{"id":744,"date":"2025-07-17T13:36:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T13:36:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.agencywebdesigners.com\/?p=744"},"modified":"2025-07-17T14:32:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T14:32:43","slug":"is-reality-tv-a-watch-party-worthy-sport-these-denver-bars-bet-on-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.agencywebdesigners.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/17\/is-reality-tv-a-watch-party-worthy-sport-these-denver-bars-bet-on-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Is reality TV a watch party-worthy sport? These Denver bars bet on it."},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Sunday, hundreds of people packed into Tom\u2019s Watch Bar<\/a> near Coors Field in Denver to cheer on their favorite team. But it wasn\u2019t the Colorado Rockies they were there to support. It wasn\u2019t the Broncos, Avalanche or Nuggets either.<\/p>\n

The bar was airing the season finale of \u201cLove Island USA,\u201d a reality dating show in which attractive Americans spend the summer sequestered in a lavish villa in Fiji swapping spit in hopes of finding a life partner. Fans play an essential role in the show\u2019s outcome by voting for their favorite couples throughout the season. The most popular duo wins a hefty $100,000 prize.<\/p>\n

Those inside Tom\u2019s Watch Bar held their breath for a moment of anticipation before erupting with cheers, as \u2014 spoiler alert \u2014 \u201cLove Island\u201d participants Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales were crowned the winners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere might have been louder cheers in there when they picked the winners than when Aaron Gordon hit the last-second three-pointer<\/a> to win a game, literally,\u201d said Tom\u2019s Watch Bar operating partner Dan Stillman, comparing the moment to a Nuggets highlight.<\/p>\n

This image released by Peacock shows winning couple Amaya Espinal, left, and Bryan Arenales on the reality dating series “Love Island USA.” (Ben Symons\/Peacock via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Reality television isn\u2019t something you often see playing in a bar, but as fervor around \u201cLove Island USA\u201d swept the nation this summer, establishments that traditionally broadcast sports seized an opportunity to cash in. By streaming episodes live, just like a game, they not only boosted bottom lines during the otherwise slow off-season but also potentially opened these spaces up to new demographics who are just as passionate as sports fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really great to see so many new faces,\u201d said Lyndsey Spano, owner of DNVR Bar<\/a>, 2239 E. Colfax Ave., which also showed the finale Sunday. \u201cEverybody was really excited, they loved the atmosphere. They loved how many TVs we have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spano admittedly had never seen \u201cLove Island,\u201d which has franchises in the U.S., the UK and Australia. But her social media feed was filled with other bars hosting big crowds for watch parties. She decided to poll her audiences on Facebook and Instagram to see if they\u2019d join a similar event. The answer was \u201coverwhelmingly yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

DNVR Bar\u2019s finale watch party packed the house, filling up to its roughly 152-person capacity \u2013 a welcome sight in the absence of the football, hockey and basketball seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe bleed money in the summer,\u201d Spano said. \u201cSo it was incredible to have that, and it really helps the bottom line tremendously.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bar crowds last Sunday were notably different than a normal game day. Fans at DNVR Bar swapped football jerseys and hockey sweaters for dressier clothing, Spano said. Where Tom\u2019s Watch Bar usually attracts predominantly men for sports, Stillman said it was predominantly women who showed up for the \u201cLove Island\u201d finale.<\/p>\n

The vibe, however, was very familiar.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just like a Broncos, Nuggets, Avs game where, you know, when you hit a goal, people are clapping, people are cheering,\u201d Spano said. \u201cWhen couples would kiss, when they would say something unexpected, or even if it was a cheesy line, it was lots of laughter, lots of clapping, lots of hollering.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Tom\u2019s Watch Bar \u2013 Coors Field (@toms_mcgregor)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In a way, it makes sense that this type of programming would fit aptly into a sports bar, where the atmosphere encourages crowd participation and collective celebration. With abundant TVs \u2013 DNVR Bar, for example, has 33 of them \u2013 every seat has a good line of sight and the sound systems ensure everyone can keep up with the play-by-play. Or in this case, the famous one-liners from season winner Amaya Papaya, as she is affectionately known.<\/p>\n

Still, there are unique aspects about \u201cLove Island\u201d that make it especially great for viewing parties. Unlike most dating competitions, where the contestants are in control of who stays and who goes home, \u201cLove Island\u201d puts those decisions in the hands of viewers. The show incentivizes fans to watch live by having them vote for their favorite couples in real time. Voting windows are only open for a few hours after certain episodes and the couples that receive the least amount of votes typically end up dumped from the island.<\/p>\n

As of July 8, more than 5.5 million people<\/a> had downloaded the Love Island USA app, according to the show\u2019s network Peacock. Fans\u2019 voices are not only heard through their votes. Backlash on social media directly influenced producers\u2019 decision to remove a cast member<\/a> this season.<\/p>\n

The frequency and cadence of \u201cLove Island\u201d also contribute to the obsession. It airs six days per week as it\u2019s being filmed, effectively combining elements of live streaming models popularized by platforms like Twitch with the ability to binge-watch if you miss just a couple days.\u00a0One season usually consists of more than 30 individual, hour-long episodes, so fans get super invested in certain characters.<\/p>\n