PRESS RELEASE | The Sports Bra’s Republic Campaign Shows Women’s Sports Fans Are Ready to Invest
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PORTLAND, Ore. (June 1, 2026) — The Sports Bra, the world’s first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women’s sports, announced today that its Own a Piece of The Bra community investment campaign on the Republic platform has reached more than $686,783 committed in 14 days, 55% of its $1.24 million goal.
According to the current campaign data from the Republic platform, women appear to make up the majority of The Sports Bra’s investors to date. Many investments have come in at or near the $250 minimum, underscoring grassroots support from fans, regulars, athletes, advocates, and believers in women’s sports who want to be a part of the company’s next chapter. The Bra is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, June 3, for those who want to learn more.
“Women’s sports fans have been proving this demand has existed for years,” said Jenny Nguyen, founder and CEO of The Sports Bra. “They’ve shown up in the seats, in the ratings, in the merch lines, and in women’s sports bars. Now they’re showing up as investors. That tells me this is a community that is ready to help build what comes next.”
The campaign has drawn national attention at a pivotal moment for both The Sports Bra and the broader women’s sports bar category. When The Sports Bra opened in Portland in April 2022, it was the first of its kind. Today, more than two dozen women’s sports bars are open or in development across the United States, reflecting demand that now extends far beyond Portland.
In public comments on the campaign page, supporters repeatedly pointed to The Sports Bra’s mission, the growth of women’s sports, confidence in founder Jenny Nguyen and her team, and the need for more inclusive, community spaces that celebrate women’s sports as the main event. Other supporters described wanting to invest so their children, athletes, friends, and local communities can experience what The Bra has created in Portland: a welcoming, values-driven place built around women’s sports and the belief that this market has been underestimated for too long.
Since opening, The Sports Bra has grown from a 40-seat neighborhood bar into a global symbol of equity in sports. Its original Portland location regularly reaches capacity for major games and community events, often forcing the bar staff to turn fans away during the very moments the bar was created to celebrate.
“The first Sports Bra proved that the demand is overwhelming,” said Nguyen. “Now we’re building the infrastructure to meet it. There are nights when we have fans lined up outside and partners asking for space we simply don’t have. That’s a good problem, but it is still a problem. This raise helps us grow into the opportunity our community created: a second, bigger home in Portland, more franchise partners in new cities, and a future where women’s sports fans have a place to gather no matter where they live.”
Funds from the Republic campaign are expected to support The Sports Bra’s next phase of growth, including a second, larger Portland location, continued support for its first wave of franchise openings, and the systems needed to scale the brand responsibly. The company’s franchise-led growth strategy is designed to support locally owned and operated Sports Bra locations built around their own women’s sports communities, with brand, training, operational, real estate, and community-building support from The Sports Bra Front Office.
The Bra previously announced its “Starting Five” franchise markets: Boston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, St. Louis, and Portland, Maine. To date, Indianapolis and St. Louis have confirmed locations and signed leases, with more lease announcements in the works. The company is also in discussions with many potential new franchise owners in various markets.
“We’re not trying to crank out copies of one Portland bar,” said Nguyen. “Every city has its own teams, athletes, leagues, fans, and community leaders. The Sports Bra provides the playbook, but each location should feel like it belongs to the people who built women’s sports culture in that city.”
People interested in learning more can visit The Sports Bra’s campaign page on Republic, where prospective investors can review the offering materials, financial disclosures, investment terms, and risks before deciding whether to invest. The company is also hosting a webinar about the campaign: Own a Piece of The Bra: A Conversation with Jenny Nguyen, at 3 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday, June 3. People interested in franchising can visit The Sports Bra’s franchise website.
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