With the number of hockey jerseys in the room, you could鈥檝e expected a Washington Capitals game on the big screen.
But on a closer look, you鈥檇 see the name 鈥淩ozanov鈥� on the backs of the jerseys and the hit new TV show 鈥淗eated Rivalry鈥� projected on the wall.
The crowd was jam packed on Spark Social鈥檚 back patio, an LGBTQ+ bar in the U Street Corridor in D.C. Many fans sat on the ground and even the doorsteps after the chairs quickly filled up.
鈥淲e are obsessed with this show,鈥� said Ambar, an attendee. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a beautiful love story.鈥�
鈥淗eated Rivalry鈥� follows the fictional story of two professional hockey players, Ilya Rozanov and Shane Hollander, who are enemies in the public eye but lovers behind closed doors. The show is an adaptation of the seven-book 鈥淕ame Changers鈥� series by Rachel Reid. The Crave production is being celebrated for its positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community within the world of sports, particularly hockey.
鈥淲e all crave queer representation in the media and, at that, good queer representation in the media,鈥� said Lainee, who went to the watch party at Spark Social.
After premiering Nov. 28, 鈥淗eated Rivalry鈥� took social media by storm, becoming a viral sensation. Now, D.C. businesses are jumping on the craze by hosting watch parties, dance nights and book clubs.
鈥淲e really wanted to capitalize on this moment,鈥� said Jen Bell, co-head of the booking department at the 9:30 Club.
The 9:30 Club is hosting three 鈥淗eated Rivalry鈥� dance parties in February, all of which are sold out. Altogether, that鈥檚 3,600 tickets.
鈥淚 haven’t seen anything like this in a while,鈥� Bell said.
The 9:30 Club wanted to book more dance parties but couldn鈥檛 fit it in their schedule, according to Bell. But their sister venue, The Anthem, had an open date in March 6.
鈥淭hat’s 6,000 tickets, and that for a dance party is really, truly insane,鈥� Bell said.
At the time of our interview, there were only 200 tickets left for
As You Are, a staple bar for the D.C. LGBTQ+ community, hosted a 鈥淗eated Rivalry鈥� dance party Jan 24. Just like Spark Social and the 9:30 Club, it was a blowout, with a line around the block.
As You Are even had a special drink menu inspired by the show.
鈥淚 wanted to curate to the characters,鈥� said Nic, the creator behind the drinks. 鈥淔or Shane鈥檚 drink, I did a ginger ale drink that could also be a mocktail because he doesn’t drink in the show sometimes.鈥�
Another notable favorite on the menu was a French 75 called 鈥淏ubble Butt.鈥�
As You Are has seen a decrease in customers since the federal law enforcement surge in August, so much so that the bar started a GoFundMe to help them afford operational costs.
Gigi Balderas, the bar鈥檚 social media manager, said their 鈥淗eated Rivalry鈥� event has given As You Are a newfound sense of momentum.
鈥淚t felt kind of like a light at the end of the tunnel,鈥� Balderas said.
It鈥檚 not just dance nights and watch parties that are selling out. It鈥檚 the books themselves, too.
Little District Books, an entirely LGBTQ+ bookstore in Capitol Hill, told 海角精品黑料 that in November, none of books in the “Game Changers” series were a store bestseller. That all changed after the show premiered on HBO Max.
In less than a month, at the end of year, three of the books in the series were in their top 10 most sold books of 2025.
The soaring popularity of the TV show and book series also spawned a new monthly event at Little District Books called the 鈥淐ottage Book Club.鈥�
鈥淚 love Rachel Reid books,鈥� said Doro, a book club attendee. 鈥淭he series adaptation for TV is amazing.鈥�
Doro, a parent, said she doesn鈥檛 get a lot of 鈥渕e time.鈥� But she made sure to put the Cottage Book Club on her calendar.
鈥淚鈥檓 here to join like-minded people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so insanely cool to have so many people coming together for an event and share joy.鈥�
So, what has everyone hooked? Why has 鈥淗eated Rivalry鈥� taken over social life in D.C.?
鈥淚n a very divided world, it’s something that people are rallying together on,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淚t gives so much hope, it gives escapism.鈥�
Jeff Bock, who attended the Spark Social watch party, said this show couldn鈥檛 have come at a better time.
鈥淲e are looking for some joy right now,鈥� Bock said. 鈥淎fter a terrible 2025, it was a tough year, and here comes in this amazing experience that is pulling people together.鈥�
At the watch party, many were rewatching the show for a second or even third time. It鈥檚 not just the show they are gravitating too, but the sense of community it has created.
鈥淚 cannot explain the amount of excitement I first had when watching this show,鈥� said watch party viewer Nia. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to be in a room with people who also feel that same giddiness.鈥�
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