Tom's Watch Bar
Tom's Watch Bar operates 19 large-format sports bars adjacent to stadiums and arenas across 14 U.S. states, offering wall-to-wall screens, elevated food and beverage, and stadium-style ticketed seating for sports fans and corporate event clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tom's Watch Bar does
Tom's Watch Bar operates a chain of large-format sports viewing and entertainment venues across the United States. Founded in 2014 as Tom's Urban by Tom Ryan (cofounder of Smashburger, former Pizza Hut and McDonald's executive) and Rick Schaden (former Quiznos CEO) through their Denver-based family office SIF Partners, the concept was rebranded in 2019 to focus exclusively on communal sports viewing. The company operates 19 locations across 14 states and Washington D.C., with 15 of 18 venues situated adjacent to major stadiums and arenas in sport-anchored mixed-use districts. Each venue features wall-to-wall screen technology with 100+ televisions, a modular service station model supported by handheld POS systems enabling food delivery under 8 minutes and beer service under 2 minutes, and AI/data analytics applied to sports schedule forecasting for labor and inventory optimization.
The company serves three primary customer segments: individual sports fans (including fantasy and sports betting enthusiasts), corporate and private event hosts, and stadium/arena visitors seeking pre- or post-game hospitality. Revenue is generated through food and beverage sales (the core stream, with average unit volumes exceeding $6 million), ticketed stadium-style seating for major sporting events (Premium, Reserved, and General Admission tiers launched via the Sports Illustrated Tickets partnership), private events and catering, and partnership/sponsorship revenue from brands and sports teams. The business operates on a transaction-based pricing model with variable rent structures (percentage of monthly sales rather than fixed costs) at many locations, aligning landlord and operator incentives.
The company employs 501-1,000 staff, is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and is privately held. In November 2023, cofounders Ryan and Schaden transitioned leadership to co-CEOs Brooks Schaden (Rick Schaden's cousin, formerly CFO) and Shannon McNiel (former Texas Roadhouse and Darden Restaurants executive). The company has raised $30 million in 2022 led by Sagard Credit Partners and is pursuing a targeted $50 million equity raise to fund an aggressive expansion plan of 10-13 new locations annually, leveraging a database of 700-800 prospective sites.
Tom's Watch Bar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tom's Watch Bar
- Legal name
- Tom's Watch Bar
- Website
- https://tomswatchbar.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Tom's Watch Bar operates 19 large-format sports bars adjacent to stadiums and arenas across 14 U.S. states, offering wall-to-wall screens, elevated food and beverage, and stadium-style ticketed seating for sports fans and corporate event clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tom's Watch Bar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Bar & Restaurant
- NAICS
- Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neighborhood & Sports Bars (THAFAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sports Bars (CRANACAC)
Keywords
Where Tom's Watch Bar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices19 records
Markets served
Tom's Watch Bar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Food and beverage sales: Core revenue stream from food and beverage sales across all locations. Average unit volume exceeds $6 million per location. Menu features elevated sports bar classics and chef-driven dishes.
- Ticketed events and reserved seating: Stadium-style tiered ticketing system with Premium Seating, Reserved Seating, and General Admission options for major sporting events, offered through Sports Illustrated Tickets partnership.
- Private events and catering: Dedicated event planners offering corporate parties, celebrations with customized menus, signature drinks, and personalized decor. Revenue from event bookings and catering services.
- Partnership and sponsorship revenue: Revenue from team partnerships, brand activations, and sponsorship deals with partners like Flecha Azul Tequila and professional sports teams.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | World Cup General Admission |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | World Cup VIP Specialty Experience |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Seating |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Reserved Seating |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Tom's Watch Bar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tom's Watch Bar is a U.S. sports bar and restaurant chain that operates large-format venues featuring wall-to-wall screens (100+ TVs per location) with an immersive 360-degree viewing experience for live sports. Each location pairs this viewing infrastructure with an elevated chef-driven food and beverage menu and offers private event hosting, a Fan Club loyalty program, and a tiered ticketing platform for major sporting events. Nearly all locations are situated in sport-anchored mixed-use districts adjacent to stadiums and arenas.
