Tips for Watching March Madness in Las Vegas – There is no place on Earth where more hoops fans congregate at one time than during March Madness in Las Vegas. Whether it’s free drinks at the sports book or just figuring out where to watch, there is a lot to consider to maximize the fun.
March Madness in Las Vegas
The multi-week period of March Madness is one of the busiest periods on the calendar for Las Vegas sports books – most sport books in town are packed to the gills during the opening weekend of the NCAA basketball championship and the crowds continue all the way to the Final Four. Standing room only is the norm at just about every sports book and casino bar showing the games. Even the large “super books” like LVH, Caesars Palace and The Mirage have little to no available seating by the time opening tip-off occurs.
Standing Room Only at Monte Carlo Sports Book
There are different ways to make sure you score that seat at a Las Vegas sports book or viewing party during March Madness, some methods are easier than others, but with some planning you can assure yourself (and your feet) a comfortable experience during one of the most exciting sports weekends in Las Vegas.
Random Tips for March Madness in Vegas
Plan Sports Book Time for Saturday and Sunday
Everyone is pumped up Thursday and Friday of opening weekend, and even though the excitement rolls right into Saturday and Sunday, far less people are getting up early after a couple of days of “party time” in Las Vegas, therefore sports book seating gets a little easier, especially during the morning hours. So, if you are in town on Thursday and Friday and discover that the sports book is already a mad house at 8 a.m., don’t worry – it gets a tad more manageable (in the morning at least) as the weekend progresses.
The Vegas Parlay List of March Madness Parties in Las Vegas 2014
Beware of the Smaller Boutique-Style Sports Books
Some of the coolest sports books in town are one’s with more intimate set ups or lounge style seating – The Golden Nugget, Aria, and Cosmopolitan are a few that come to mind. The screens are beautiful and the packed house adds to the excitement. As cool as these spots are (and they are very nice sports books) their overall lack of seating will make scoring a spot during March Madness that much harder. So plan ahead by looking to reserve seating (which can be tough unless you are a BIG gambler) or simply arrive at the crack of dawn and stake a claim.
Small Sports Books are Cool but the Lines are Not (Line to Bet at Cosmopolitan – Hour Prior to Tip Off)
Early Bird Gets the Worm
If you can stomach heading to the sports book while the night clubbers are stumbling back to their rooms and the casino floor is being vacuumed, then you have a good chance of scoring a seat at a sports book. But every year it seems like March Madness fans are claiming their sports book seat earlier and earlier. If a 5 or 6 a.m. jaunt to the sports book and sitting for several hours until tip off doesn’t phase you, then there could very well be a seat with your name on it at the sports book. For reference, last year, The Mirage sports book had a line forming at 4 a.m. prior to tip-off the first morning of the tournament.
Social Media
There is a large network of March Madness in Las Vegas fans connecting via Twitter and Facebook. I will begin tweeting and retweeting info via Twitter in the weeks ahead and also during the tournament. There is a Facebook Community of March Madness in Las Vegas fans that is a top resource full of great people that enjoy March Madness in Vegas. Twitter can be useful for more instant information about which sports books or parties have some empty seats available. If you are on twitter, check out hash tag #mmilv to get connected.
The March Madness in Las Vegas Facebook Group – Nearly 2,000 Members Strong
Seek Out a Viewing Party
There is no right or wrong answer to whether you should fork out cash for a March Madness viewing party or attend one of the free events around town. The Vegas Parlay List of March Madness Parties in Las Vegas (released right around March 1) includes many of the free and paid options.
Treasure Island March Madness Party
Not keen on forking out hundreds of bucks? Well, there are plenty of spots around town that not only have multiple screens set up in resort ballrooms or theaters, but also have betting stations or kiosks set up for wagering on the games. The drinks and food are cheap, betting is available, and the crowd is just as much into the hoops action as the folks that scored seats at the sports book. These “makeshift” sports books that many casinos put together have ample space and seating is usually available with all of the amenities (large screens, betting stations) that you find in the sports book.
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