Previous week’s games
01/08/10 Heat 109, SUNS 105
01/11/10 SUNS 105, Bucks 101
01/13/10 Pacers 122, SUNS 114
This week’s games
01/15/10 SUNS @ Hawks, 6 p.m., ESPN
01/16/10 SUNS @ Bobcats, 5 p.m., My45
01/18/10 SUNS @ Grizzlies, 3:30 p.m., TNT
01/20/10 SUNS vs Nets, 7 p.m., Fox Sports Arizona
With the Suns out on the road for a few games, we here at Suns Spot decided to take a look at some of the places around Downtown Phoenix where Suns fans can still enjoy the games that are played away from US Airways Center. (And, after last night’s performance, there’s no way I could write about the Suns’ current play without shooting myself.)
First we’ll start with a place that’s both close to USAC and to the team: Majerle’s Sports Bar. The bar and grill owned by and named after the former Suns great and current assistant coach, Dan Majerle, is located at 24 N. 2nd St., right in the heart of Copper Square in one of the older buildings in the Downtown area. Majerle’s offers great food at great prices to go along with the great vibes, as Suns memorabilia adorns the walls inside the sports bar. Every Suns game is shown on many of the flat-screen TVs throughout the restaurant. As an added bonus for Suns fans, when the game begins, the music goes off and the sound of the games echoes throughout the bar. This is a nice touch, as most places I’ve gone to watch the game never turn the sound on. Majerle’s constantly runs specials such as Martini Mondays, which allows patrons to get a martini for $5 throughout the month of January. All in all, Majerle’s is definitely a place any Suns fan can enjoy.
Perhaps you’re not into restaurants named after an ex-athlete, and maybe you’d prefer one named after a rock star, such as Alice Cooperstown over on 1st and Jackson streets. Cooperstown has been around since 1998 and is known as the place “Where Jocks and Rock Meet,” as the nearly 6,000-square-foot, two-story dining room contains a rock n’ roll atmosphere while playing all sports and only sports on all 16 of its big-screen TVs. Cooperstown shows every Suns game, paired with its made-from-scratch homestyle and barbecue dishes, along with daily drink specials. Cooperstown is definitely a place every Suns fans should consider going to take in a Suns road game.
For those looking to enjoy a Suns road game without heading all the way into Downtown, Half Moon Sports Grill on 20th Street and Highland Avenue is always an excellent choice. Half Moon may not be owned by a celebrity like our first two selections (though there is an interesting story behind its name, which can be found on its website), but it does offer up a great atmosphere for fans to take in games while enjoying a wide menu, including the New Times Best of Phoenix award-winning wings. The best part about the wings? They’re half-off during all Suns games. With today’s economy the way it is, you can’t afford not to head over to Half Moon and take advantage of the great deal on these delectable wings during a Suns road game.
For the last recommendation from Suns Spot, I had to go with none other than the New Times 2009 Best Downtown Sports Bar winner, Coach & Willie’s. Coach and Willie’s, on the corner of 3rd and Jackson streets, has over 20 HD flat screens that broadcast every Suns game. If the TVs aren’t enough to win you over, Coach and Willie’s offers a happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m. that is great for when the Suns are on East Coast trips with early tip-off times. The happy hour includes $3 appetizers, domestic bottles, well drinks and house wine. If you can’t make it over in time to enjoy happy hour or the Suns happen to be playing a late game, Coach and Willie’s still has you covered with its reverse happy hour, running Monday-Friday 8-10 p.m., and consisting of half-priced drafts, margaritas and house wine along with $5 appetizers. If you haven’t yet, I highly suggest stopping by Coach and Willie’s sometime for a game. There’s a reason it was voted the best.
Hopefully, after reading what I suggested, Suns fans will have a better idea of the places in Phoenix that offer great deals to those wanting to watch the road game while getting a bite to eat (or knocking back a few). Be sure to check out the “eats & drinks” section of DPJ for even more restaurants and bars in the Downtown area.
