In town for March Madness? Viewing options abound in Las Vegas

It’s great to be in Vegas during March. Not only is the weather beautiful, but the annual NCAA March Madness tournament prompts the city to become a basketball lover’s haven with events popping up all over town. This year is no different, so we’ve rounded up a bunch of the coolest ways you can catch a game or two … or 60.

Consider Downtown Las Vegas to be your hoops hot spot, with enough options to enjoy the first weekend of tournament action a different way each day. Book a seat at Circa | Sports’ Three Stories of Glory tournament viewing party at Circa Resort & Casino (times vary, March 19-23, 27-30 and April 5-7. circalasvegas.com) to catch the action-packed event unfold on a three-story, 78-million pixel, high-definition screen. If you’d rather catch a tan while you catch the game, pop into Stadium Swim’s Mania Under the Sun at Circa (times vary, March 19-23, 27-30 and April 5-7. circalasvegas.com) to watch the madness on a 40-foot-tall screen while you float in one of six heated pools or bask on a daybed. For free, head up to Circa’s Galaxy Ballroom (times vary, March 19-23) or The D’s Detroit Ballroom (times vary, March 19-23. thed.com) for exciting viewing parties complete with HDTVs, premium concessions and satellite betting with Circa | Sports.

Also downtown, make sure to check out the March Fever Viewing Party at Golden Nugget (8 a.m. March 20-23. ticketmaster.com). Stadium-style food and live betting stations make this one of the hottest places to be. All-day passes include four free food items and four drink tickets, or you can splurge for the four-day pass, which grants you access to all the basketball-watching your heart could desire and food and bev tickets for each day.

There are plenty of hoops happenings on the Strip, too! Options abound with Full Court March at Resorts World Las Vegas. Make a reservation at Dawg House Saloon & Sports Book (3 p.m. March 18- April 5. 702.676.6964. rwlasvegas.com) to catch every buzzer-beater while noshing Nashville-inspired shareables, sammies and so much more. Stop by the Mouse House, a food truck inside the venue, for specialty grilled cheese sandwiches. If you’d rather play while watching college athletes play, drop into RedTail’s Bracket Mayhem (zoukgrouplv.com), featuring wall-to-wall screens, bar bites and plenty of nostalgic arcade-style games to choose from.

Also at Resorts World Las Vegas, Gatsby’s Cocktail Lounge hosts its Battle of the Brackets (gatsbysvegas.com), a high-energy viewing party full of great food, over-the-top drinks and a ton of fun. Food packages start at $60 and include gameday favorites like homemade chicken tenders and char-broiled mini cheeseburgers. Just across the way, Eight Lounge’s College Hoops Madness (eightloungelv.com), an upscale viewing experience accented by access to the venue’s extensive cigar collection and phenomenal cocktail program.

Head to the high-tech Hyper-X Arena (Luxor, 9 a.m. March 20-21. eventbrite.com) for a fan experience like no other. Watch as these college basketball titans battle it out on massive LED displays with dynamic, immersive sound. Upgrade to a premium ticket for five included drink tickets and a reserved seat or get a group together and book a VIP room for lounge seating, dedicated staff and gaming PC’s, available upon request.

Just next door at Mandalay Bay, find Flanker Kitchen + Sports Bar to get in on Madness at The Bay (times vary, March 18-23, 27-30 and April 5-7. flankerlv.com). With more than 50 TVs and a 30-foot LED wall, this hot spot is the perfect place to be if you don’t want to miss a single play. This one’s for the foodies, too, with elevated gameday delights like the Bacon Wagyu Smash Burger with delicious onion jam and garlic aioli.

Dribble on over to Aria’s Proper Eats Food Hall, where Proper Bar will hold its March Mania premium viewing event (9 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. March 20-23. propereatslasvegas.com). For just $75, gain all-you-can-eat access to deliciousness from Seoul Bird’s Korean Fried Chicken, Wexler’s Deli, Pizzaoki and other favorites from the culinary collection, all while enjoying the biggest b-ball tournament of the year!

Sure, your attention will mostly be on the exhilarating gameplay of the tournament, but who’s to say you can’t simultaneously enjoy a great view? Make a reservation at the Beer Park Sky Box at Chéri Rooftop (Paris Las Vegas, times vary, March 20-22. cherirooftop.com) to enjoy the games and stunning scenery. Special menu items include pastrami candied bacon with hot Dijon sauce and the Nashville hot crispy chicken sandwich with Tennessee hot aioli and southern slaw—definitely outside of the status quo for this French eatery, but sure to be delicious nonetheless.

Catch some laughs while you catch the game at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club at The Linq Promenade, where Cousin Sal will host the ultimate watch party (4 p.m. March 20-21. jimmykimmelscomedyclub.com) with guests like comedian Bret Ernst, sports media icon Kenny Mayne, analyst Tate Frazier and betting expert Harry Gagnon. Don’t miss the exclusive food and drink specials, raffles and giveaways.

Make half-day or full-day reservations to catch games at Cabo Wabo Cantina (Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. 702.385.2226. cabowabocantina.com) while sipping refreshing margs and enjoying flavorful Mexican cuisine. Not only are there countless high-def screens that will be showing the main event, but this lively hot spot sits right in the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard, offering some of the best people-watching in town for the commercial breaks.

Head to SAHARA Las Vegas (times vary, March 20-21. saharalasvegas.com) to choose from two basketball bashes. Head out to the pool to catch every last play on the largest outdoor LED video wall in the city while you sip and swim. Open bar packages and cabanas are available. If you’d prefer to be in the nice, cool air conditioning (we can’t blame you), head to Chickie’s & Pete’s Crabhouse & Sports Bar. With more than 50 humongous TVs, 20-plus beers on tap and a fully integrated William Hill Sportsbook, this venue makes the perfect place to pop into for a game or two. While you’re there, try the famous Crabfries!

You might be in Vegas to enjoy some rad b-ball action, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on some historic Sin City glitz and glam. Book seats, booths or VIP pods at the iconic International Theater for Westgate Las Vegas’ Hoops Central (8 a.m. March 20-22, starting at $45, ticketmaster.com). Not only will you catch every ounce of game play, but you’ll be able to do so in a smoke-free environment—a rare luxury in this town). Count on satellite betting stations and food and bev specials like six-pack beer buckets for $30.

Right off Las Vegas Boulevard, find the stadium-side restaurant and sports bar WSKY Stadium (5625 Polaris Ave. 725.240.7652. wskystadium.com) for some incredible drink specials during every game in the March madness series. Order $3 domestic drafts or $4 craft drafts to sip while you snack on delicious bar foods like chorizo empanadas and untied garlic knots. Also, order a $20 bucket for the table or score with $5 shots of select spirits.

Palms brings back its Basketball Bonanza event (8:30 a.m. March 20-21 and 9:30 a.m. March 22-23. palms.com) this year, offering free admission to this poolside party. Live DJs, yard games, live betting and giveaways make this the place to be for basketball fans.

Also west of the Strip, find Rio Las Vegas and its Full Court Frenzy (8 a.m. March 20-23. riolasvegas.com) on the Rio Event Stage. With three massive LED walls and VIP seating available, this viewing event promises a front-row seat to all the action. You can also catch every college basketball game for free all over the property, from the William Hill Sportsbook to Lapa Lounge and Shutters Bar.

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