In 1972, a federal law was passed barring sex discrimination in government-funded education programs, including sports. Sherree Goldstein took inspiration from the common name for that law — Title IX — when naming her new venture, Title 9, an East Liberty bar that will exclusively show women’s sports.
“Title IX, people who are 50 and older, you know, people banked on that. … Even in the early ’80s, there were very few women’s or girls’ teams at high schools. So it’s in the last couple of decades that it’s really changing,” Goldstein said.
The bar will be on Centre Avenue next to her other business, staple brunch spot Square Cafe.
Title 9 will be the first establishment of its kind in Pittsburgh. Bars focused on women’s sports have popped up in other cities, Goldstein said.
“It’s happening across the country and they’ve been very successful. I mean, the bars are packing them in. People are excited to watch women’s sports. It’s been going on for a few years, so we’re not new to the game. We’re just trying to be the first in Pittsburgh.”
Title 9 is slated to open in mid-February, with pop-up events anticipated beforehand. It will feature a full bar, cocktails, mocktails and local beer, plus a variety of snacks and casual food options, including selections for vegetarians and vegans.
Goldstein provided assurances that though the food would be “not typical bar food” — for example, they’re planning a salad with yellowfin tuna — there will still be wings.
She believes that there is a groundswell of support and interest in women’s sports right now, and she wants to highlight that with this new concept.
“You know, there’s no reason that it shouldn’t be looked at equally, in my eyes. So it’s getting the viewership and the press and the money it has deserved for eternity finally coming to fruition,” Goldstein said.
There is plenty of evidence that the momentum is real. Forbes reports that 2024 saw an upswing in attendance, merchandise sales and advertiser interest in the WNBA. Even engagement markers were up, including an increase in social media posts about the league.
In July 2024, global audience measurement leader Nielsen said that “women’s sports are having more than just a moment.”
Goldstein said she’s seen the evidence with her own eyes. “I’ve gone to some of the national basketball games … I think I went to Texas a couple of years ago for the Final Four and I mean, it is packed. It’s insane.”
Title 9 is cultivating a “fun, friendly” atmosphere and a “cool vibe” — while Title 9 is a bar, Goldstein wants it to be a place for the whole family.
“We think it’s important to bring everybody into the fold, so it’s not a women’s bar, it’s just watching women’s sports,” she said.
Extending past just good food and drinks, Goldstein wants to build community. She intends to build relationships with women’s and girls’ school, college and club teams around the city.
The big screens will show all women’s sports, including some documentaries to look at the history of the topic.
While she’s a fan of women’s sports overall, Goldstein said that right now she’s especially excited about Pitt’s women’s volleyball team and the Duquesne and Pitt women’s basketball teams. “There’s so much going on in Pittsburgh — we’re getting a women’s soccer team,” she said.
Though shows of support have poured in since the bar’s opening was announced Tuesday, Goldstein said there have been a lot of not-so-kind comments.
“We’re getting so much flak on social media, ‘this is a stupid idea’ and stuff like that, ‘why would people want to watch?’ It’s insane to me how people think,” she said. “But yeah, we want to watch it and we have had nowhere to go to watch it.”