Understanding March Madness Basics
Fast track:
- Lock in your room and flights early— “last-minute Vegas deals” rarely apply to March Madness.
- The first weekend brings max chaos and energy; later rounds leave more time for classic Vegas fun.
- Mix things up with sportsbooks, sports bars, viewing parties, and pool decks to find your perfect vibe.
The Men’s and Women’s NCAA Division 1 Basketball Tournaments were officially rebranded as “Match Madness” in 2016, but to many fans they are simply “The NCAAs.” Whatever you call them, the games in March and April create one of the biggest, busiest, and most exciting times for visitors to the city. It can be overwhelming, but that’s part of the fun.
Anyone can watch sports at home on the couch, and even if you scored tickets to one of the regionals, you can only watch one game at a time in person. In Las Vegas, it’s a mind-blowing spectacle of multiple screens, divided attention and undivided fan passion. 68 teams start each tournament, with as many as 136 possible schools represented, and there will be ardent fans of every single one.
Game plan your stay before tipoff
Because it is so busy, you are usually best off booking well in advance. Start checking hotel rates as far out as possible, and if you see something you think is reasonable, reserve it. With dynamic pricing based on occupancy, Vegas is famous for last-minute discounts, but these are less likely during tournaments, and even if they do, airfare will likely move in the opposite direction. Follow the same advice for plane tickets: look early, follow fares, and if you see something reasonable, take it.
Typically, many visitors choose lodging based on dining, attractions, and entertainment within the complex. But if you are going to spend much of the day in a single venue, where you will also do a fair amount of eating and drinking, home base may be a little less important. This gives you the latitude to stay on or off the Strip, Downtown, or in non-casino lodging.
The two tournaments are held concurrently, starting and ending a day apart. The men’s tournament starts March 17 and concludes April 6, and the women’s tournament starts March 18 and concludes April 5. While the women’s event has gotten dramatically more popular in recent years, especially the Final Four, it is still less crowded on days when it doesn’t overlap with the men’s, so if you want to be part of the excitement without going as deep into crowds and pockets, consider the women’s game days, especially if you want to experience a Championship finals.
Men have the play in “First Four,” first and second rounds, running daily, nonstop from March 17-22. Then, after a break, the third and fourth rounds, “Sweet Sixteen” and “Elite Eight,” are March 19-22. The Final Four is on April 4, and the Championship is on April 6. Because the First Four are midweek and the least important games to most fans, these two days are the least crowded and an opportunity for those not vested in a favorite team to get a taste of the excitement. Try to avoid checking in on Saturdays, which are usually more expensive.
Most visitors want the all-day excitement of multiple games. You’ve probably heard stories about wall-to-wall games, long hours, and giant screens, and if you arrive for the first round on Thursday and Friday, that’s exactly what you will get. There are 16 games a day, some simultaneous, from early morning to late night, across multiple time zones. This is the most electric time of the tournament, when every passionate fan is still in it, with that number declining as teams are sent home.
However, as the rounds progress, you have more time away from basketball, and Las Vegas is known best for combining sports with world-class dining, shows, live entertainment, and myriad interactive attractions, from driving race cars to virtual reality. Later rounds offer more of a “Best of Vegas” combo opportunity.
Pick your perfect home court
There are three major options for watching the games. Many visitors mix these up, splurging on a full-day reserved watch party or bar table, then spend another day moving around the Strip or Downtown, hopping from one sports book to the next to get more local flavor.
Sports books are the classic, with mostly regular seating in chairs, though some have fancier boxes. Most are first-come, first-served, so fans show up hours early to get a good seat—or any seat. That is the least expensive option. Some offer reserved seating for a fee or for free to members of the casino’s frequent player club. These are free to join, though more frequent gamblers get more clout and privileges. However, first-time members often receive attractive bonus bets that can extend their wagering budget. Sports books serve food and drink, but it is rarely included, while reserved boxes often have minimum spending requirements.
