Australia’s 1st Women’s Sports Bar Closes After 4 Months

Sydney Encinas, a bartender at The Chaparral Bar in Cottonwood, Ariz., poor a glass of Budweiser Light beer on April 14, 2023. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

The Ladies’ League (TLL), Australia’s pioneering women’s sports bar, has shut its doors just four months after opening on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst, Sydney.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, the bar’s management blamed the cost-of-living crisis and reduced customer spending for the sudden closure.

“With a heavy heart, we share that The Ladies’ League will not be re-opening,” the post began.

The venue had been celebrated as a groundbreaking space for women’s sports enthusiasts, offering live broadcasts of matches, including those featuring the Matildas, NRLW, and women’s basketball teams.

However, the owners acknowledged that the financial challenges had become too great to overcome.

“As a women’s sports bar, we excelled. Anyone who attended a Matildas, Sydney FC, Grand Final etc. game day at our venue knows what a show we can put on,” the post continued.

“Unfortunately, it is outside of live games that we felt the struggle as much as any other hospitality venues in this economic climate.”

A Noval Concept Cut Short

Founded by Rose Valente, TLL opened its doors in August 2024, positioning itself as a safe and inclusive space for female sports fans.

The bar catered to a loyal community by broadcasting live women’s sports five nights a week, offering a unique experience in Sydney’s hospitality scene.

Despite its initial popularity during live sporting events, TLL faced challenges in maintaining consistent patronage during off-peak periods.

“We had full belief we would not be in this position at this early stage,” the owners wrote.

“We have nothing but gratitude for everyone that supported us and apologise for this result. It’s unfortunately a hard reality of how people are choosing to spend their money at this stage.”

The post concluded with the hope that the closure would not “discourage anyone from opening a similar concept in future.”

Broader Struggles for Small Businesses

TLL’s closure reflects the broader struggles facing small businesses in Australia amid a challenging economic climate.

Australian Small Business Ombudsman Bruce Billson highlighted the sharp decline in small business contributions to the economy.

“In 2006, small firms contributed 40 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employed 53 percent of the private sector’s workforce. Now, those figures have dropped to 33 percent of the GDP and 42 percent of the private labour force,” he said.

The economic slowdown is evident in Australia’s latest GDP figures. While the economy grew by 0.3 percent in the September quarter, GDP per capita fell for the seventh consecutive quarter.

Releasing the latest data in December 2024, Katherine Keenan, ABS Head of National Accounts, warned that the economy has continued to slow since September 2023.

The data also highlighted a concerning trend: GDP per capita fell by 0.3 percent, marking the seventh consecutive quarterly decline.

“This is a worrying trajectory,” Billson said, warning of the increasing dominance of large corporations. “We are sleepwalking into a ‘big corporate’ economy.”