Our readers share their favorite spots to watch the
hot spots for
Brandon Wellhausen, center, and Brad Goodrich, right, watch the Illini defeat Penn State at Sammy’s Sports Bar and Grill.
h ops By ERIN TEPEN CORRESPONDENT
S
eventeen televisions, waiters clad in Illini garb, Brew City Cheese-Bites and a college basketball game. Welcome to Sammy’s Sports Bar on Illini game night. The State Journal-Register recently asked readers for their favorite places in Springfield to watch University of Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball games.
Sammy’s was named tops, followed by D’Arcy’s Pint and D.H. Brown’s. “There are TVs everywhere,” says Gary Letcher of Sammy’s, 217 S. Fifth St. in downtown Springfield. “You don’t have to sit at a certain spot to see the game.” Since Sammy’s opened nine months ago, it quickly has gained a reputation as the place to go to watch televised sports. Proprietor Tom Kelty Jr. believes the bar fills a gap. “There was virtually no casual dining in the downtown bars at night,” he says. “Our goal is to become the best sports bar in town, with the best food.” A number of patrons apparently think he’s on the right track, based on comments readers sent to the newspaper. Brad Goodrich of Springfield put it best: “It is hands-down the best place to watch any sporting event about which you care, but the Illini games at Sammy’s truly have been special. ... for the game against Michigan State, there must have been 250 people watching the game and cheering for the Illini — even some group cheers of ‘I-L-L’ and ‘I-N-I.’ “Simply put,” Goodrich writes, “the Sammy’s experience is a must for any
T.J. Salsman/The State Journal-Register
A sign at D.H. Brown’s leaves no question about team loyalty.
12A
T.J. Salsman/The State Journal-Register
An Illini basketball schedule is posted at the bar at D.H. Brown’s. Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register
serious Illini fan.” But serious fans of D.H. Brown’s, 231 E. Monroe St., might disagree with that point. With Champaign just an hour away, many U of I alums have found a little piece of Assembly Hall here. Writes Lanny Montgomery of Springfield: “Packed with Illini memorabilia, a clean, pleasant atmosphere, and an owner who is not only a rabid Illini fan (and Illini grad), but very knowledgeable about the game make D.H. Brown’s the next best thing to being in Assembly Hall.” Dave Brown and sister Luann Kurth jointly own D.H. Brown’s. As a third-generation Illini family, the pair wanted to share their love for U of I sports with others. “Why come to Brown’s to watch an Illini basketball game? It’s tradition. Both owners went to U of I. We have the ‘I’ bar. We have the ‘We short shot Wolverine and Buckeye fans’ sign — why not?” says Ed Kurth, bartender and Luann’s son.
The “I” bar is exactly that — a standing bar in the shape of an “I” that patrons can lean against, set drinks on and catch up with friends. The sign that Kurth refers to reads: “This is an Illini saloon. We short shot Wolverine and Buckeye fans. Hawkeye and Badger fans will get a square deal until 10:00 p.m. D.H. Brown.” It has been in place almost since the bar’s inception in 1977. “We made the sign to have some fun with our friends and other patrons,” Brown says. The sign is one of many that support the Illini as well as various other collegiate teams. “Where else can you get cold beer, camaraderie, popcorn and knowledgeable fans?” asks D.H. Brown’s regular Jim Owens, a lobbyist from Springfield. D’Arcy’s Pint, 2413 S. MacArthur Blvd., known best for its variety of horseshoes, is a favorite with those looking for a slightly quieter atmosphere. “We come to D’Arcy’s because it’s a lot less loud
than normal sports bars,” says Clintine Hughes of Springfield, whose husband attended the U of I in 1936. “We’ve always wanted a neighborhood bar, and this is our neighborhood bar,” says Lynn Hatcher, also of Springfield. “Plus, I love watching the Illini this year because they work well together. That’s what gives them heart.” Manager Hallie Pierceall was a bit surprised at being a top choice for catching the Fighting Illini. “We know we’re known for a lot of things, but this surprised me,” Pierceall says. “It is nice to know people want to come here to watch the games.” D’Arcy’s features one plasma TV and several smaller sets on which people can watch the 28-0 team, but perhaps the biggest difference is the lack of sound coming from the TVs. “We don’t turn the sound on, so we don’t impose on others who may not be watching the game,” Pierceall says.
Whether you’re a fan who prefers a more conversation-friendly atmosphere, or one who feeds off the excitement of a crowd, there are plenty of venues in Springfield and the surrounding areas to choose from. Other readers’ favorites include: The Office Sports Bar, 1919 W. Iles Ave., in Montvale Junction; The Stadium, 2300 Peoria Road; and Damon’s, 3050 Lindbergh Blvd. Each establishment has its claim to fame, but the fans are the common denominator. “I think the crowd the bar attracts on game night is committed to Illini ball,” says Goodrich, the Sammy’s fan. “There are terrific fans. Be it legislators, factory workers, hotel managers or lobbyists, everyone is into the game.” Erin Tepen can be reached through the features editor at 788-1515. Features editor Erin Orr contributed to this story.
