Peaches in Toronto’s West End is changing the game for the city’s women's sports community.
It’s a past time that has been enjoyed for decades, if not more — going to the sports bar with buddies to eat some appetizers, have a few beers, and watch the game. Yet, it’s rare to find a watering hole that caters to fans of women’s sports.
With the boom of the WNBA, PWHL, and other women’s sports over the past few years, women’s sports bars are popping up all over. Toronto is no exception, and it doesn’t take long to see the charm at Peaches Sports Bar in Parkdale.
Named in honour of the Rockford Peaches, the women’s professional baseball team that was a part of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in the 1940’s, this quaint little sports bar fun spot spend an evening. You may also recognize the Peaches from both the film and corresponding television series A League of Their Own, inspired by the league.
The centre piece of Peaches is the wall-to-wall mural of the Rockford Peaches, with other vintage sports memorabilia (both men’s and women’s) making the space feel like a grandparent’s sports man-cave built in the basement of a house from the 50’s. It’s cozy and inviting, with space to gather with friends.
Peaches regularly posts on their Instagram page what games will be featured on a given night, and will even turn the sound on for some. WNBA games, PWHL playoffs, but even men’s sports like the NHL playoffs or a Raptors game can be watched. Luckily for women’s sports fans, the WNBA and PWHL games are usually prioritized in the lineup.
The menu provides the chance to have some of your favourite sports classics, and even has a whole section just for hot dogs. On the drink side, there is also a wide selection of beers, ciders and even non-alcoholic beverages to enjoy while you catch up.
A personal highlight for me was the variety of activities they’ve provided in the space. There is an air hockey table, a pool table, ski ball, and a few other arcade style games. Getting in a couple rounds of pool while watching Breanna Stewart score 30+ points is the ideal way to spend an evening.
More than anything, Peaches shakes up the idea of a conventional sports bar. As a woman myself, going into a sports bar, even as a woman who works IN sports, can be intimidating. You have all of these men around you and you never know if they will try to invalidate your sports knowledge, give you unwanted attention, or just bring the wrong energy.
Having a place dedicated to being inclusive of any sports fan makes the entire experience more welcoming. Plus, having a go-to place where you KNOW they will be playing the big WNBA game or the PWHL playoffs is so important in growing the women’s game.
Especially now as we prepare to welcome Toronto’s WNBA franchise, having a dedicated place for people to gather and support Toronto’s women’s sports teams is vital. One of the best parts of being a sports fan is the community you cultivate through fandom, and the best way to watch a big game is with other people.
The women’s sports movement is clearly not JUST about what’s happening on the court (or ice, field, etc.), it’s about making these sports and the community as a whole more accessible. It’s about showing people that these athletes deserve your support, and that these growing leagues are fun and competitive. It’s a time to distance from some of the toxic traditions of professional sports and lean into a more inclusive era of being a sports fan.
Peaches Sports Bar gives Toronto women’s sports fans a place to gather, cheer on team, prioritize women’s athletes, and just be yourself as a sports fan.
As Toronto grows as a women’s sports hub in particular, places like Peaches become vital to the community building aspect of sports.
