Des Moines area sports bar

**DaddyMac** · 01-31-2007, 04:00 PM

So I called Champps Restaurant in WDM to try and make a reservation for the game tonight.

First off, you can only make reservations for parties over 8. No biggie.

Second. The guy on the other end of the phone tells me he can't guarantee that the game will be on.

Why, I ask.

He pauses and when I offer up the explanation of the Iowa game, he says "well, yeah" and then adds that the Indiana/Wisconsin game is on as well. And then goes on to explain that typically Iowa will take precendece (which I don't like, but can understand) and that a top 25 matchup will take precedence as well.

Well, I guess that if they can't cater enough to a local school, then I see no reason to patronize them.

Just a little FYI for the local Clone fans. West Des Moines needs a Clone-friendly bar.

**CYdTracked** · 01-31-2007, 04:08 PM

I'm going to Trophy's Sports Bar on Douglas to watch the game I think. They usually have game watches and I called to verify they have Mediacom so they can get the game.

**DaddyMac** · 01-31-2007, 04:24 PM

I think that's what we'll most likely end up doing as well. We were going to try and make a dinner out of it, and the wife is a veggie-matarian, so their menu was lacking.

How smokey is that place? Haven't been there before.

**ISUAlum2003** · 01-31-2007, 04:28 PM

You might be able to get Champps to have the game on in one of their side rooms.

**cmoore_23** · 01-31-2007, 04:29 PM

any1 in ankeny know if it will be on any where..im thinking about calling benchwarmers...what sucks is i have no $ so i wont be buying anything, just watching the game

**CYdTracked** · 01-31-2007, 04:35 PM

Trophy's is not too bad for smoke I think. It's within stumbling distance of my house too which is a bonus if I ever run into the problem of not being able to drive home :)

The food is pretty good there I think unless like your wife you don't like meat then you might be limited in choices.

**Wesley** · 01-31-2007, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

So I called Champps Restaurant in WDM to try and make a reservation for the game tonight.

First off, you can only make reservations for parties over 8. No biggie.

Second. The guy on the other end of the phone tells me he can't guarantee that the game will be on.

Why, I ask.

He pauses and when I offer up the explanation of the Iowa game, he says "well, yeah" and then adds that the Indiana/Wisconsin game is on as well. And then goes on to explain that typically Iowa will take precendece (which I don't like, but can understand) and that a top 25 matchup will take precedence as well.

Well, I guess that if they can't cater enough to a local school, then I see no reason to patronize them.

Just a little FYI for the local Clone fans. West Des Moines needs a Clone-friendly bar.

Champs just closed in Oakview Mall in Omaha after 15 year lease ran out - I wonder why. Were they carrying EIU games also? Is Champs run by an EIU grad?

**ISU0454** · 01-31-2007, 05:03 PM

Trophy's hosts the largest segment of Clone fans as their owner has tried very hard to cater to the DSM Cyclone Club. He's a good guy so we try to support him whenever we can. Food is pretty good, haven't heard any complaints. Have the wife try their new chicken/caesar salad. Main problem with this place is: 1) smokey -- you WILL come out of there with the smell, 2) their various TV screens aren't in sync (cable vs. digital, etc) so 1/2 of the bar is cheering while the other half is still waiting for the play to end. Best part for me is just being with all the other fans. Now -- a while ago a few posters on CF went out to Victor's for a game watch. I heard that went pretty well, but that's kind of a hawk bar as well. Also, The Game, out in WDM has tried to get the GDCC to do game watches out there. Went to a couple out there, but not a very big Clone crowd. Best part is SMOKE FREE -- but, the next-door business is some kind of restraunt that must offer Indian food because a strong oder of curry powder is constant inside.

**cycloneworld** · 01-31-2007, 05:27 PM

3rd Base in West Des Moines will have the game on I'm sure. Although they will probably be playing the Iowa game over the sound system so you'd have to sit near a TV to hear the game.

**cybsball20** · 01-31-2007, 05:34 PM

Im a big fan of Victors, never had a problem watching a Clone game there plus they have a wing special during all games AND THEIR WINGS ARE GREAT! Not a big fan of Trophy's but that all stems from a bad experience from them sponsoring my softball team...

Go Bears!

**gondozors** · 01-31-2007, 05:55 PM

They don't need our money. Go to Clone bars & invest in our own. Screw Champs!!!!

**DaddyMac** · 01-31-2007, 09:15 PM

Thanks for the info.

I swung by "The Game" yesterday to scout it out. Same problem there on food. Some pizza and basic bar food. And really an utter lack of tv's. And the kid behind the bar was wearing an Iowa jersey - so I knew I was in no-man's land.

We ended up at the Stadium on EP True in WDM. Really not bad. A bunch of tv's behind the bar. Probably 4 or 5 30"+ around the rest of the place - it's not that big. And a good 6 or 7 booths with TV's in them that you can dial in whatever you want.

Food was alright, nothing special. Problem is what was stated elsewhere. Once the Iowa game came on, all but one of the other tv's went to it and that was what they pumped over the sound system. But other than that, rather enjoyable - the game itself not withstanding. Not smokey at all. No real Hawk fans there, just a few. Probably a real good place if you can get a group of Clone fans and take over the tv's, or get it when you're not competing with an Iowa crowd.

I'm with Gondozers on Champs - Screw 'em.

**Wesley** · 01-31-2007, 09:19 PM

If we become a decent team again, the TVs will watch the Clones.

**j4state** · 01-31-2007, 09:21 PM

Where is Trophy's located?? I want to check it out.

I agree with you guys on Champps, they suck. Went to Victors once and it seemed like a Hawk bar more than a Cyclone one.

**cycloneworld** · 01-31-2007, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

We ended up at the Stadium on EP True in WDM. Really not bad. A bunch of tv's behind the bar. Probably 4 or 5 30"+ around the rest of the place - it's not that big. And a good 6 or 7 booths with TV's in them that you can dial in whatever you want.

The Stadium is like 3 blocks from my house but I've yet to make it there. Maybe I'll have to give it a whirl.