WE’VE MET OUR INITIAL GOAL! THANK YOU! Can we climb even higher together?

Each additional dollar contributed is one less dollar of debt we have to carry.

Where does this additional money go, you might ask? The short list:

Equipment (fridge/freezers/etc)
Premier A/V tech
Professional fees (architectural renderings/lawyers/etc)
Permits

There’s a whole lot of upfront costs to opening a bar, not to mention the cost of build out. Our future home requires a LOT of renovations to bring this historic gem back to life, and we want to do it with a lot of care for the history of this space.

We promise every dollar contributed will be spent with care and attention to detail to ensure this space is welcoming and safe for all. We are so grateful for this community and everything you have already given ❤️

Any additional contributions from now through the end of July only further ensures our success and confirms our belief that Detroit is more than ready to have a home women’s sports.

We're finally here. Bar IX is securing a space, and we need your help to open it.

UPDATE: A generous supporter is matching the next 10k in contributions! This means that each contribution will be doubled, dollar-for-dollar. To keep things fair for everyone, you'll receive the rewards that are at the level of your personal contribution.

You’ve been with us since the first pop up event, making Bar IX your home for women's sports in so many incredible places across the city. As wonderful as these events have been, they haven't been in OUR home. In a place where women's sports is always the default, not the exception.

To make this dream a reality, we’ll need your help. You have been the backbone of our existence for the last year, propelling us forward each and every time you show up for women's sports. In exchange for your contribution, we will be offering unique rewards for each tier of support. Of course the real gift will be the opening of Bar IX, in part due to your support. If you're curious about our story, check it out below!

We've designed some crowd-funder exclusive rewards that we think you'll like - check them out in the graphic below. Each of the support tiers includes the previous tier's rewards. We will reach out to individuals who contribute at the higher levels that receive multiple items and ensure we record the correct sizing!

$25: 2 stickers
$50: all of the above + postcard + pin
$125: all of the above + keychain + Bar IX classic "founding member" tee (light blue, crest, instead of "Women's Sports Bar" it will say "Founding Member")
$250: all of the above + bandana + choice of t-shirt 👕 (classic or collage special edition)
$500: all of the above + patch + Bar IX crewneck sweatshirt
$1,000: all of the above(x2) + VIP opening party access for 2 🪩
$2,500: all of the above(x2) + 2 tickets to a private drink preview before we open 🥂
$5,000: all of the above (x4) + name a drink 🍹 (Bar IX team has final say, but everything is on the table!)
$10,000: all of the above (x4) + starting lineup club privileges (drop us a note for more info 👀 think: free drinks, pre-opening access, and more!)

If you're interested in contributing a larger sum of money and want to discuss potential options about how to make it feel right for you, we would love to have a conversation. We know that these buckets can sometimes feel limiting for people, and we are happy to accept any contribution you're able to make. We can also discuss larger payment in instalments - there's many options to make this work!

Crowdfunding Launch Celebration

🏀We PARTIED at Detroit Shipping Co. on Tuesday, June 30th to watch the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Final and celebrate the launch of our crowdfunding campaign! We had have tunes by DJ Myint, women's sports trivia, and the game on the TVs! Thanks so much for joining us! What a time!

Our Story

You could say our story started back when Alissa's mom took her to her first Detroit Shock game in 1998. Or, when we gathered 60+ people at EMBC on a hot summer night to celebrate the opening of the WNBA season in 2025. Since then, every month we’ve hosted women’s sports fans from across the city, state, and world(!) to watch and celebrate their favorite players together in community. Alissa is surrounded by an incredible team of women's sports fans - friends and family alike - and this would not be possible without the team effort. If you meet a member of our team, be sure to thank them!

In the News

Check out the kind words floating around the metro Detroit newsrooms!

Crain's Detroit: "Crowdfunding campaign fuels effort to open first women’s sports bar in Detroit" (June, 2026)

Detroit Free Press: "Campaign under way to fund women's sports bar in Detroit" (June, 2026)

Fox 2 Detroit:

"Standing room only" (October, 2025)
"Detroit's women's sports bar, Bar IX, launches crowdfunding campaign" (June, 2026)

WXYZ Detroit:

WDET: "The Metro: Why one sports fan is opening a bar dedicated to women’s sports" (April, 2026)

Daily Detroit:

About Bar IX

Bar IX will be a space for anyone who wants to gather to support and celebrate women's sports - new fans or old, casual or committed. This space will be family friendly, so people of all ages can watch women’s sports alongside generations who paved the way, including the Title IX victories that gave Bar IX its name.

What's Next?

We are currently in the process of closing on our future permanent home (location to be announced soon!). Stay tuned!

Additional Notes:

We heard from a lot of you that you're interested in a "mug club" - we hear you! Stay tuned for updates!
Follow us on social media for more updates!

Build Bar IX Together

Help us raise the start-up costs needed to create Detroit's first social space dedicated to women's sports. Every contribution makes a difference.

Bar Raisers