Having played here since the courts opened in 2009, I feel confident in saying that there are a lot of upsides to joining one of the leagues hosted at this little beach-themed, all-outdoor bar. It's not a place without its faults, but there are a number of venues that are less enjoyable.
The best features at W.ave, by far, are the courts themselves. It's worth noting that they can feel like something, and almost certainly were, built over pavement. When damp, the sand packs into a hard, unforgiving surface that's not unlike a clay tennis court. When dry though, W.ave's courts are a player's dream: soft, fine and fluffy in the best way. Marketed as Florida beach sand, the stuff is a joy to play on and is well-stocked (...with more than enough sand) and well-maintained (...with few rocks, leaves or sticks). The nets are also kept in good shape, which makes play more fun.
Other considerations like having a hose area available to rinse off after games, a changing booth (note: one of the two closet doors on the north edge of the court is a changing room) and comparatively clean port-a-potties keep the playing experience pretty good, if a shade more expensive than other places. Competitiveness varies from night to night and session to session, but has leaned toward 'just for drinks' sort of fun play in the Recreational division.
The bar changes from season to season, but has consistently offered some kind of light fare (originally, there was a taco grill guy. Then, they served microwave burritos and pizza. El Borracho currently provides catered-style Mexican nachos and a couple of other options) and music (originally, there was a live band. Now, there's a piped-in mix of rock, Top 40, pop and rap most nights, but it's subject to change). Specials on the various beers and well drinks vary widely, when specials are available.
Mostly, the under-35/young professional crowd that overwhelmingly make up the bar's crowd come for the mix of volleyball. laughs and beer.
A block off of Washington, it's in the heart of the Downtown residency strip and a number of loft dwellers put teams into the mix on various nights. For those concerned with security, the bar is well lit and the street and lot parking benefit from the court lighting. With little else sharing its block (there's a Shell gas station on the corner to the east and a residence across the street), foot traffic is pretty limited, but it's usually not difficult to park within sight of the front gate.
So what's not to like about W.ave?
1) The fences on the eastern court (the one bordering the parking lot) have a hard time containing the ball. Inevitably, the ball goes out of play and someone has to leave and get it, if nobody on the parking lot can. It's really annoying.
2) The league that hosts games here runs games with start times as late as 11p.
3) The business has gotten savvier, so over time, the advertised specials have gotten less aggressive. You can't blame the establishment for running itself well, but can certainly bemoan the loss of some great deals.
4) It can be difficult to register a new team between sessions. Teams currently playing are given the option to renew, with new teams placed on a waiting list. This could change. (Tip: Wait until your team has been guaranteed a spot and arrives to play its first game before paying. The group that you want to play with may not form or might form without a spot for your team).
In all, this is a nice addition to Downtown and a cool place to hang out. The atmosphere is relaxed, with picnic tables and poolside loungers to compliment the bar stools. Most of the the players (even the better ones), staff and spectators are chilled out and it's one of the only sand volleyball options in the City that comes to mind, outside of Steinberg Rink or Bar 101 in Soulard. read more
