New Zealand's favourite team is capitalising on their hype train with plans to open up a themed pub.
First reported by Martin Devlin and later confirmed by Newshub’s Andrew Gourdie, the One NZ Warriors purchased Kingsland bar Holy Hop, and they plan on turning it into a Wahs-themed sports bar.
“Can confirm the @NZWarriors have purchased the bar currently known as “Holy Hop” in Kingsland,” Gourdie tweeted, adding the spot is “a stone’s throw from Eden Park.”
He also reports that “the plan is for this to be the location of a new sports bar that promises to provide the ultimate experience for fans of any and all sports in NZ.” While Devlin said the team plans on “making it their official Warriors bar.”
Holy Hop is a hugely popular spot amongst locals - I’ve spent plenty of great nights there myself - and you can literally see Eden Park through the back window. To turn the place into a sports bar decked out with Warriors merch and signage would be a HUGE move.
We’ve reached out to Holy Hop for comment.
The team has been eyeing such a move ever since last season’s massive success on the field and in NZ culture. The Herald reported back in January that the team were on the hunt for a new spot.
The venue would potentially be used for viewing parties for Wahs' home and away games, would host membership nights and player events, as well as have branded menu items, such as the “Shaun Johnson Burger, a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck wrap or an Andrew Webster salad.”
“We have a very powerful brand and it’s one that people like to engage in,” Warriors' Chief Executive Cameron George said.
“We want a pub with high traffic flow. We don’t just want to turn the lights on for game days or for away games, we want it to be a very successful business 24/7.”
All the Aussie NRL clubs have their own bar, so it’s about time the Wahs did. RIP to Holy Hop though - it's been real and will be tough to see you go.
