Iconic UD campus bar The Fieldhouse has new owners, including a former Flyer favorite

The Fieldhouse bar on Brown Street near the University of Dayton campus has a new ownership group, consisting mostly of alumni, including former UD basketball star Brian Roberts. CONTRIBUTED

Credit: Contributed

Credit: Contributed

The Fieldhouse bar on Brown Street near the University of Dayton campus has a new ownership group, consisting mostly of alumni, including former UD basketball star Brian Roberts. CONTRIBUTED
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By Mark Fisher
Aug 6, 2020
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The Fieldhouse, a campus bar along the Brown Street retail strip that has served many a beer and “fishbowl” drink to members of the University of Dayton community over the last quarter-century, is under new ownership consisting mostly of UD alumni, including former Flyer basketball star and NBA player Brian Roberts.

The new ownership group formed “Flyer Faithful LLC” to purchase the bar in a transaction that closed less than two weeks ago, on July 27, according to Matt Farrell, a UD alumnus who is part of the new ownership group.

The building at 1126 Brown St., which previously housed another campus bar named The Shed, has undergone extensive renovations since July 27. The new owners are planning a soft opening the weekend of Aug. 7, which is open to the public, Farrell said. The Fieldhouse will reopen fully on Wednesday, Aug. 12, with expanded hours announced shortly thereafter.

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The new owners plan “to continue the well-established tradition of The Fieldhouse while focusing on key investments which will drastically enhance the customer experience and atmosphere of the bar,” they said in a release.

Renovations that will be complete by the reopening include restoration of the original hardwood floors, a deep cleaning and a makeover of the décor, new and additional televisions, full-coverage high-speed wi-fi and new lighting, Farrell said.

The Fieldhouse bar on Brown Street near the University of Dayton campus has a new ownership group, consisting mostly of alumni, including former UD basketball star Brian Roberts. CONTRIBUTED

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The investment group that bought The Fieldhouse is led by Roberts and includes a dozen others, including Farrell; local business owner Josh Stamps; his wife Amy Stamps, a local realtor; and others. Roberts played for UD from 2004-08, earning a place on the all-Atlantic 10 First Team, and went on to play for the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trailblazers in the NBA.

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Roberts said in a release that UD is a special place. “As a former Flyer athlete, I’m excited to stay tied to this close-knit, one-of-a-kind community,” he said. “I hope this is just the beginning.”

The Fieldhouse opened in 1996 in space that formerly housed The Shed. It pays homage to the rich history of Dayton Flyers Athletics, a theme that will continue and will be refreshed with memorabilia highlighting the success of past athletes who have gone on to play professionally in multiple sports, the owners said. An updated drink menu will retain the signature “Fieldhouse Fishbowl” while putting an increased focus on hard seltzers.

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Co-owner Josh Stamps, managing partner and co-founder of Miamisburg-based GoKeyless, said several members of the ownership group and their families have deep ties to UD.

“For those reasons, we understand and appreciate The Fieldhouse’s rich history and know it is our role and responsibility to be good stewards of that history while building upon the existing traditions that make The Fieldhouse what it is,” Stamps said.

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About the Author

Mark Fisher, a 1981 graduate of Ohio State University and a 1976 graduate of Beavercreek High School, is a third-generation Dayton-area resident who has worked for the Dayton Daily News since 1983. He covered higher education and K-12 education accountability issues for nearly 20 years before taking over the food and dining beat in 2006.