Our readers share their favorite spots to watch the Fighting Illini THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
/
T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 0 5
13A
Brandon Wellhausen, center, and Brad Goodrich, right, watch the Illini defeat Penn State at Sammy’s Sports Bar and Grill.
h ops By ERIN TEPEN CORRESPONDENT
S
eventeen televisions, waiters clad in Illini garb, Brew City Cheese-Bites and a college basketball game. Welcome to Sammy’s Sports Bar on Illini game night. The State Journal-Register recently asked readers for their favorite places in Springfield to watch University of Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball games.
Sammy’s was named tops, followed by D’Arcy’s Pint and D.H. Brown’s. “There are TVs everywhere,” says Gary Letcher of Sammy’s, 217 S. Fifth St. in downtown Springfield. “You don’t have to sit at a certain spot to see the game.” Since Sammy’s opened nine months ago, it quickly has gained a reputation as the place to go to watch televised sports. Proprietor Tom Kelty Jr. believes the bar fills a gap. “There was virtually no casual dining in the downtown bars at night,” he says. “Our goal is to become the best sports bar in town, with the best food.” A number of patrons apparently think he’s on the right track, based on comments readers sent to the newspaper. Brad Goodrich of Springfield put it best: “It is hands-down the best place to watch any sporting event about which you care, but the Illini games at Sammy’s truly have been special. ... for the game against Michigan State, there must have been 250 people watching the game and cheering for the Illini — even some group cheers of ‘I-L-L’ and ‘I-N-I.’ “Simply put,” Goodrich writes, “the Sammy’s experience is a must for any
T.J. Salsman/The State Journal-Register
A sign at D.H. Brown’s leaves no question about team loyalty.
12A
T.J. Salsman/The State Journal-Register
An Illini basketball schedule is posted at the bar at D.H. Brown’s. Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register
serious Illini fan.” But serious fans of D.H. Brown’s, 231 E. Monroe St., might disagree with that point. With Champaign just an hour away, many U of I alums have found a little piece of Assembly Hall here. Writes Lanny Montgomery of Springfield: “Packed with Illini memorabilia, a clean, pleasant atmosphere, and an owner who is not only a rabid Illini fan (and Illini grad), but very knowledgeable about the game make D.H. Brown’s the next best thing to being in Assembly Hall.” Dave Brown and sister Luann Kurth jointly own D.H. Brown’s. As a third-generation Illini family, the pair wanted to share their love for U of I sports with others. “Why come to Brown’s to watch an Illini basketball game? It’s tradition. Both owners went to U of I. We have the ‘I’ bar. We have the ‘We short shot Wolverine and Buckeye fans’ sign — why not?” says Ed Kurth, bartender and Luann’s son.
The “I” bar is exactly that — a standing bar in the shape of an “I” that patrons can lean against, set drinks on and catch up with friends. The sign that Kurth refers to reads: “This is an Illini saloon. We short shot Wolverine and Buckeye fans. Hawkeye and Badger fans will get a square deal until 10:00 p.m. D.H. Brown.” It has been in place almost since the bar’s inception in 1977. “We made the sign to have some fun with our friends and other patrons,” Brown says. The sign is one of many that support the Illini as well as various other collegiate teams. “Where else can you get cold beer, camaraderie, popcorn and knowledgeable fans?” asks D.H. Brown’s regular Jim Owens, a lobbyist from Springfield. D’Arcy’s Pint, 2413 S. MacArthur Blvd., known best for its variety of horseshoes, is a favorite with those looking for a slightly quieter atmosphere. “We come to D’Arcy’s because it’s a lot less loud
than normal sports bars,” says Clintine Hughes of Springfield, whose husband attended the U of I in 1936. “We’ve always wanted a neighborhood bar, and this is our neighborhood bar,” says Lynn Hatcher, also of Springfield. “Plus, I love watching the Illini this year because they work well together. That’s what gives them heart.” Manager Hallie Pierceall was a bit surprised at being a top choice for catching the Fighting Illini. “We know we’re known for a lot of things, but this surprised me,” Pierceall says. “It is nice to know people want to come here to watch the games.” D’Arcy’s features one plasma TV and several smaller sets on which people can watch the 28-0 team, but perhaps the biggest difference is the lack of sound coming from the TVs. “We don’t turn the sound on, so we don’t impose on others who may not be watching the game,” Pierceall says.
Whether you’re a fan who prefers a more conversation-friendly atmosphere, or one who feeds off the excitement of a crowd, there are plenty of venues in Springfield and the surrounding areas to choose from. Other readers’ favorites include: The Office Sports Bar, 1919 W. Iles Ave., in Montvale Junction; The Stadium, 2300 Peoria Road; and Damon’s, 3050 Lindbergh Blvd. Each establishment has its claim to fame, but the fans are the common denominator. “I think the crowd the bar attracts on game night is committed to Illini ball,” says Goodrich, the Sammy’s fan. “There are terrific fans. Be it legislators, factory workers, hotel managers or lobbyists, everyone is into the game.” Erin Tepen can be reached through the features editor at 788-1515. Features editor Erin Orr contributed to this story.
Our readers share their favorite spots to watch the Fighting Illini THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
/
T H U R S DAY, M A R C H 3 , 2 0 0 5
13A
