If you are looking at finishing your basement, why not turn it into your favorite sports bar only a flight of stairs below you. Yes it can be costly. Sure you can watch the game anywhere and can have fun with the right people, but once you have the drywall and painting completed, get the TV mounted and the surround sound speakers hooked up, there are a few things that can elevate into your own personalized game watching experience.
Show Off Your Memorabilia
Have a favorite jersey from your childhood idol? Even better were you able to get it signed? Get it up on the wall. A few framed jerseys representing your favorite players and teams I know can be costly, but wow do they look nice. Just make sure that they are already retired or at least already deep into a legacy if they are an active player, as I have already learned my lesson on a quarterback that I had high hopes for, but is now only a few interceptions away from being run out of town. If you have managed to save newspaper articles from your favorite milestones they can make great additions to display. Shelves with baseballs, Wheaties boxes, and old Startling Lineup action figures are nice pieces to have, but try and avoid too many as it will look tacky if it is too much clutter.
If You Build It They Will Come
If you are building your basement to be the new place to watch sporting events instead of going to the bar, then create one yourself. Depending the space and setup of your basement, whether you face the TV while standing behind the bar, or sitting in stools at the bar, it is nice to pour drinks and enjoy a cold one in your home bar. If you are able to have liquor last for more than one occasion, build a nice shelf to display your liquor bottles. A fridge with glass doors is a way to display your beer selection and keep a reminder to keep it stocked. Nothing beats the feeling of being able to pour your own beer on draft with a kegerator, so now there is really no reason to go to the bar. Your friends may not stay away and stick around until last call, but at least you can call the shots.