Six Sports Pub Franchises to Invest in Summer 2022

As the U.S. reaches the end of vaccinations for COVID-19, professional sports back in full swing and the summer heat starts to turn up, sports pub franchises are looking to be the hot spot for investing in summer 2022. 

According to IBISWorld, the sports pub industry in the US is valued at $25.8 billion and projected to grow by a CAGR of 15.7% in 2021 alone to reach $29.9 billion in 2022. Before the pandemic, the industry was seeing steady growth from 2015 to 2019 averaging a CAGR of 5.21% reaching $30.4 billion but fell in 2020 by 26.6% to $22.3 billion.  

Now, as Americans receive their vaccinations and are more comfortable with indoor dining, experts are expecting a boom for the sports bar industry due in part to a return to pre-pandemic viewership ratings of sports. MarketResearch.com is expecting the global sports market will rise with a CAGR of nearly 6% for 2022 and reach a value of $614 billion with the US accounting for 31% of the global market. The market drivers for this growth include technology advancements to improve how we watch sports along with the rise in popularity of eSports. 

As indoor dining and sports return to normal, check out these top 6 sports pub franchises ready for the boom: 

Barrel House 

Founded in 2020 in Iowa and franchising since 2021 Barrel House has quickly grown in is brief time of operating. Barrel House is proud of its franchisee-focused culture, providing inventory assistance;  training; on-site guidance and consulting; instructional guides for FOH/BOH procedures; exclusive recipes; staffing; reporting; and marketing support with brand guidelines and promotional materials. Startup costs for a Barrel House franchise start at $398,000. To learn more about a franchise opportunity with Barrel House, click here. 

Buffalo Wild Wings 

Founded in 1982 and franchising since 1991, Buffalo Wild Wings has grown to become one of the largest sports bar brands in the U.S. with over 1,200 locations in 10 countries. In 2021 Buffalo Wild Wings was recognized for its success by Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, Franchise 500 Top Food Franchise, and Technomic’s Top 500 Sports Bar Brands in the US. Startup costs for a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise start at $750,000. To learn more about a franchise opportunity with Buffalo Wild Wings, click here. 

East Coast Wings + Grill 

East Coast Wings + Grill was founded in 1995 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and has been franchising since 2004. Over the past 17 years East Coast Wings + Grill has grown to over 80 locations across the US. East Coast Wings + Grill is proud of having maintained average annual new unit growth of 20% over the past 6 years. The franchise has been ranked in Franchise Business Review “Top 40 Food Franchises” in 2014 and “Top 50” in franchisee satisfaction for 2012 - 2015 along with being ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 from 2013-2015. Startup costs for an East Coast Wings + Grill franchise start at $434,268. To learn more about a franchise opportunity with East Coast Wings + Grill, click here. 

Hooters of America, Inc. 

Founded in 1983 and franchising since 1986, Hooters of America, Inc. has grown to over 400 locations in 43 states nationwide and 27 countries. Startup costs for a Hooters of America, Inc. franchise start at $956,500. To learn more about a franchise opportunity with Hooters of America, Inc., click here. 

Twin Peaks Restaurants 

Founded in 2005 in Dallas, Texas, and franchising since 2007, Twin Peaks Restaurants now has over 80 locations in the US. Recently, Twin Peaks Restaurants was awarded the 2020 Zor Award for Best Sports Bar by Franchise Times and made the list for the Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. Startup costs for a Twin Peaks Restaurants franchise start at $1.4 million. To learn more about a franchise opportunity with Twin Peaks Restaurants, click here. 

Wings Etc. 

Founded in 1994 in Ft Wayne, Indiana, and franchising since 2005, Wings Etc. has grown to 71 open locations with 10 more currently in development. Wings Etc. attributes its expansion to a proven success model and having one of the lowest startup/break-even business models among full-service bar and grill concepts. Startup costs for a Wings Etc. franchise start at $350,000. To learn more about a franchise opportunity with Wings Etc., click here.