If you have a Facebook account I highly recommend joining the "March Madness in Las Vegas" group. Tons of info, reviews, details on numerous watch parties, etc. If you haven't locked something in already you're going to find what's left (at least in terms of a guaranteed seat) really expensive. Very few places with a great (even good) set up are you going to be able to walk in and grab a seat the first weekend.
NCAA Tournament Ticket/Where to Watch Advice
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OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
That's a good point. For me, my favorite round to watch games on TV is the Sweet 16 games on Thursday and Friday nights. Only two games going on at a time, so you can focus a little more on each game. But you can still get a feel for the multi-game environment that's a big part of the first four days of the tournament.
Back in 2005, my brother and a group of our friends met in Chicago. We went to the Thursday night games at Allstate Arena and then went to Joe's in Chicago on Friday for the Sweet 16 games. TVs obviously had both games going on simultaneously, so there was plenty of banter and back and forth. We were all rooting like hell for Villanova against UNC and still hold a grudge against Tom O'Neill for that bogus travel against Nova that wiped out an and-1. I will forever think Villanova was going to win that game if not for that call.
Does anyone know what ‘all session’, session1 or 2 or 3 mean? For games first 2 rounds. Ticketmaster was first place I clicked. Didn’t see a description of what it entails. Figured there would be a better description like Thursday session 1 12-3pm. But I guess that is asking too much.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Here's a very quick primer
First weekend: Session 1 is the early session on Day 1 (Thurs/Fri), Session 2 is the later session on Day 1, and Session 3 is the Day 2 session (Sat/Sun)
For the Sweet 16/Elite 8 rounds, Session 1 would be the Sweet 16 round, and Session2 would be the Elite 8 game.
USAFILLINI
- Florida
Most of the websites will allow you to tag whatever tickets you are looking for, and they will email you when the cost changes. Id set an amount you feel comfortable with, and when you get that email, go buy them. I dont know how many times I've waited to get the cheapest price I could, and lost out on the seats I wanted.
Thank you and @RabidDawgClassic for the scout!
Sounds like the critical decision is whether to take our chances trying to get seats at a sports book or splurge for a watch party.
Either way, I'm pumped. Bucket list sports experience. Hopefully I'll be reading the sweet 16 pregame thread on the flight home.
Ryllini
- Lombard
Vegas is insane for the first weekend. I'm in Vegas atleast twice a year get around pretty good. The old Mirage sports book was always fun. The property was purchased by Hard Rock and they will and have been doing some remodeling. Do not know if they have started that book yet. It was unchanged last October.
The Cosmo book is fun, nice vibe in there and more of a bar type feel to me.
New York New York book is small and you will have a neck cramp. I think the MGM book is over rated and same with Caesers. Go down to the Venetian, crowd should be a little more tame there, but I've had some fun watching games there. This may sound out of left field, but there is a decent bar set up as Casino Royale. Bring cash as that is the only form of payment and plan on burning your clothing afterwards, but it is great fun with cheap drinks. The flamingo is a cesspool. If you walk down the linq, there are bars lined all over the place. You could probably find a nice spot in that area.
There are bars all over, I find just sitting at a casino bar, and if you drink and plan on parking it for a while, you are going to be set back a bit.
Illini2010-11
- Sugar Grove
I have made trips to Vegas for first weekend multiple times (been a few years though since getting married). It really comes down to where you are staying.
A lot of the books have downsized on the strip over the years. If you are off strip/have rental car, I suggest checking out the Station Casinos (Red Rock is my personal favorite). https://www.stationcasinos.com/play/race-and-sports/ It is where the locals go. There are quite a few spread out through the Vegas area. Each of them have very large books, and it is relatively easy to get a seat and not feel swamped by others.
If near Fremont Street Experience, I believe Circa is the place to go. I have not been to Vegas since it opened, but I have heard it is the largest in the area. However, I expect it is crowded. In any event, lots of options. But in short, avoid the strip if possible.
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Dan
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turnaround3
- 1st & Daniel
Circa Swim for first weekend. Bring your wallet. Thank me later.
I'll be there
Id say it's probably worth it to try the Circa Pool. Watched an NFL Sunday there and it was amazing. Don't have to stay at the hotel to get a day pass to the pool. They also have a great sports book inside the hotel.
