Downtown NCAA Watch Sites

Hey all,

Heading out for the first weekend of the tourney. We have a slightly larger group than usual (6 people) and not everyone is going to be that into the games, so we were thinking rather than paying $100ish for tickets we would just head downtown so we could avoid paying a bunch of money and being locked down to one venue.

That said, I have been put in charge of coordinating this and I have very limited experience hanging out downtown...I've been down there but don't know anything about the various books or potential bars/restaurants where we could set up shop.

For Friday, I'm thinking we'd probably have to get down there by 8 or 8:30 to get anywhere...correct?

Just looking for some suggestions on where would be a good place for us to land. Looking for food and drinks quality, TV setups, and access to betting windows, and access to craps tables...probably in that order.

Much appreciated. The Stratosphere was the only other option we have thought of, so let me know if there are any other thoughts outside of the box...we've committed to cab rides from the Mirage.

 

http://thevegasparlay.com/march-madness-in-las-vegas/march-madness-in-las-vegas-parties-everywhere/

Lots is going on just about everywhere!

 

Been twice for MM but never downtown...

As I recall, Friday is busier than Thursday (as is the weekend) in Vegas for MM. In fact, I've never seen Vegas as crowded as it gets during MM.

If you're planning to hit up a sports book, you should be thinking of arriving to your viewing destination between 2-3 hours before the tip off unless you can buy/reserve a seat somewhere. At the books on the strip, it's near impossible to even approach a sports book once the games begin, let alone finding a place to sit. Standing room only may be an understatement. Making your bets as early as possible (like the day before) would be a wise decision as well. And, if you're not familiar with how to place sports bets (or have someone in your crew that isn't familiar with reading the boards and placing bets) you should brush up on it before heading out to make the process go smoothly. Nothing worse than someone who doesn't know how to call out a bet and holding up the line.

If you have time, you should scout some locations on Thursday night and ask the people at the book/bar how crowded it was and what time you should arrive to guarantee seats.

 

We have gone to Golden Nugget a few years now and it is always packed but we usually just watch one game and hang in the back. They have your basic light beers but last year they had "Mystery Beer' and they just reached in and grabbed whatever. It was always a Guinness or Taddy Porter which was fine with me. Betting lines were very quick and easy. Pizza, hot dogs, nachos. They had blackjack as well.

We have also gone to Stratosphere and enjoyed that as well. We went for some afternoon games and had a table. The TV's are HUGE and they had $5 pitchers of flat Bud. Cheap nachos and dogs. Betting lines were fairly easy and I can't remember if they had tables. Took FOREVER to walk to the place inside The STRAT .

I hear LVH is fantastic.

These are all free options.

 

If I were in your shoes, I would consider the following:

1. " Set up shop " at a table at the Main Street Station 777 Brewpub.

2. 777 has multiple TVs, always on sports.

3. Economical drinks, appetizers & meals readily available.

4. Craps tables, BJ tables, slots a few steps away.

5. Bathrooms around the corner, but not too far.

6. The sportsbook is NOT located in the 777. It is upstairs at the California. The MSS & the Cal are
connected by an enclosed walkway that goes over Main St. It is a brief ( 3 min. ? ) stroll from
777 to the sportsbook at the Cal.

7. There are no VP machines at 777. There is a small bar ( Dave's Bar ) at the Cal sportsbook.
It does have VP, but there are only a dozen seats at the bar. Seating at the sportsbook is probably
only about 60. No food service. Minimal cocktail waitress service .

8. Anyway, I would station the group at the Brewpub and then take turns sending a runner to place
or cash bets.

9. Tip the waitress very well, and you can stay until Christmas!

Wish I could be there. NCAA tournament betting is fun!!

 

I second MSS

I have gone for three out of the last four years for the first weekend of the tourney and one of the best times I had was 6 of us spending 8 hours at their brew pub watching the games. We were lucky to get a table at 2:00 on a Friday but the atmosphere was awesome, the food was good and the service was adequate. And the beer is awesome as well. Note also the bar with the boarshead (Boarshead bar?) there has full pay video poker and the free beer is their craft beer. That was where the 6 of us spent the hours from 9 to 2 that day...

But I can tell you if not all your party is into basketball it can still work where you wander from bar to bar, watch whatever game happens to be on at that bar for a time, while very slowly playing video poker and drinking for free. That is the huge advantage to the first weekend by the way. The bartenders can't complain that you are constantly looking up to watch the game when you are supposed to be gamblling to drink for free. And the non basketball fans are usually happy to just switch scenery every hour or so...Note though this can be harder on Saturday and Sunday.

I also recommend making all your bets at once, at the Sportsbook of the hotel you are staying in. The lines at the Sportsbooks can be brutal, especially as the day goes on. Personally, I make my bets online and then print them out on one sheet and carry that around with me all day. When you have 14 little slips to keep track of and have to pull them all out every time a new game starts to see who you bet on it can be very easy to lose some...

 

The D has this. I hope it's also for the Sweet 16 when I'm there.

 

Hmmm....

I like the suggestion about going from bar to bar. Would still include 777 in the mix.

Also, that could be a really cool venue at the D. I would definitely wander over there and check it out!

 

You guys are talking like everybody knows the Boarshead or 777 pub. Both these places are at Main Street Station 1 block off of Fremont. Go Kansas all the way.Hey I have 20.00 on the line.

 

Downtown I would give the D a try.

Off strip LVH is great. Haven't been for MM but have for NFL. Spacious, satillette betting and good food specials.