The first women’s sports bar to open in Australia has closed its doors just five months after its long-awaited launch amid cost of living pressures.
The Ladies League, located on Sydney’s Oxford Street, opened in August 2024 to show live women’s sports matches and replays of women’s games.
However, in a shocking announcement on Wednesday, the venue explained that it was canceling its last drinks and closing for good.
“It is with a heavy heart that we will not be reopening the doors of The Ladies League,” The Ladies League wrote on Instagram.
‘As a women’s sports bar, we stand out. Anyone who has attended a Matildas match day, Sydney FC, Grand Final etc. at our headquarters, you know the spectacle we can offer.
‘Unfortunately, it is outside of live games where we feel the struggle as much as in many other hospitality venues in this economic climate.
‘While we knew that cost of living pressures have impacted how sponsors spend, this is something we wanted to do for the visibility of women’s sport.
“We knew we had a fantastic product on offer, but unfortunately, as a small business, we couldn’t hold out any longer to try new approaches.”
The Ladies League apologized to its sponsors and shared its gratitude to those who helped open the bar.
She added that the closure of The Ladies League should not deter others from wanting to open a women’s sports bar.
“We hope this doesn’t discourage anyone from opening a similar concept in the future, the support we felt from the community was incredible,” he wrote.
‘Unfortunately, how people choose to spend their money at this stage is a harsh reality.
“Thank you to each and every one of you who visited us or showed your support online.”
The Ladies League was founded and run by 34-year-old Rose Valente, who also runs a digital-only sports publication of the same name.
More to come…