New South Bend sports bar opens

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A new sports bar opened in South Bend, near Notre Dame. New management took over the South Bend Bar and say with Notre Dame right across the street, the only way they could keep a steady bar running was to turn it into a sports bar.

"Being so close to Notre Dame, it only made sense to turn it into a sports bar," says Heather Eley, Bar Manager.

Touchdown Sports Bar was just a regular bar a few months ago, but it is now under new ownership.

"You can see Notre Dame from our front yard, so it was the only choice we really had," says Eley.

Management says they see more foot traffic on game days since turning it into a sports bar. As Notre Dame took on Pittsburgh, Kirk Haines, an Irish fan from Pittsburgh, is enjoying cheering on both teams at the new bar.

"I came here to Notre Dame to watch Notre Dame Football because I could not get back to Pittsburgh to watch the game so obviously I came to Touchdowns," says Haines.

Haines says South Bend sports bars are the only place to be to watch a football game.

"Every time I come to South Bend, I want to drop into a sports bar. It is a different environment than a dinner club or a dinner bar, and you can watch your game," says Haines.

For the next Notre Dame Football game, on November 23rd, Touchdown Sports Bar will host a tailgate complete with a DJ, food, and some drink specials.