene. The only question left is whether this latest incarnation of a once great bar can make a comeback in the D.C. sports scene?

If the Monday night football crowd is any indication then they’ve got a long road ahead of them. Despite the facelift, sultry servers and long history in Georgetown, Monday night football only filled a quarter of the upstairs bar, leaving only chirping crickets to keep the first floor bartender company. Gone are the walls of sports memorabilia in exchange for neatly framed jerseys signed by sports heroes and a sparse collection of polished sporting goods above the bar. The modern styling, leather couches and high-definition TV’s set a more refined tone than your average sports bar; they're remnants from Blue Gin no doubt. One aspect that may intrigue interested patrons is the bar staffs new dress code. Sexy referee outfits with thigh-high socks, ample cleavage and shorts that would make the hooters girls blush.

The crowd consisted of mostly males from their 20’s to mid 30’s, some in football jerseys but most just yelling and groaning with the ups and downs of the game. There’s nothing elitist or pretentious about the place, but it's definitely male-focused. You won't be seeing any speedo clad bartenders twirling vodka bottles for the ladies any time soon. Besides a decent selection of bottled brews, they offer a fun list of original sports-inspired cocktails like the Redskinette, the Phelps Finnish and #23, a mixture of Bacardi Raz, cranberry juice and red bull; it's a bright red concoction that would make Jordan proud.   

Weekend DJs and dancing brings out the college crowd, which is a good step but still a long way from where the original was immersed in the Georgetown scene. All told, Champions has gone through more than a few changes between the old and new establishment. Hard core fans may or may not appreciate the updates and style changes, but that’s life. Though a bit overpriced and sometimes sparsely populated, Champions has a rich history and great potential as a step up from local sports dives.

Drinks: Wide selection of bottled beer, full bar and sports themed specialty mixed drinks.

Decor: Definitely higher class than your average sports dive; low leather sofas, elegantly framed sports jerseys add to the boat loads of modern European styling. The hodgepodge of sports equipment about the bar is uncharacteristic, but probably just a work in progress.

Crowd: It's about 60/40 men to women for Monday night football. It's a mostly 20’s to mid 30’s crowd and it's definitely not too rowdy.

Insider tips: For more casual seating head upstairs and camp out on one of the leather sectionals. If you could afford a swanky leather sectional and wide screen HDTV’s, it’d be just like home.

Service: Excellent. It was a slow night, but the servers were friendly, attentive and quick with food and drink orders.

Sounds: The volume wasn’t overpowering, enough to hear the game without being deafening.

Food: They've got a decent selection of bar classics like delicious chicken fingers with honey mustard sauce and fries for $9. They were a little pricey but good quality.

Bottom line: All told, this place isn’t a bargain, but it’s a fun upscale hangout to enjoy the game and good drinks. If you bring a date, beware of the busty servers; those wandering eyes might get you tackled.

The damage: Two Budweisers, a mixed drink and chicken fingers came out to $33. Not outrageous, but a thrifty spender could do a whole lot better elsewhere.

Dress code: This is a jeans and t-shirts kind of crowd; very informal.

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