Cheers to Romance: ‘The Bachelor’ Takes Over Victory Lap Bar

By Jasmine Palacios

Reporting Texas TV

AUSTIN, Texas — The new season of  “The Bachelor” hit the screen on Jan. 29 and a  well-known West Campus sports bar decided to get in on the hype. 

Hundreds of students gathered around the large screen on Victory Lap’s lawn. This event brought in a new sense of excitement as the crowds grew week by week. UT student, Aliya Carr, said “The Bachelor” watch party sparked her attention when she first heard about it. 

“My roommate told me that Victory Lap is doing every Monday Bachelor screening and I am like they usually do football, so I was like okay I’m down to do this – a bunch of girls together watching it,” Carr said. 

This screening began after UT sophomore Maya Allon posted the idea on the college connection app YikYak.

“I feel like I am a person that makes things happen and so I came down and that’s when I met Kiki,” said Maya. 

Kiki Banks, general manager of Victory Lap, saw the attraction of this post and made an easy decision. 

“She [Allon] said I’ve already gotten 150 likes within the first three hours, is this something you think you would be interested in, I was like honestly say no more,” Banks said. 

In a busy midterm season, students show up every week even if that means doing homework during the commercial breaks. 

“I see the same people and every week and then they bring their friends, for example, it’s funny whenever a girl brings her boyfriend, you can tell it’s their first time watching,” Allon said. 

Carr said she will be at the event every Monday in the front row with all of her friends.

“When you’re out alone watching TV and you’re groaning, and moaning, but when it’s everybody, it’s how you feel watching sports except the sport is a man picking which woman he wants to be his wife,” Carr said. 

Carr said this isn’t just bringing the community together, it’s also saving college students money who don’t have access to live TV or Hulu.  

“This has come in clutch, Victory Lap has single-handedly saved my wallet and my Monday evenings by coming here to watch The Bachelor for free,” Carr said. 

Victory Lap made this event for those 18 years and older. Banks said they serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages at the event and have discounted margaritas. 

Allon said she is happy she communicated this idea and hopes for more events like this once “The Bachelor” season is over. 

Banks said that because of this popular turnout, they have already started planning more events like it. She encourages other students to bring in ideas for the space when it’s not being used as a sports bar. 

The show will run at Victory Lap every Monday until the finale on March 25th with activities planned for that day. 

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a guy or a girl, or if you are any person, if there is reality TV and people want to come watch it will fill out an entire venue just so people can sit down and be together,” Carr said.