Tom's Watch Bar at National Harbor

We recently installed over 80 video displays, including video walls and projectors, inside the latest Tom's Watch Bar location. Get inspired for your business with our latest project.

Client: Tom's Watch Bar
Location: Washington DC
Industry: Sports Bars
Scope: AV Integration
Completed: 2025

12,000 Sq Ft

80+ AV Endpoints

Project overview

The Ultimate Sports Bar in DC

Crunchy Tech got to work on Tom's Watch Bar's newest location, a 12,000-square-foot sports bar at National Harbor in Washington, DC. The client's directive was simple: fill every square inch with AV. With more than 80 video displays, two video walls, projectors, two golf simulators, and a full AV over IP system, every seat at Tom's Watch Bar is the best seat in the house.

The project went well past a typical audio-video install, and its success led to Crunchy Tech being engaged for four more Tom's Watch Bar locations across the country.

Tom's Watch Bar at National Harbor — overview

Project challenges

Scaling AV Across 12,000 Square Feet

The project brought serious technical and logistical challenges. Managing 80+ AV endpoints across a large indoor-outdoor footprint took a strong, scalable distribution strategy. The system had to deliver clean video to every display, including 14 outdoor screens built for the elements, while holding consistent quality and control.

Two TopGolf Swing Suite golf simulators added more complexity, each one needing dedicated AV distribution and audio routing. The timeline was tight, built around a firm opening tied to March Madness. When the original equipment vendors could not deliver hardware on schedule, the team pivoted and redesigned the system architecture mid-project without giving up performance or the launch date.

Understanding the client's needs

Immersive Viewing with Simple, Flexible Control

Tom's Watch Bar wanted to give guests 360-degree views of the action with personalized audio at every table. Whether a group came for a UFC fight or an MLB game, everyone needed to see and hear exactly what they picked. The venue needed a system that could run multiple simultaneous broadcasts while also handling live events, DJ sets, trivia nights, and staff announcements.

For all that complexity on the back end, management needed a control interface that stayed simple. Staff had to change channels, switch audio zones, and plug in DJ gear without heading to a back-of-house rack. The system had to be powerful enough to manage 80+ endpoints and easy enough for daily non-technical use.

Technical solutions

One platform, integrated subsystems

Technology partner	Components	Role in project
Display System	80+ commercial displays, 14 outdoor TVs, 2 video walls, projectors	Delivered 360-degree sports viewing across 12,000 sq ft indoor and outdoor spaces
AV over IP Distribution	Just Add Power AVoIP network, network switches, CAT6 infrastructure	Flexible, scalable video distribution to all endpoints via IP network
Audio System	QSC speakers, amplifiers, DSP, 8-zone audio, microphone system, DJ input plates	Independent audio zones for simultaneous broadcasts, announcements, and live events
Control Platform	Q-SYS control system, touch panels, wireless iPads	Simplified complex AV management with an intuitive interface for staff
Interactive Entertainment	2 TopGolf Swing Suite golf simulators with integrated AV distribution	Extended entertainment beyond passive viewing with interactive simulator experiences

Implementation methodology

Coordinated Design-Build Execution

We followed our signature design-build AV methodology, bringing architects, designers, network administrators, and construction teams together from the start. Careful planning was critical to merging IT and AV infrastructure into one system, so the complex AV over IP network ran cleanly alongside the venue's standard IT.

When the original vendors could not provide control and AV equipment on the compressed timeline, the team pivoted, redesigning the system around the Q-SYS control platform and Just Add Power AVoIP network. That quick adaptation kept Tom's Watch Bar on its target opening date without cutting the scope or quality of the AV deployment.

Display, Audio, and Control Integration

To deliver a full sports-viewing destination, Crunchy Tech built a multi-layered AV system: large-format displays, AV over IP video distribution, zoned audio, and centralized control around proven partner technology.

Everything runs as one networked platform. The Just Add Power AVoIP network is the distribution backbone, routing any source to any display across the venue. Q-SYS handles audio routing, zone control, and the unified interface, giving Tom's Watch Bar staff full command from touch panels and wireless iPads.

Key Technology Partners

Just Add Power: AV over IP video distribution, providing the scalable network backbone for routing video to 80+ endpoints across the venue.
Q-SYS: Control system platform, speakers, amplifiers, and DSP powering the eight-zone audio system, microphone system, and unified touch panel interface.
TopGolf Swing Suite: Two golf simulators with integrated audio and video distribution for an interactive entertainment experience.

Results & impact

Open for March Madness

Tom's Watch Bar at National Harbor opened on March 23, 2023, with seating for more than 500 guests and every AV system fully operational. The venue delivers the 360-degree sports-viewing experience the client envisioned, with independent audio zones, personalized table-level content, and clean control from any spot in the restaurant.

The eight-zone audio system carries simultaneous sports broadcasts, DJ events, trivia nights, and staff announcements, and the golf simulators add an interactive entertainment layer. The intuitive Q-SYS touch panel interface lets non-technical staff run the whole system with no AV specialists on site.

Finishing the project

Ready for Opening Day

The Tom's Watch Bar National Harbor project demonstrates Crunchy Tech's ability to deliver a massive AV build under an aggressive timeline, with the owners targeting a March Madness opening. When supply chain problems threatened the schedule, Crunchy Tech redesigned the system architecture to find solutions that worked, and the venue opened on time with the AV experience the client demanded.

The project is a clear example of large-scale AV that adapts to real-world challenges. The National Harbor location set the standard for future Tom's Watch Bar expansions, and Crunchy Tech continues to partner with the brand on new locations across the United States.

Opening a high-volume sports bar on a hard deadline? Let's talk about an AV build that lands on opening day.