Court’s Quizzes
By Parker Jendrysik , Photos by Ally parker, Design by carley hinton
Court Street is known for its vibrant weekends, brick streets and bustling bar scene. But what many may not know, is that this lively atmosphere extends to weekdays, with an added competition element. Lucky’s Sports Tavern and The Pigskin Bar and Grille are two of Court Street's beloved bars that host such events. Both offer students and locals a chance to test their knowledge. What better way to challenge yourself than with a game of trivia?
Lucky's Sports Tavern
Hosts Regan Ritchie and David Green read off a question at Lucky’s Sports Tavern’s trivia night on Jan. 21.
Given the number of bars, Athens stands out among other college towns. Because of the distinct atmospheres each one offers, no bar is the same as the next. One of the first bars people see in Athens is Lucky’s Sports Tavern, located on North Court Street. For those seeking a sports bar atmosphere, Lucky’s delivers, featuring pool tables and weekly drink specials that keep locals and students coming back for more. Lucky’s is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 p.m. to midnight on Sunday.
Lucky’s holds an open trivia night every Tuesday at 8 p.m. However, just because they start at 8 p.m. does not mean players should not get there early. As the start time approaches, the crowd grows bigger and bigger.
With large crowds comes great responsibility. Lucky’s takes pride in the hard work that goes into making their trivia nights entertaining for players. Regan Ritchie, Lucky’s trivia host and barback, has been involved with trivia nights longer than she has worked there. Ritchie says hosting the event can be both exciting and challenging.
“For me, I like seeing teams return every week, and also seeing new people come makes me feel like I’m doing a good job,” Ritchie says.
Lucky’s trivia nights accommodate up to 15 teams, with a limit of eight people on each one. Ritchie mentions that they have hosted themed nights, including beer night during Ohio Brew Week and Halloween-themed trivia, which was a big hit.
But it is not just the returning players that make trivia so rewarding for Ritchie; it is also the friendly competition and the playful rivalries that add an extra layer of fun to her job.
“I like the community,” Ritchie says. “Teams that have been coming will have fake beef with each other.”
Winners of trivia night at Lucky’s earn more than just bragging rights – they also have the chance to win cash. First place takes home $25, while second place wins $10. With a chance to win it all, players can throw in $1 each to participate in a jackpot question. Answer it correctly, and all the money in the pot is yours.
The Pigskin Bar and Grille
A popular spot on Thursday nights, The Pigskin Bar and Grille hosts trivia nights at 7 p.m. each week. The friendly competition is a great way to unwind after a long week of classes or catch up with friends.
Pigskin’s trivia host Macy Peck is a recent graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Since 2023, she has been hosting trivia and works hard to keep the questions engaging and relevant to the college crowd.
“I’ve always loved trivia,” Peck says. “I was going to Pigskin trivia before I even got involved in it."
With different categories every week, keeping the questions interesting is key. Peck engages players by knowing the popular trends among college students.
Pigskin’s trivia hosts five separate categories, each with seven questions. Notable categories from previous trivia nights include NFL teams, music, TikTok memes, celebrities, movies, riddles and American history.
“I try to make it fun every week, so people keep coming back. I like to do a pop culture one, and then a fun category, which kind of just varies every week,” Peck says. “We do five rounds. The last round of every trivia is a music round where we play a certain section [of a song], and then they give us the artist and the name.”
Peck keeps players on the edge of their seats with fun, new and inviting questions.
“My personal favorite that we’ve ever done was a celebrity drama category, and people ate that up. Oh, also riddles,” Peck says. “My favorite part is probably coming up with the trivia, and then actually seeing people’s reactions to it live.”
Trivia contestants have the chance of winning merchandise from Pigskin’s liquor vendors. The bar’s casual yet competitive atmosphere welcomes students and community members to enjoy the weekly event. Pigskin is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday through Sunday.
A Taste of Victory
Such environments attract the best of the best when it comes to trivia contestants. Regular Madison Liming, a fourth-year English student, says she had been curious about Pigskin trivia nights ever since she first heard of them. It was not until a group of friends invited her that she became a regular every Thursday night.
Her experience is one of many who say they enjoy the event. “It was such a fun atmosphere. I loved the crowd that was there. They always get a good turnout. I would just say they keep the questions very light-hearted. It's nothing too challenging,” Liming says. “All the people who participate are super fun and supportive. They're just there to have a good laugh [and] a good time. I would just say the atmosphere overall is really what I love about it. I always go. I'm not the best at trivia, but I'm just there [for the] experience and
the vibes.”
What's Next?
Pigskin and Lucky’s offer a great way to relax, spend quality time with friends and test the limits of your knowledge. With two top spots on Court Street and a great staff of trivia enthusiasts, it is worth checking out both events. Whether you are a first-timer, a competitive player or just along for the ride, it is sure to be a memorable night. The (trivia) night of your life awaits, and a booth with your name on it just a few
bricks away. b
A team participating in trivia, hosted in Lucky’s Sports
Tavern on Jan. 21.
