Popular Portland, Maine, Sports Bar to Close After Being Sold
It is the end of an era for one of Portland's most popular sports bars.
Rivalries Portland announced the sale recently on social media, signifying the end of an incredible 20+ years of providing great food and a wonderfully entertaining atmosphere.
The sports bar opened after the short run of the Cotton Street Cantina (I only remember that place because I went there before the prom once). Rivalries was an immediate hit, especially for those Greater Portland sports fans looking for a fun place to cheer on their favorite team.
The timing couldn't have been better from a sports perspective. Rivalries Portland opened right before the incredible run of Boston sports success that swept the nation. It certainly didn't hurt that the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics have all been highly relevant over the past two decades.
I have so many incredible sports memories from Rivalries Portland. I remember watching Red Sox playoff games in 2007, and cheering wildly when JD Drew cranked a grand slam against Cleveland. I remember the bar full of rabid soccer fans during the 2010 World Cup. I watched countless West Virginia University football games, some good, some not-so-good. There simply wasn't a better atmosphere.
But Rivalries Portland was more than just a sports bar for me. We had birthdays there. It hosted countless fantasy football drafts for our league. Rivalries Portland even hosted my wife and I's reception after our rehearsal dinner. I have a lot of lasting memories, that's for sure.
Fortunately, this isn't the end for Rivalries. The Falmouth location is still going strong and pumping out that delicious sweet chili wing sauce. And the sports viewing there is second to none.
As for the Portland space, reports have another restaurant opening there. Some say it will be a gastropub. I wish the spot the best of luck. That is one special place.