USA Today – This is the month in Las Vegas you’ve been waiting for. Starting this weekend, everything college basketball takes over this town. The Orleans Arena hosts both the West Coast Conference (March 6-11) and Western Athletic Conference (March 12-15), the Pac-12 (March 12-15) plays at the MGM Grand Garden Arena while Mountain West (March 12-15) tips off at Thomas & Mack. After that, things start to get serious, when thousands of college basketball aficionados take over Las Vegas (and its sports books). Here are a couple of choice spots to catch all the action (plus, bonus baseball!) and let the mayhem begin.
Hoops & Hops at The Cosmopolitan
For those who like to watch basketball with less frat boys and more style, The Chelsea should be at the top of your venue list. The industrial chic showroom turns into a sports lounge March 20-22, complete with loads of televisions (obviously), betting stations open at 8 a.m. every day, interactive experiences such as a basketball court, video game stations, arcade games and pool tables – you know, for when you’ve watched just enough basketball. Tickets for The Main are $45/day and $112.50 for a three-day pass; The Gallery $150/day, $375/three-day pass; Floor Sofas and Gallery Box prices depends on party size. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
Skyboxes at MGM Grand
If you can’t tear yourself away from the sports book, but don’t want to be directly in the fray, go VIP style in one of the MGM Grand Race & Sportsbook Skyboxes. The book itself can receive up to 53 channels of action, but in the skyboxes you get your own 42-inch plasma TVs, surround sound, your own beverage server and complimentary food. The second level location of the Skyboxes provides a front row view of just about everything happening in the book. For more information on prices and to reserve, visit mgmgrand.com.
Big League Weekend at Cashman Field
Technically, it’s the Chicago Cubs playing the New York Mets at Cashman Field on March 15 and 16, but as a native Chicagoan, I’m calling this “The Cubs Game.” What has now become a spring tradition for both local and visiting major league baseball fans, the Cubs return for the 10th straight year to soak in the sunshine before opening day at Wrigley in April, while the Mets return to Las Vegas after a 16year hiatus. Each game begins at 1:07 p.m., and it will definitely be a beautiful day at the ballpark, so get on your tickets quickly, as these games do sell out every year. For tickets and more information, visit mlb.com.
