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A ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave Brings Out San Francisco’s Yearners and Romantics

Estefany Gonzalez
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Ahlea Castro, bottom left, and Amanda Pineda wear ‘Ember and Ice’-inspired looks during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. 'Ember and Ice' is an audio erotica story narrated by ‘Heated Rivalry’ stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. “Finally, a gay love story with a happy ending, you know? So many of them are so tragic,” Castro said. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)

It’s no secret that the gals, gays and theys can’t stop talking about Canadian sports romance Heated Rivalry.

So much so, the fandom is bursting with an energy many of us haven’t experienced since our early teens. I’m talking peak Twilight saga, or maybe even the same feral obsession many of us felt for *NSYNC or the Spice Girls. If this feels like an exaggeration, might I recommend falling down the “Boy aquarium” rabbit hole on TikTok?

With Heated Rivalry raves popping up across the country, including many here in the Bay Area, hopeless romantics are coming out in droves to celebrate the show’s portrayal of yearning, intimacy and consent.

“I just love the intimacy outside of the sex. It’s in the micro expressions, it’s in the consensual tension. Oh, my goodness, yes!” said Ahlea Castro, 30, who attended Klip Klop Productions’ Heaved Rivalry Rave at The Stud in San Francisco on Feb. 6.

Amanda Pineda, left, claps as Heiress Throttle Cakes performs at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Pineda enjoys the emotional intimacy of ‘Heated Rivalry.’ “Love should be vulnerable. I feel like with love now it’s like, you have to be stoic and kind of like you don’t care… but they’re showing, ‘I love you. I’m here for you,’” said Pineda. “The vulnerability, the passion, and it’s all that is brought into ‘Heated Rivalry.’ It’s a cult.” (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)

Castro eagerly bought tickets a month in advance and attended it with Amanda Pineda; they dressed as characters from Ember and Ice, an audio erotica story narrated by Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams.

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“Who says that queer people can’t be sporty?” said Silhouette, one of the many drag performers and who livened up the night in hockey glam.

With several go-go dancers, intricate drag numbers and clips of the show playing the the background, the night also paid homage to the San Francisco Earthquakes, an LGBTQ+ hockey team that’s been out and proud since the ’90s.

“I think it’ll make a difference for a lot of younger people, and also people that play professional sports that are gay but don’t necessarily feel comfortable coming out,” said Mike Berry, a member of the San Francisco Earthquakes.

The Earthquakes were among the dozens of people dressed on theme and ready for to take a trip to the cottage during Super Bowl weekend.

Rougui Diallo poses for a portrait during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Diallo said she relates to Shane Hollander’s character because, at the end of the day, he’s a “total lover boy.” “I think sometimes people think gay sex is very, like, pornographic, but I’m always like, ‘No, that’s genuine love,’” Diallo said. “All of us hook up with people randomly, and then we slowly started falling in love with each other. So what does it matter if it’s two men doing that?” (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Rimsha Abid, center left, 27, poses for a portrait with her friends during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Abid is a big fan of the show and bought tickets for herself and her friends weeks in advance because she was so excited about the event. She enjoys that the show features characters from communities that aren’t often represented on television and portrays how deeply they grow to care for each other. “I think it’s one of the reasons why I love this show so much, because there’s so much yearning, but there’s also so much love between these characters,” Abid said.
Mike Berry, center, poses for a portrait during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Berry is a member of the San Francisco Earthquakes. He enjoyed the show for several reasons. “I love hockey, and I’m gay, so it aligns with my interests, but mostly because it’s a love story, also because I feel like it’ll make a difference in professional sports, ” Berry said.
The members of San Francisco Earthquakes pose for a portrait during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. The San Francisco Earthquakes is a LGBTQ+ ice hockey team, founded in 1998 and currently playing at Yerba Buena Ice in San Francisco. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Attendees cheer as Heiress performs during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave as scenes from the television show project for the audience at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
The audience cheers as Heiress Throttle Cakes pretends to take a call from “the cottage” during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave as scenes from the television show project for the audience at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Heiress Throttle Cakes performs during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave as scenes from the television show project for the audience at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.
Lizzy Trueblood, left, and her partner Sarah Benjamin wear a couples costume during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. The pair styled their outfits to mimic Kip and Scott’s, mostly going for a loose interpretation. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Efrain Balbuena, center, wears a cropped hockey jersey during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Balbuena was one of the many people dressed on theme for the rave. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
The word “YEARN” decorates the DJ Booth at the Stud during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave on Feb. 6, 2026. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Blue Day, left, dances with John Flanagan during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
Phoebe Cakes performs during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)
A dancer performs in a jockstrap during the ‘Heated Rivalry’ Rave at The Stud on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Estefany Gonzalez for KQED)

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The next ‘Heated Rivalry’-themed party in San Francisco takes place Feb. 20 at August Hall. 

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