The Bronco's grand opening featured dancing, basketball and long lines

By Nate Swinton

After months of anticipation, the Santa Clara student body was finally treated to the opening of the new campus bar over the weekend. And for the most part, they were happy with what they got.

More than 600 people attended the grand opening of The Bronco Friday night. Since the bar's capacity is 260 people, students and other patrons waited in long lines snaking through Benson Memorial Center in order to get in.

Students gathered to watch the men's basketball game against Gonzaga on the large screen television and stayed into the early hours of Saturday morning dancing to the music played by DJ Roots.

Saturday night was a different story, as the bar's attendance reached only about one-third of its capacity. That contrast was by design, said Bronco Operations Manager Lori Coronado.

"Saturday was planned to be more of a kick-back and relax type of night," she said. She added that she expects a similar pattern of busy and "mellow" nights to continue throughout the year.

Opening weekend was not without problems, however.

In order to be ready by the scheduled date, the bar opened its doors with temporary bar taps and food set-up and without all of its furniture.

Coronado said these issues are being worked out and expects the bar to be fully completed within the next three weeks. "We had some glitches, but like in the opening of any new facility, you work through them," she said.

Student worker Chris LaMons agreed. "It's a work in progress," he said. "There are a few kinks to work out. They're learning and we're learning."

One student was also asked to leave the bar Friday night when it was discovered that he brought in a flask containing hard alcohol. Coronado said the incident was minor and didn't affect the evening.

"I didn't expect to have only one problem," she said. "I expected to have a lot. I'm glad the students proved me wrong."

Almost all students who stopped by the bar were impressed with what they saw.

Senior Steve McEvoy watched the basketball game with his friends Friday night and said he likes The Bronco's "club atmosphere."

"It's definitely going to be a place where students stop by and grab a drink before going out," he said.

Freshman Thomas O'Keefe said even though he's not 21, he still plans on going to The Bronco once or twice a week. "I like that it's an open atmosphere. It's something to make the campus not as dead," he said.

Juniors Jessica Fauchier and Russell Dunning spent part of their Saturday evening playing pool in the bar. They appreciated the relaxed atmosphere.

"For a couple, it was more fun to not have a lot of people there," said Fauchier.

Dunning sees a promising future for the bar.

"It think it has a lot of potential. There's a lot of things to make it good," Dunning said.