INTRODUCING PITCH 25
Houston soccer legend plans massive EaDo sports bar
Eric Sandler
Nov 7, 2017, 3:25 pm
Brian Ching is opening a new soccer bar. Courtesy photo
This story originally appeared on CultureMap/Houston.
EaDo is rapidly emerging as Houston's next great drinking and dining destination.
Already home to the Chapman & Kirby, which has become one of Houston's hottest nightclubs based on alcoholic beverage sales, 8th Wonder Brewery, and popular restaurants like Pappa Charlies Barbeque, SeaSide Poke, and Hyunh, the imminent arrival of concepts like Agricole Hospitality's bar/restaurant/pizza shop trio of Miss Carousel, Indianola, and Vinny's plus restaurants like Rodeo Goat and Nancy's Hustle would be enough for EaDo to earn its rising star status, and a new project coming next spring will only enhance that reputation.
Former Dynamo star Brian Ching announced Monday that he's getting into the mix by opening a massive, soccer themed sports bar called Pitch 25 (after the word for a soccer field and the number he wore during his Dynamo career). Located steps away from BBVA Compass Stadium at 904 Hutchins, the 25,000-square foot space will feature both an indoor soccer field and an outdoor beer garden.
“Houston is such a diverse city – people from around the world live here, and there are very few bars to watch soccer matches,” Ching said in a statement. “I’m really excited to create an environment that truly matches the excitement of the soccer experience, and create a nationally-recognized soccer destination as the sport continues to increase in popularity in the U.S.”
While Ching may know soccer — he's the Dynamo's all-time leading scorer and led the team to two MLS Cup championships — he doesn't know food and beverage. To handle that side of the business, he's partnered with The Kirby Group. Owners Andy Aweida and Jeff Barati are the duo behind a number of successful projects, including Wooster's Garden in Midtown, Heights Bier Garten, and the upcoming Holman Draft Hall.
Pitch 25 aims to raise between $250,000 and $550,000 for its build out via the NextSeed platform. Unlike Kickstarter, NextSeed users earn a return on their money — in this case one-and-a-half times their investment paid out over a four year term — in addition to the usual perks like access to a pre-opening party and swag.
Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a tiebreaking solo home run and scored all of San Diego’s runs as the Padres avoided being swept with a 3-2 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday night.
Tatís sent the first pitch he saw from Tayler Scott (1-2) 427 feet to straightaway center to give the Padres a 3-2 lead in the seventh.
Tatís scored from second on a Mauricio Dubón error in the first, and he led off the third with a triple before scoring on an RBI single by Gavin Sheets.
The Astros tied it with two runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Dubón and a Yordan Alvarez sacrifice fly.
Luis Arraez was carted off and taken to a hospital for evaluation after a first inning collision with Dubón on a play at first base. Arraez’s face appeared to collide with Dubón’s arm or elbow, and the Padres designated hitter lay motionless in foul territory next to first base for several minutes.
After being tended to by trainers from both teams, Arraez was placed on a backboard and carted out of the stadium.
Dylan Cease yielded two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in five innings for the Padres. Alek Jacob (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, and Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save.
Starting pitcher Framber Valdez surrendered two runs on seven hits in six innings for the Astros.
Key moment
With two outs and the tying run on second in the eighth, Jason Adam struck out Victor Caratini to end the inning.
Key stat
The Padres have scored 20 runs in the seventh inning this season, the most runs they have scored in any inning.
Up next
Houston RHP Hunter Brown (2-1, 1.50 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series against the Blue Jays on Monday night, while San Diego RHP Randy Vásquez (1-1, 1.74) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series in Detroit.