Product overview
Tom's Watch Bar operates a chain of large-format sports viewing and entertainment venues featuring wall-to-wall screens and 360-degree immersive viewing experiences. The core offering is the sports bar experience with food and beverage, enhanced by several integrated services including the Sports Illustrated Tickets tiered ticketing platform (for reserved Premium, Reserved, and General Admission seating), a Fan Club loyalty program, private event hosting, online ordering, mobile app with location services, and SMS marketing. The company focuses on sports-anchored locations adjacent to major stadiums and arenas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tom's Watch Bar Core Sports Viewing Experience Large-format sports entertainment venue featuring wall-to-wall screens, immersive 360-degree viewing experience, and an elevated chef-driven food and beverage menu designed for game day and live events. Operates in nearly 20 locations adjacent to major stadiums and arenas across the United States.
- Tom's Fan Club Loyalty Program Loyalty program for individual guests that provides a $1 pint of beer or signature cocktail on the next visit for signing up, plus ongoing notifications about Tom's upcoming events.
- Private Events Dedicated event planning service for corporate parties, group celebrations, and team gatherings, offering customized menu curation, signature drinks, personalized décor, and full venue or section buyouts.
- Sports Illustrated Tickets Tiered Ticketing Platform Stadium-style tiered ticketing system, operated through the Sports Illustrated Tickets website, that allows fans to book Premium Seating, Reserved Seating, or General Admission in advance of major sporting events at Tom's Watch Bar locations.
- Online Ordering Online ordering system available to customers of participating Tom's Watch Bar locations, supporting direct-to-consumer ordering with applicable minimum order amounts and multiple payment options.
- Mobile Application Mobile application offering location-based services and geolocation tracking (with consent) to help guests access Tom's Watch Bar services on their mobile devices.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average unit sales exceeding $6 million per location with restaurant-level margins over 25%
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Tom's Watch Bar
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tom's Watch Bar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
Tom's Watch Bar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Sports Illustrated TicketscorePartnership to launch stadium-style tiered ticketing system across all Tom's Watch Bar locations. The platform allows fans to book preferred seating options including Premium Seating, Reserved Seating, and General Admission ahead of major sporting events. Deal brokered by WME. Positions Tom's as lower-cost alternative for World Cup fans.
- All Elite Wrestling (AEW)flagshipNational partnership for 2026 NFL Draft watch parties at all Tom's Watch Bar venues nationwide for all three days (April 23-25, 2026). Includes giveaway of limited-edition AEW NFL officially licensed Lucha masks representing local NFL teams and prize packages including tickets to AEW Dynamite or Collision live events.
- SCCG ManagementcoreStrategic partnership expansion to accelerate growth across tribal and casino markets. SCCG leverages its global gaming network to facilitate Tom's expansion into tribal casinos, integrated resorts, and regional gaming properties across the United States.
- CBRE Group Inc.minorReal estate services firm assisting Tom's Watch Bar with expansion, site selection, and lease negotiations for new locations.
- Flecha Azul TequilaminorNational partnership with Mark Wahlberg-backed Flecha Azul Tequila. Relationship goes beyond menu placement with Tom's gaining visibility through Wahlberg's massive following, while Flecha Azul becomes part of live sports moments across growing national footprint.
- Tribal casinos and gaming propertiescoreTarget markets for expansion through SCCG partnership, including tribal casinos, integrated resorts, and regional gaming properties where Tom's can leverage gaming network relationships.
- Professional sports teams (Reds, Kings, Bucks, etc.)corePartnerships with sports franchises as landlords or co-developers. Teams help market and connect Tom's with partnerships, leveraging ticket-buyer email databases. Five locations with teams/owners as landlords: Cincinnati (Reds), LA (Kings), Milwaukee (Bucks), Sacramento (Kings), Seattle (Kraken).