As someone who goes to a lot of sporting events and concerts each year...it always pays to wait. Tickets will go way down especially if teams from far distances are in Spokane. Buying the day of (if you're patient) will likely be your cheapest point.
My dad and his friends have been going Sweet 16 to Vegas for 35 years. Now most of them have kids, so their kids come too and it's a father/son weekend with 2 generations there. A bunch of my college (UofI) buddies come now too. It's one of my favorite weekends of the year. I started going in 2009 and basically haven't missed a year...which means, I also have never seen Illinois play that weekend while in Vegas. I would LOVE for that to finally happen this year.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Unfortunately, the opposite can be true. If Iowa State and Kansas are in Omaha, for example, that pretty much shuts out anyone who would like to buy tickets like that. I looked at tickets for Omaha, and I think Cyclone fans are already banking on spending the first weekend 150 miles or so to the southwest of Ames.
Sure...there's lots of variables. But in most cases, it pays to wait.
chrisRunner7
- San Diego
ICON is raising money for NIL by raffling off two tournament tickets plus a free stay at the team hotel for Illinois' first and second round games. $10 minimum to enter... I just kicked in a small amount of money today. Figure this is my plan B if Illinois does not come to Spokane anymore. 
www.iconforillini.com
ICON for Illini
ICON Collective helps generate meaningful NIL opportunities for Fighting Illini student-athletes and paves the way for sustained, elite-level success.
www.iconforillini.com
If you still can, volunteer. My mother did this and that's how I ended up seeing Florida repeat as champs in the final game. They are very generous to their volunteers. You might miss the early rounds and the game you actually want to see...but you might get lucky and you might see your fav team play late in the tourney.
We were there. What I remember most was the officiating in the Arizona game.
Spent an entire day there last year watching 2nd weekend of NCAA's. 10 of us rented out a lounge area and had plenty of food/drinks. Had an absolute blast! And yes, a nice wad of bills or a CC with some available funds is definitely necessary.
turnaround3
- 1st & Daniel
Boston regional - planning to fly out east to attend with my '07-'09 roommate who hails from and still lives there, in the event we can win two games this weekend for the first time in 19 years.
These ticket prices are *outrageous* though. This has to be driven by UConn, right? I understand it's only a 3 hour drive for them but I was hoping there'd be some lightened interest and/or fatigue after their Natty run last year.
Assuming I'm going to have to wait until day before or day of, or something. But yeah the going rate for any of the sessions is just absurd, currently.
These ticket prices are *outrageous* though. This has to be driven by UConn, right? I understand it's only a 3 hour drive for them but I was hoping there'd be some lightened interest and/or fatigue after their Natty run last year.
Assuming I'm going to have to wait until day before or day of, or something. But yeah the going rate for any of the sessions is just absurd, currently.
chrisRunner7
- San Diego
Even though I am not going to the tournament in Spokane anymore (would honestly rather watch a bunch of games from my living room since Illinois won't be coming out here), I went back and checked the ticket prices to see if the decision to wait would have been OK. I guess the prices are a factor of the teams involved... I imagine it is tough getting out here from Alabama.
As of this morning, session 1 tickets are going for as cheap as $27. (San Diego St / UAB / Auburn / Yale)
Session 2 tickets are going for $50. (Alabama / Charleston / Saint Mary's / Grand Canyon)
I would have lost a decent amount of money if I had bought tickets a few weeks ago.
As of this morning, session 1 tickets are going for as cheap as $27. (San Diego St / UAB / Auburn / Yale)
Session 2 tickets are going for $50. (Alabama / Charleston / Saint Mary's / Grand Canyon)
I would have lost a decent amount of money if I had bought tickets a few weeks ago.
I think it’s the fact that UConn has been locked into the Boston regional for months now. The committee got lucky this year with the top 3 seeds not fighting for any of the same regional locations. I would wait it out and hope they lose and everyone sells. There’s also people just trying to make money on the resale market so your idea of waiting til day before, if not even the day of makes the most sense.
I was also at Indy in ‘05. Watching a basketball game in a football arena was “fine”, but very suboptimal. That was a special year to be part of the fan base tho, and agree that downtown Indy around the sports venues is a great experience.
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