From Selection Sunday to the National Championship game, March (and a little bit of April) is a huge month for college basketball. On top of that, March is the busiest month for visiting Las Vegas, making it the ultimate spot for watching the games with your crew. Larger crowds means larger fun. March Hoops Opening Weekend is March 21-24, which is arguably the most exciting weekend of the tournament.
So, are you prepared for the big weekend? Read below to see what to expect and where the catch the best Las Vegas basketball parties!
As mentioned earlier, March is the most popular month to visit Las Vegas. There were 3.75 million visitors in March of 2018, up 70,000 people from the next highest month. With that being said, expect large crowds for this NCAA Tournament. Large crowds are what you make of it, and as we see it, you just have more friends to party with while watching the game! Whether you’re visiting with your crew or are making new friends, it’s hard to ignore the energy and excitement that this tournament brings to the city.
Keeping that in mind, traveling to Vegas in March means longer lines and higher prices for clubs, less availability for tickets to shows and events, and crowded casinos and sportsbooks.
If you haven’t booked your room yet, staying in Downtown Las Vegas is the perfect way to still be in on the action while not being in the thick of the crowds of the Strip. Not only are there plenty of Las Vegas basketball viewing parties to attend, there are also plenty of bars to catch the tournament and activities for those in your party who may not be as interested in basketball.
Get in on all of the action during the March Hoops Opening Weekend at the D. The March Hoops Viewing Parties last all weekend long, and for free! Set up on the 12th floor in the Detroit ballroom, there will be food and drinks for sale and betting stations available. For those wanting more private Las Vegas basketball parties, you can rent a man cave for you and your crew to have the most epic weekend ever!
The Beer Park Tournament Madness Viewing Party is a high-end way to cheer on your favorite team during opening weekend. Views of the Bellagio Fountains and a minimum spend of $175 per person, this might just be one of the fanciest basketball tournament viewing parties you’ve been to.
An open bar, over 40,000 square feet of space, a hardwood court with a regulation hoop, an on-site sportsbook, and high-definition stadium-style screens all await you at the luxe tournament viewing party at the Cosmopolitan. This Las Vegas basketball party costs $475 for a 3-day pass while single-day passes cost $150-$225.
Located at the Hard Rock Cafe on the south end of the Strip (not the hotel and casino) is the annual Hoops Mania celebration. For a daily pass of $220 or a 3-day pass of $500, you can spend the weekend with an open bar and a delicious buffet of “game day favorites” while placing bets with the on-site William Hill sportsbook.
Topgolf Las Vegas will be offering premium viewing packages that start at $200 for opening weekend of the tournament. You can enjoy golf bays and cabanas, $30 beer buckets, over 300 screens for watching the games, and a sports betting window. Also during opening weekend, Draft Party will host a VIP Las Vegas basketball party at Topgolf.
There’s no better place to watch the NCAA Basketball Tournament than in Vegas. Whether you attend one of the big Las Vegas basketball parties, book a private man cave with your crew, place some bets in a sportsbook, or just watch from your hotel room, you’re sure to love the energy and enthusiasm that basketball lovers bring to the city!