The biggest books in town are at the Westgate Las Vegas and the sports-centric Downtown Circa. The Westgate Superbook is a modern, completely non-smoking venue with lots of HD screens, and all-day advanced tickets start around $65, one of the better reserved deals in town. Circa has a huge multi-level sports book with an enormous 78-million-pixel screen capable of playing up to 19 games simultaneously and viewable by up to 1,000 guests. For Circa’s “Mega March,” you can reserve individual seats, recliners, 6-person “Circa Club” banquettes, and other options. These are for full-day admission, while at Circa and many venues, half-day admission is also offered in the early stages.
Other very popular sportsbooks include the classic Caesars Palace, Resorts World, which has a unique book within a sports bar setup, Wynn, which puts a luxury spin on the concept, and, off the Strip, locals love Red Rock Casino and Boomer’s in Ellis Island.
Vegas also has plenty of great—and often huge—sports bars. Many are outside casinos, while some are inside with easy access to betting windows or kiosks. But just about every casino brand has a betting app good within Nevada, so sign up, and you can beat the lines and make wagers from any bar or even the swimming pool. March Madness coincides with the start of traditional Las Vegas pool season, so leave some time for relaxation.
The sports bars will be packed, as this is one of the biggest sporting events of the year, but the frenetic energy is more intimate than a giant auditorium sports book, the food and drink is generally better and often less expensive, and many take reservations and offer food and drink specials.
Some of the most popular include Blondies Sports Bar and Grill in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, which takes reservations with a required spending minimum every day of the tourney, and Beer Park, on an outdoor terrace at Paris, with bookable picnic table seating, great food, and full service, plus over 100 beers and 75 screens. The George Sportsmen’s Lounge at Durango is known for high-quality food and has bookable tables. Flanker Kitchen & Sports Bar at Mandalay Bay is one of the bigger venues, Tap Sports Bar in MGM Grand is another great choice, and Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Sports Kitchen in the Horseshoe combines fan favorite food and a great setting for sports.
Watch, wager, and celebrate in only-in-Vegas style
Maybe the most fun and unique Only-In-Vegas options are the ticketed “Viewing Parties,” most of which are only over opening weekend. These pop-ups combine the energy of a sportsbook crowd with a gala atmosphere and often offer inclusive food and beverage deals, including unlimited all-you-can-eat/drink options. This makes them a great choice for those seeking long hours and all-day viewing. Viewing parties can be especially good options for larger groups.
Some are set in giant ballrooms and event spaces, often with general admission or standing room. The best known is in a huge ballroom with multiple screens and an open bar. Most utilize theatres or arenas, such as The Fontainebleau, which turns its BleauLive Theater into March Mania, with either two-drink packages or open bar. The Strat puts the Festival of Hoops Viewing Party at the PT Stadium and adds food to the open bar package. One of the least expensive options in town is in Luxor’s huge HyperX Arena, with reserved premium seats plus drink tickets. For a combination of higher-end experience with included food and in-seat open bar beverage service, the Resorts World theater has reserved seating at its “March to The Championship.”
Another style of viewing party is poolside, most notably at Circa and Sahara. Circa has “Mania Under The Sun” at its rooftop Stadium Swim, featuring six pools, an outdoor 143 x 40-foot drive-in theater-style screen, betting windows, daybeds, 30 private cabanas, and a super cabana that seats up to 50. You can purchase general admission, and Stadium Swim is one of the few major viewing parties offered throughout March Madness, not just the first weekend. Sahara has “Hoop Madness,” poolside on its 240-foot outdoor screen with direct monorail access (and free parking). It’s a relative bargain for two, with seating and an umbrella for the sun, with a minimum all-day spend, Thursday or Friday of opening weekend. They have upgrades to day beds and cabanas, and most notably, you can make a reservation for Saturday’s round two for no fee and pay as you go.