Although Marquette University has not been exactly prominent in student diversity, those looking to find a more varied population just need to know the right place and the right time, to find it. At noon on Sunday at 804 N. 16th St., fans can find the most multi-faceted site on campus: the Union Sports Annex. John Marston, a junior in the College of Communication and Minnesota Vikings fan, has been coming to the Annex since his freshman year.
“The atmosphere is so incredibly loud,” Marston said. “When Rex Grossman throws an interception, or sometimes a touchdown, everyone in the restaurant will find out because the Bears fans are excessively loud.”
What other place can claim a restaurant, bar, dodgeball court, bingo arena, bowling alley and game room all wrapped into one?
But what has made the Annex distinct has been its Sunday afternoons, when National Football League die-hards can all gather together in one place; and also trash-talk to their hearts’ desire. On a typical Sunday, pro football teams from across the entire nation will be represented, including Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills’ fans from the East Coast or Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers’ fans from out West. While out-of-town students make up a handful of the regulars at the Annex, midwesterners have dominated the scene. With Bears, Lions, Vikings and Packers’ fans filling up most of the tables and constantly cheering on each other to lose, Sunday afternoons at the Annex could be confused for a NFC North convention promoting non-violence. Most of the jeers will be in jest and fans have their hands full trying to keep track of all the games rather than arguing with the opposition.
With over 20 televisions throughout the complex and the television package NFL Sunday Ticket, the Annex is capable of showing seven different football games at the same time, a football fan’s dream. The vast array of screens includes one large screen in the main dining area, a number of small televisions inserted into the walls of each booth as well as a gigantic screen in the dodgeball court for the most popular games. (When Bears’ games have been scheduled at the same time as Packer games, the Bears’ game can’t be seen locally.)
In addition to the viewing capabilities, the Annex also offers a variety of food options, most of which perfectly supplement a long day of footballwatching. The menu consists of both “build-your-own” burgers and pizza, a number of appetizers and sandwich platters and perhaps the most popular item, the Annex Golden Eagle wings, which come in a variety of flavors in regular or boneless style.
It will not be the healthiest or cheapest meal, but the service is very quick and friendly, and there’s no better way to celebrate a fantasy members’ touchdowns than with a burger or some wings.
Mike Lavender, a junior in the college of Arts & Sciences and a big fan of Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans, gets up early every week to get a good view of the TV his team’s playing on.
“I’ve only been coming here this year, but it’s really a unique experience,” Lavender said. “I just like all the different fans cheering on their respective teams, plus it’s a lot better than watching it by yourself at home.”
Lavender also showered praise on other aspects of Annex Sundays. “You can see all of the games at once, which is really convenient,” he said. “The service is great and you can spend six hours of your Sunday sitting in a chair and not get sick of it.” “It’s incredible to go to the Annex and see fans of almost every NFL team huddled together around one of the many TVs,” said Marston. “When the Vikings lose and I’m really frustrated, it’s nice to look around the Annex to see fans of other teams that got beat-up worse. Getting to see the expressions of joy and pain from all these fans around you is just heavy.”
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