- UFCminorPartnership to host UFC watch events, expanding entertainment offerings beyond traditional sports.
- WMEminorBrokered the Sports Illustrated Tickets partnership on behalf of Tom's Watch Bar.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
Tom's Watch Bar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Topgolf: Sports entertainment venue combining tech-enabled gameplay, F&B, and large group bookings; comparable 'experiential sports venue' positioning and event-driven revenue model.
- Hooters: Long-running casual sports bar chain with national footprint, large TV walls, and stadium-area locations; competes for the same game-day sports-fan demographic and group bookings.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Largest U.S. sports bar chain (owned by Inspire Brands/Arby's); directly comparable sports-watching + casual F&B model with broad national footprint and franchise scale that dwarfs Tom's current 19 locations.
- Dave & Buster's: Entertainment + F&B hybrid concept with sports viewing alongside arcade gaming; closest public-comp for combining communal entertainment, ticketed events, and group/corporate bookings under one roof.
- Bowlero: Bowling-centric entertainment + F&B venue with large-screen sports viewing; comparable mix of ticketed group entertainment, F&B, and weekend/evening peak demand patterns.
Direct peers
- World of Beer: Beer-centric bar and grill with heavy sports programming and craft beer selection; comparable target customer (sports enthusiasts, group outings) and similar F&B-led business model.
- Punch Bowl Social: Bowl-and-bar hybrid concept combining food, beverage, and entertainment (bowling, karaoke, sports viewing) targeting group/corporate events; comparable experiential positioning to Tom's private-events segment.
- Twin Peaks: Sports-focused lodge-themed bar chain with wall-to-wall TVs and elevated casual dining; competes for the same sports-fan and group-event occasions Tom's targets, and operates multiple stadium-area locations.
- Bar Louie: Casual upscale bar and grill chain with strong happy-hour and group-event business; comparable elevated casual bar positioning and corporate/private-event revenue mix.
Emerging players
- Lottery Sports Bar / Park Social: Smaller-format emerging sports-bar concepts emphasizing multi-screen coverage and ticketed event programming; representative of the niche Tom's is scaling into via stadium-adjacent real estate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tom's Watch Bar social profiles
Digital presenceTom's Watch Bar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tom's Watch Bar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Tom's Watch Bar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tom's Watch Bar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tom's Watch Bar
What does Tom's Watch Bar do?
Tom's Watch Bar is a U.S. sports bar and restaurant chain that operates large-format venues featuring wall-to-wall screens (100+ TVs per location) with an immersive 360-degree viewing experience for live sports. Each location pairs this viewing infrastructure with an elevated chef-driven food and beverage menu and offers private event hosting, a Fan Club loyalty program, and a tiered ticketing platform for major sporting events. Nearly all locations are situated in sport-anchored mixed-use districts adjacent to stadiums and arenas.
Is Tom's Watch Bar a public or private company?
Tom's Watch Bar is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tom's Watch Bar founded?
Tom's Watch Bar was founded in 2014. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Tom's Watch Bar based?
Tom's Watch Bar is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tom's Watch Bar make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Food and beverage sales are the primary driver. The others are ticketed events and reserved seating, private events and catering and partnership and sponsorship revenue.
Who are Tom's Watch Bar's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Topgolf, Hooters, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dave & Buster's and Bowlero. Direct peers are World of Beer, Punch Bowl Social, Twin Peaks and Bar Louie. Lottery Sports Bar / Park Social is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tom's Watch Bar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tom's Watch Bar.
What industry is Tom's Watch Bar in?
Tom's Watch Bar's product category is Sports Bar & Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAEAA, Neighborhood & Sports Bars, with a secondary code of CRANACAC, Sports Bars. Its NAICS code is 7224 and its SIC code is 5810.