ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Few things are better on a Friday night than a cold beer and sports.

STATS Brewpub in downtown Atlanta has both…most of the time.

“More the local channels are the difficulties,” STATS Brewpub Assistant General Manager Micah Pettiway. “We do kind of have to outsource when it comes to away games for the Hawks.”

It’s, unfortunately, a common theme for fans and sports bars alike. The Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy and cable-carrier battles with Bally Sports have made games challenging to find.

“It’s a letdown, especially if you get up and drive 20 minutes to watch your favorite team, then we have to turn around and say we don’t have it,” Pettiway said.

But Friday, the night of nights, Peachtree Sports Network broadcast the Atlanta Hawks-Indiana Pacers game, the first of 10 such broadcasts for the remainder of the season.

And that is easy for everyone to find.

“So, when it comes to local, it just brings out more business,” Pettiway said.

More money flowing from more customers, and more happy fans at home and in the bars.

“Well, you give people the opportunity to support their local team, and we bleed for our local teams, Falcons, Hawks, and Bulldogs,” said Eli, a fan attending Friday’s game. “So, anytime you get to watch something for free without having to pay for it, a dollar saved is a dollar earned in my book.”

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