Where to Watch March Madness in NYC

March Madness is the official nickname given to the NCAA Tournament, and it’s always one of the biggest sporting events of the year. This event captivates the entire country as everyone tunes in to see how the teams in their bracket are doing.

New York City is a huge sports city, and knowing where to watch March Madness in NYC is something that everyone wants to figure out. That is the case in cities all throughout the country, but things just tend to be more magnified in the “Big Apple.”

There are different parts of New York City, and there are going to be spots throughout the city that attracts the biggest college basketball fans. Here is a look at some of the best places to watch March Madness NYC.

What is March Madness?

March Madness is the name given to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, and it has really taken a life of its own over the last few decades. This tournament has always been exciting, but an expanded field and available sports betting options have made it even bigger.

68 teams are put into the bracket for a chance to cut down the nets at the Final Four, and it’s a single-elimination tournament. This is also an event that always seems to feature some shocking results and upsets, and that only adds to the excitement.

The women’s tournament is also taking place at the same time, but most of the focus is on the men’s side of things. Even non-basketball fans get into March Madness, as there are many competitions and ways to get involved with the action.

When is March Madness?

The majority of March Madness clearly takes place during the third month of the year, but it actually spills into April with the Final Four. The Final Four isn’t usually when the major drama happens, though, as the big upsets tend to come in the first few rounds.

Selection Sunday really kicks things off, as that typically takes place on the second Sunday of the month. The action begins the following Tuesday, but the real action happens every Thursday-Sunday for the next two weeks.

The first two big days of March Madness feature 16 games each day, and they last throughout the entire day. Spending a day kicking back and watching the action unfold is a great way to spend the day, but you find an excellent location to watch the action.

Best Places to Watch March Madness NYC

You won’t have to look too hard to find where to watch March Madness in NYC, as there are going to be plenty of great options to choose from. Most people that watch March Madness want to watch with other college basketball fans, and finding a good spot to gather is important.

Grab a few buddies and head to one of the following locations in order to surround yourself with the best atmosphere possible. Sitting at home is always an option as well, but March Madness is much better when you are watching the game with other crazy sports fans.

Basketball

March Madness Contenders

Madison Square Garden

If the NCAA has chosen Madison Square Garden as a host location, then that is where to watch March Madness in NYC. This doesn’t happen every year, though, but you simply can’t miss out on this opportunity if it is available to you.

Madison Square Garden is one of the most historic venues in all of sports, and it has hosted some major basketball games through the years. There is no better pairing than the NCAA Tournament and Madison Square Garden, and you need to be willing to pony up and pay some money to watch a game at that venue.

You usually have some time to plan a visit to Madison Square Garden as well because the NCAA announces the host sites well in advance. Keep your eye on the NCAA Tournament schedule and get to Madison Square Garden the next time the event is played there.

No Sportsbooks Available

With the explosion of legal sports betting throughout the state of New York, you would think that watching March Madness at a sportsbook would be a great option. This is going to be a great choice for people throughout the state, but there are no retail sportsbooks in New York City.

That is pretty unfortunate because it’s hard to beat the atmosphere that is available at a retail sportsbook, especially during the month of March. The hope is that a retail sportsbook comes to NYC eventually, but until then, a sports bar is going to be the best place to watch the game.

Great Sports Bars

If you are looking for where to watch March Madness in NYC, then you will have some great sports bars to choose from. There are going to be sports bars all throughout the city, and you can find them on many different streets in the “Big Apple.”

Since there are so many different sports bars throughout NYC, you can give several of them a try throughout March Madness. Everyone is going to have their own personal preference when it comes to a sports bar, but there are some locations in New York City that tend to be more popular than others.

TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar

If the weather is nice during the NCAA Tournament, then you want to know where to watch March Madness in NYC outdoors. There are going to be plenty of sports bars that have outdoor seating, but TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar is in a different class.

This sports bar was built and opened during the COVID-19 pandemic as a place to allow sports fans to gather outdoors. You can reserve a table at TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar, and it’s the perfect place to gather with a big group of friends.

It can get a bit chilly in New York during March, but TailGate is where you need to go if it’s nice outside.

Dark Horse

Dark Horse Sports Bar is the perfect place to go if you want to try out some different beers while watching the action of March Madness unfold. Dark Horse is popular for having over 40 different beers available, and that allows fans from all over the country to be able to find their local drink.

Dark Horse is located in Manhattan, and it’s a massive location that has enough room to bring all of your best friends with you. If you can’t have fun while at Dark Horse, then you are going to struggle to have fun anywhere.

Bounce Sporting Club

Bounce Sporting Club is going to be a bit different than a typical sports bar as it has that club feeling when you walk in. It’s a perfect place to go for a night out in NYC, but it’s also going to provide a great environment for the early games during March Madness.

Bounce has been known to attract some big celebrities or personalities, and you will likely run into some if you are visiting this location. This is another perfect spot to gather with friends and spend a day.

Village Tavern

Sometimes you just want to go back to your college days and spend a day hanging out with people looking for a good time. That is what you will experience at Village Tavern, as it is known to attract a younger generation of sports fans.

You can get sucked into spending an entire day at Village Tavern as you will be experiencing such a great time. This place is going to get busy fast, and you are going to want to get in before the action begins.