by Sam Morrison | Sep 28, 2026 | Do
Where to cheer on our Bunch of Champions
Hockey’s back, baby (!)—and after bringing the Stanley Cup home, the Canes are storming into another season with Raleigh ready to raise a glass, and hopefully another banner. Whether you’re looking for wall-to-wall Caniacs, a classic neighborhood perch, or enough brews to last through overtime, these local watering holes have the eats, energy, and ice-cold pours to make missing the action at Lenovo feel a little less chilling. Throw on some red and black and sound the siren.
If variety is the spice of life, Brass Tap brings the heat. The West Street craft beer bar boasts 95-plus selections alongside cocktails, wine and shareable bites, plus screens tuned for major sports—including, yes, the NHL. Equal parts polished beer bar and game-day gathering place, it’s a solid DTR play for the Caniac who wants to yell at a power play with something a little more interesting than a light lager in hand.
When the Canes hit the ice, Carolina Ale House knows the assignment. A longtime official Hurricanes partner, it has hosted Canes watch parties for more than 20 years, complete with appearances from Stormy and the Canes Crew, giveaways, and enough game-day energy to make your barstool feel suspiciously close to the glass. Dozens of TVs, wings, burgers and cold beer seal the deal—and with Raleigh locations in North Raleigh and Brier Creek, there’s more than one house to call home.
Come for the Canes, stay to try a different beer (or two) every period. The Downtown staple has been pouring on Morgan Street since 2000, with hundreds of craft selections spanning NC and well beyond. Its laid-back beer-hall energy makes it an easy pick when you want the game without sacrificing the good-time atmosphere—and plenty of suds for celebrating every celly. Hockey + hops? Consider us saucer-eyed.
Sitting on Hurricane Alley Way practically in Lenovo Center’s backyard, The Local has increasingly become exactly what its name promises: a home base for local fans. The elevated sports bar is an official Canes Bar, pairing craft beer and a relaxed vibe with serious proximity to the action. Its hours even shift around Lenovo Center events. Didn’t snag a ticket? Pregaming before heading inside? Either way, this is about as close to the storm as you can get without stepping onto the ice.
The Northwest Raleigh hot spot knows how to keep things cozy—and Caniac. Lynnwood has the neighborhood-joint formula down: housebrewed craft beer, pizza, wings and the sort of relaxed atmosphere that makes settling in for three periods feel like hanging at a particularly well-stocked friend’s place. Better yet, Lynnwood is listed among the Hurricanes’ official partner bars. For the crowd craving something decidedly chill with its slap shots, consider this your Northwest Raleigh power play.
Win or lose, it’s always a great day at My Way. The neighborhood gem is perf for Caniacs who prefer their game days casual, convivial and accompanied by plenty of choices. Crowd around the horseshoe bar over a wide beer selection (including plenty of NC pours) and an all-American menu running the gamut from apps and salads to burgers, sandwiches and entrees—or post up outside on the TV-dotted patio. Already a Raleigh Mag pick for catching the game, it’s got exactly the unfussy, everybody-yell-at-the-TV-together energy hockey calls for. Because there’s no wrong way to Canes—only My Way.
If Raleigh sports bars had rafters, PR would have a banner hanging from them. An Oak City institution, the watering hole is an official Canes Bar where every game is guaranteed on the big screens—both inside and out. Add burgers, brews and the sort of lived-in camaraderie you simply can’t manufacture, and you’ve got a bona fide retreat for the red-and-black faithful. Get there early, grab a seat and settle in. This classic knows the drill.
Pony up for puck drop. Ponysaurus brings its signature cool-kid energy to Raleigh Iron Works, pairing the industrial-chic digs with plenty of room to post up with your fellow Caniacs. The full-service outpost pours the brewery’s beloved beers alongside cocktails, wine and a food lineup spanning pizza, garlic knots, salads and more. Translation: You can settle in hungry, thirsty and ready to cheer. And when the game’s over? No need to bolt—the hip Iron Works setting makes this one just as worthy of a postgame hang.
Talk about home-ice advantage. This Glenwood South watering hole is co-owned by former Hurricane Bates Battaglia and his brother, former pro hockey player Anthony Battaglia, so its Caniac cred runs deep. With multiple TVs, a giant projection screen, sprawling patios and an official Canes Bar designation, Teets is built for getting rowdy come puck drop. And after the Cup itself made Teets its first Raleigh stop following the Canes’ 2026 championship, consider its hockey-bar status officially etched in ice.
by Melissa Howsam | Aug 31, 2021 | Do, September 2021
OK, college football fans—if you can’t get to your home team game, let your team bring the home-game vibes to you. Here’s a roundup of where some top football teams’ alumni and fan clubs spend their game days so you can get blitzed with your people (meaning either game-time strategy or partying—you make the call). Game face, on!
