Opening of The Bronco is a success

By Ashley Ritchie

I never thought that the day would come when I could say that yes, Santa Clara University does indeed know how to have a good time. Wow, that felt strange!

Why did I have this sudden change in heart? Well, on Friday night when I was wandering around aimlessly in the less than exciting town of Santa Clara, I decided to visit the grand opening of The Bronco, the new bar inside Benson. I was amazed! I had no idea that Santa Clara could pull it off.

I have to admit that last year, when I heard the school's proposal to build a bar on campus, I was a bit skeptical. I didn't believe that the concept of an on-campus bar would attract much attention to students who met the legal drinking age. If it did, it probably would not last for long; and after the first week, The Bronco would be a place that 19- and 20-year-olds would go to so that they could actually tell their friends back home that they go to bars in Santa Clara.

However, when I walked into the bar on Friday night I was astonished. I guess I can't even say 'walked in' because I waited in line for about 20 minutes. This, as I heard later on, was about the quickest anyone could get into the new hot spot. When I finally entered, I was swept over by a feeling of mass confusion because I saw so many different things going on at the same time. First, there were a ton of people dancing next to a wide screen television. Then, I saw people playing games and also watching sporting events on the televisions that hang from the walls. The bar also provided plenty of seating room for the astronomical amount of people that were in attendance. I didn't have any trouble finding a seat.

Being that I am still underage, I was hesitant to visit the new bar because I thought it would only be fun for those who could drink. That was not the case at all. The university did an exceptional job of catering to the underage students' needs by providing an array of ways for us to keep ourselves entertained. Plus, there was a buffet where hungry partygoers could tend to their appetites.

The crowd that was drawn to the new bar was also wonderfully diverse and included a mixture of both young and old college students and alumni. I saw friends there that could easily have gone out to other bars or just stayed at their own houses and drank. Instead they came out to The Bronco, which made it a much more desirable place for those of us who are younger.

I want to extend my congratulations to everyone that was involved with the construction and opening of The Bronco. You all did a wonderful job and gave students a safer, and perhaps more fun alternative to weekend activities. I can only hope that the immediate success does not dwindle and that the popularity of The Bronco remains strong.