On July 25, model Lauren Chan and filmmaker Hayley Kosan hosted an epic joint bachelorette party. Twenty of their closest friends gathered in a private suite at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, not for a fancy dinner, but for a thrilling New York Liberty women’s basketball game. It was a true celebration, complete with hot dogs, chicken fingers, pizza, and free-flowing margaritas. Guests, who traveled from as far as Los Angeles and Toronto, spent the game dancing, toasting the happy couple, and cheering on their favorite teams.
As Ms. Chan, 35, who recently married her wife and resides in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, recounted, “Every so often we remembered to watch a minute of the game.” She fondly recalled how Ellie the Elephant, the team’s mascot, delivered an “Oh my God” Lady Gaga halftime show. A photograph from the event captures Hayley Kosan playfully displaying a T-shirt adorned with photos of her now-wife, Lauren Chan, showcasing the festive and personalized spirit of the gathering.
For the couple, there was no better way to kick off their wedding celebrations. Ms. Kosan, 36, explained, “We both grew up playing basketball, and we love to still play to this day. We live close to Barclays, so going to the Liberty games is always very fun.” They specifically chose the July 25 game because it pitted Ms. Chan’s favorite team, the New York Liberty, against Ms. Kosan’s beloved Phoenix Mercury. (The home team, thankfully, secured the win.)
The evening was made even more special as it was Pride Night, a detail Ms. Kosan enthusiastically described as “an incredibly lesbian bachelorette experience.”
This trend isn’t isolated. Women’s sporting events are experiencing a massive surge in popularity. This season alone, W.N.B.A. ticket sales soared by 145 percent compared to last year, with an impressive 2.5 million fans attending games. The Professional Women’s Hockey League saw a 50 percent increase in attendance in its second complete season, drawing over 700,000 fans to 102 games. Projections from Nielsen predict that by 2030, women’s professional football will boast 800 million fans globally, marking a remarkable 38 percent growth from current figures.
This growing interest means more brides (and grooms!) worldwide are choosing to host their pre-wedding parties in the lively atmospheres of arenas and stadiums. It’s a perfect blend of enjoying a shared passion and introducing friends and family to the teams they adore, often turning casual attendees into devoted fans. Another vibrant image from the celebration shows Ms. Chan, radiant in a lacy white dress, dancing joyfully, while her guests enjoy margaritas, perfectly illustrating the blend of wedding festivity and game-day fun.
Teams across various leagues are noticing and embracing this trend. Bianca Henninger, Vice President for Ticketing at Angel City FC (National Women’s Soccer League) in Los Angeles, confirmed a rise in bachelor and bachelorette groups purchasing special packages this season. Similarly, Caroline O’Keefe, Communications Manager for the W.N.B.A.’s Connecticut Sun, reported three such parties at Mohegan Sun Arena this season.
Hannah Beckman, a spokesperson for the New York Sirens, New York’s professional women’s hockey team, shared a memorable anecdote: a bachelor party, impeccably dressed in suits and Sirens hats, attended a game at the Prudential Center in Newark just hours before the groom’s wedding ceremony.
To cater to these unique celebrations, many teams are now offering special perks. These might include featuring the groups on the Jumbotron, arranging photo opportunities with star players, and distributing merchandise, making the experience even more unforgettable.
Ariane Lefebvre, 34, a kindergarten teacher from Montreal, celebrated her bachelorette party on February 15 at Place Bell, home to the Montreal Victoire women’s hockey team. The highlight? Making it onto the Jumbotron! “I pointed to my engagement ring on the screen, and everyone cheered. It was a very fun moment,” she recounted. After the game, Ms. Lefebvre, who married Francis Marleau Donais in May, even met two of her favorite players, Claire Dalton and Sandra Abstreiter, for a photo opportunity. For the occasion, the bride-to-be sported her team jersey, a white skirt, cowboy boots, and a charming white bow. A heartwarming photo shows Ms. Lefebvre and her friends, some wearing ‘Team Bride’ sashes, smiling alongside players Claire Dalton and Sandra Abstreiter, capturing the joy of the special day.
As a season-ticket holder, Ms. Lefebvre deliberately planned her bachelorette party around a game day. “I really wanted my friends and sisters-in-law to discover this sport,” she said. “I consider myself very feminist, and it is very important to me to encourage every woman-leading activity. I also love hockey.” She noted the incredible camaraderie in the stadium, where fellow female sports fans constantly stopped to offer congratulations, making it feel “like everyone was part of my bachelorette.”
For many attendees, these pre-wedding celebrations are their first exposure to a professional women’s sporting event. Dr. Philippa McFarlane, 33, a palliative care doctor from London, attended the bachelorette party of her friend, Dr. Alice Ewer, 32, a pediatrician also from London, at an Arsenal Women Football Club game on September 26. Dr. McFarlane, a first-timer at a women’s professional soccer match, was deeply impressed by the unique atmosphere.
She described it as “a much more relaxed atmosphere, but people were also still up for it and excited. The standard of sport was still amazing.” Reflecting on the experience, she added, “I sent some pictures to my niece, and I just thought it was so cool she is going to grow up at a time when this is a normal way to spend Saturdays.”