With beach chairs and blankets sprawled across Victory Lap’s outdoor lawn, students transform the iconic West Campus sports bar into their own “Love Island”
villa every week. Strings of twinkling lights frame an eager crowd as fans lean forward, drinks in hand, waiting for the first beat of the theme song to drop.
Victory Lap’s “Love Island”
screenings became one of West Campus’ most anticipated weekly rituals over the past month. While many college towns quiet down in the summer, Taylor Leen, director of marketing at Victory Lap, said that Victory Lap sees this silence “as a creative opportunity.” With guest hosts like influencer Ford Sanders, brand experiences with Bloom and confessional booths that let fans share their hot takes, these free, 18+ events offer more than a screen to watch — they deliver an immersive experience.
“There’s just something about screaming at the screen with 1,500 other fans that makes (the show) hit harder,” Leen wrote. “UT students thrive on energy and shared experiences, and we’ve built a space where everyone’s welcome. ‘Love Island’ is basically summer’s version of game day: new relationships forming, unexpected betrayals and all the drama you’d expect — just in swimwear instead of shoulder pads.”
That electric energy pulls students in like a packed stadium. Everyone has their favorite islanders, and they cheer them on like die-hard fans in the stands. When the opening sequence rolls in, the crowd becomes part of the action, erupting into a chorus of cheers, gasps and applause.
“What really makes the experience is the people around you in the community more than the actual show,” international relations junior Lillian Evangelista said. The first time Evangelista attended a live screening, she said, “I didn’t even know what was happening, but it was still so much fun with everyone there.”
For others, like UT alumna
Sia Nasiri, the live screenings provide a rare sense of connection during the typically quiet summer months on campus. She said she appreciates having a space where she can spend time around others who, like her, choose to share the experience rather than watching the show alone. Nasiri said one of the highlights at these screenings comes from witnessing everyone’s live reactions.
“The great thing about being in a crowd is that even if you’re cheering at the top of your lungs, you don’t feel crazy because everyone else is doing it with you,” Nasiri said. “Every single person in there is really giving it their all.”
With this immense success, Victory Lap is already planning its next TV screenings. On Thursday, the bar plans to host a screening for the third and final season of
“The Summer I Turned Pretty,” complete with themed decorations, cocktails and games to celebrate the season premiere.
“Beyond that, we’re locking in a few other reality staples for fall and working closely with student orgs and local influencers to craft experiences that are uniquely Victory Lap — loud, loyal and just the right amount of unhinged,” Leen said.
