Full disclosure: I estimate I’ve dropped a mortgage or two in Miller Lites and Marlboro Lights at the Ticket Sports Pub over the years. This was back when I fully embraced such vices, though I still partake from time to time. The Ticket has been the setting of some of my best and worst nights—the night of the 2014 Spurs championship qualifying as both. The group I ran with, “Spurs and Shots,” had its own spot—second entrance, long table, right—that was “Reserved for the Express-News” during the playoffs. The table stayed reserved even after the journalists in the group no longer worked at the newspaper. We did fireball shots.
About a month ago, Mad Dogs British Pub ownership purchased the Ticket Sports Pub, 420 E. Houston St., from owner Todd Koym.
Koym purchased the building in February (he declined to give a purchase price) from a partnership group that includes Sam’s Burger Joint owner Sam Panchevre.
Koym said despite having the best year ever in sales, the Ticket was eating up too much of his time.
“The fact is, I had to spend more time, personal time, family time,” Koym said. “If I don’t do this, I’m going to get locked in the next 1-2 years. My parents are getting older.”
No word on what changes are coming to downtown’s only true sports bar. Mad Dogs CEO Terry Corless is in the U.K., and could not be reached for comment.
Koym still owns The Amp Room, a live music venue at 2407 N. St. Mary’s St.
The Mad Dogs group also owns the Bier Garten in the Paseo del Alamo, and On The Bend Oyster Bar & Lounge on the River Walk.
Contact Ben Olivo: 210-421-3932 | ben@saheron.com | @rbolivo on Twitter
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