The American Outlaws Have a Home: How Fondren Public Became Jackson's Soccer Bar
Fondren Public is the official home of the American Outlaws Jackson chapter, and a growing hub for community in Jackson.
Here's what's coming this World Cup season.
In Jackson, Your People Might Be at Fondren Public
Jimmy Quinn has been saying it since he became general manager of Fondren Public: there's not much he's going to say no to. Trivia nights, Pride events, World Cup watch parties, the bar is becoming a place where different communities land and find each other. "We're getting really involved with Pride, that kicks off next month," Quinn, a longtime bartender, says. "I really just want this place to be something for everybody."
That philosophy is exactly what drew Garrad and Catherine Lee to Fondren Public when they went looking for a home for the American Outlaws Jackson chapter, the official supporter group for the U.S. men's and women's soccer teams. The conversation was easy. "When Garrad and Catherine came to me and said they wanted to make this the home base for the American Outlaws, I said absolutely," Quinn says.
Start Here: June 6th
Before the World Cup even kicks off, Fondren Public is hosting a free party on June 6th built around two U.S. friendlies — a women's match at 1:30 p.m. and the men's World Cup sendoff game at 4:30 p.m. It's also Catherine's birthday, which makes it a celebration twice over. The event doubles as an American Outlaws membership drive: sign up on the spot and you'll get complimentary Michelob Ultra to mark the occasion. It's the easiest possible introduction to the chapter — low stakes, good soccer, and a room full of people who are just as excited as you are.
What Match Day Looks Like
For U.S. men's games — starting with the opener on June 12th at 8 p.m. — expect DJs, food trucks, draft specials on Michelob Ultra and Stella Artois, and giveaways and competitions from local partners. The first 50 fans at each American game get a ticket; every U.S. goal earns a free beer; a win means another round.
But Catherine is quick to point out the bar for entry is low. "You do not need to know a lot about soccer to get excited or interested in it," she says. "It is the world's game. It is approachable."
$36 and You Belong
Membership in the American Outlaws runs $36 a year — a t-shirt, a magnet, a red and yellow card, travel discounts, and access to the supporter section at games. But the real value, Garrad says, is simpler. "You can walk in, pay your $36, and you're automatically a member of the tribe. And then we all get to know each other — and this is weeks long."
The World Cup runs through mid-July. Fondren Public will be where the Outlaws are. And if you've been looking for your people, this might be where you find them.
Follow Fondren Public on Instagram and Facebook for the full match schedule. The American Outlaws Jackson chapter page is coming soon. Membership at theamericanoutlaws.com.