ECU Pirates
This is arrrrgh state?! You can’t spell parties without pirates. #PirateNation don your purple and gold and get that Pirate pride on with fellow fans in Raleigh at Highpark Bar & Grill. #PiratesTogetherPiratesForever! Wake County, NC Chapter, ECU Alumni Association, piratealumni.com; highparkbarandgrill.com
09.02 vs. Appalachian State, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Ohio State Buckeyes
O-H! I-O! Michigan-haters (er, Buckeyes!) bring those Horseshoe home-game feels to Brickhouse to bond over bacon (aka football) and $5 Buckeye bombs (not to mention $3 Miller Lite 16 oz. drafts, $5 Lunazul tequila shots, and plenty of grub). DJs are on deck for big games, but the fight song always plays on every score—and the alumni club is in the house to help you get your swag on. The Ohio State University Alumni Club of the Triangle, trianglenc.alumni.osu.edu; brickhouse-nc.com
09.02 vs. Minnesota, TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
Alabama Crimson Tide
Rock your houndstooth (RIP, Bear Bryant!) over to Ruckus Pizza in Morrisville, where Bama fans, friends, food (and brews!) and football collide with Bama music, cheers, shakers and more (like, I don’t know, making a drinking game out of the gazillion scores). Don’t miss the weekly raffle (hey, Bama swag!) to benefit the local chapter. Roll Tide! Roll Tide Raleigh, rolltideraleigh.com; ruckuspizza.com
09.04 vs. Miami, Chick-fil-A Kick-off Game, Mercedes-BenzStadium, Atlanta
Georgia Bulldogs
If you can’t be between the hedges swaying to the “Battle Hymn,” there’s soon to be a spot for you to catch the dawg fight in Raleigh. Sic ’em, UGA. Good dawg. Stay tuned to RMfor updates. UGA Alumni Association – Raleigh Chapter, alumni.uga.edu
09.04 vs. Clemson, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Michigan Wolverines
With a fight song dubbed “The Victors,” solo watching is just not an option. Belly up to share your OSU distaste and “Go Blue” with fellow fanatics at Wild Wing Cafe in Brier Creek. Specials will keep you sated (Wild Wing donates 10% of food sales to MTAC!), while a DJ spins beats and the fight song to transport you to The Big House. And keeping Blue benevolent, be on the lookout for Wild Wing’s MTAC charity nights. Michigan Triangle Alumni Club, alumni.umich.edu; wildwingcafe.com
09.04 vs. Western Michigan, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor
Florida Gators
Be a gata not a hata. If you can’t spend Saturday in the swamp, your rally point for Gator football is, well, Rally Point. Post up every Saturday for football, food, fun and prizes. Chomp on. Triangle Gator Club, connect.ufalumni.ufl.edu;
rallypointsportgrill.com
09.04 vs. Florida Atlantic, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
LSU Tigers
In Louisiana, the 12th man is food. And in Raleigh, you have choices—as the alumni club watch parties rotate between two pubs for games (announced weekly online), complete with raffles and LSU band music. Head to either Rally Point Sports Grill in Cary (generally for night games) to rally your team over pub grub, or get your gumbo on for day games (usually) at Sharkys (fun fact: co-owner Simone was born and bred in the Big Easy). So, “hot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on Tigers, push push poosh.” Geaux Tigers! Geaux Triangle, geauxtriangle.com; sharkysnc.com
09.04 vs. UCLA, Rose Bowl, Pasadena
Auburn Tigers
War Eagle! Tiger blood found at Moe’s Original BBQ Durham—no, for real, “Tiger Blood” will be on offer as an oh-so-apropos mixed drink, with added drink specials to boot and a Bushwacker machine (a fan fave!). While this is Moe’s first year hosting the Auburn Tigers, it’s not the game-day go-to’s first rodeo serving up the college crowd. Game on. Triangle Area Auburn Club, triangleauburnclub.square.site; moesoriginalbbq.com
09.04 vs. Akron, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn
Clemson Tigers
It may not be Death Valley, but if you’re lookin’ for a local spot to “hold that tiger” (and find out if new QB D.J. Uiagalelei can meet those lofty expectations), you’re gonna wanna get your roar on with fellow alumni and fans at Carolina Ale House at Brier Creek, where, if nothing else, the “Tiger Rag” will never get old. C-L-E-M-S-O…N! Triangle Clemson Club, triangle.clemson.alumnispaces.com; carolinaalehouse.com
09.04 vs. Georgia, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Luck of the Irish found at Trali Irish Pub: “We are Irish. We’ve got Guinness. We’ve got TVs.” It’s about as close as you can get to Touchdown Jesus (and The Leprechaun, obv) in Raleigh—and we are here for it. Post up at Trali to watch the Fighting Irish “play like a champion today.” Notre Dame Club of Eastern North Carolina, eastnc.undclub.org; traliirishpub.com
09.05 vs. FSU, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahasse
FSU Seminoles
The “Tomahawk Chop” is always more fun in a crowd. Get your FSU “war chant” on at Tobacco Road Sports Cafe in Downtown Raleigh, featuring Seminole Spirit and FSU merch giveaways every game day. Translation: This is about as close as it gets to feeling like you’re sitting on the 50-yard line of Bobby Bowden Field. Scalp ’em, Noles! Triangle Seminole Club, raleighnoles.fsu.alumnispaces.com; tobaccoroadsportscafe.com
09.05 vs. Notre Dame, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee
