If you want to throw a party for the NCAA basketball tournament – better known as March Madness – there are certain things you want to keep in mind.
March Madness Party
March Madness is one of the best sporting events of the year. Even those who have never stepped foot on any of the campuses of the schools involved still love the tournament. It’s one of the most exciting sporting events, with plenty of last-second heroics and shocking defeats.
It’s also a lot of fun to share with friends, family and coworkers. Here are some ideas to keep in mind for your party.
Pick A Date
This isn’t the one-day Super Bowl! The NCAA basketball tournament spreads over several weeks in March. That means you will need to choose a date to have your party. Here are the dates for the 2021 tournament:
- First Four — 4 p.m. ET coverage start on Thursday, March 18. First game at 5:10 p.m.
- First round — 12 p.m. ET coverage start on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20. First game at 12:15 p.m.
- Second round — 12 p.m. ET coverage start on Sunday, March 21, and Monday, March 22.
- Sweet 16 — 2 p.m. ET coverage start on Saturday, March 27, and 1 p.m. start on Sunday, March 28
- Elite Eight — 7 p.m. ET coverage start on Monday, March 29, and 6 p.m. start on Tuesday, March 30
- Final Four — 5 p.m. ET start on Saturday, April 3
- NCAA championship game — 9 p.m. Monday, April 5
Make The Invitation Cool
There are plenty of basketball-related invitations out there, and you want to pick one that sets the tone for your party. You can also do it with a Facebook invite or a customized email. Whatever you do, watch out on the colors. One person’s favorite team is another’s sworn enemy. Might want to stick with the colors of the ball itself: orange and black.
The same idea applies to decorations like banners and ribbons.
Unique Ways to Invite People to a Party
Don’t Forget Old Friends
When putting together your invitation list, this is the perfect time to reach out to friends from your alma mater, especially if your team made the tournament. Or you might want to just invite those in your current circle of friends who support the team you support (makes the invitation and decorations a bit easier, too).
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Provide Some Entertainment
Consider having something on hand for breaks between games, or for restless people who can’t sit in front of the TV for hours and hours, no matter how exciting the games are (this isn’t just kids).
Entertainment Options from Fun Crew USA
Play Three Sports. This one stretches everyone’s skills by asking them to shoot baskets, accurately throw a football and kick a soccer goal. Watching the games is one thing, making the shot when it counts is another!
Basketball, Football and Soccer Game
Slam Dunk. This one is pure basketball and 100% awesome. An inflatable basketball court lane leads to a hoop. The difference is, you can bounce on this lane, launching yourself into the air to perform all kinds of slam dunks. What basketball fan doesn’t dream about being able to do that? And yes, the height of the hoop is adjustable for the smaller members of the party.
Slam Dunk Basketball Challenge
Food and Drink
Keep it simple for a March Madness party. This is a chips and dip and chicken wings kind of event. However, if you want to give the crowd something different, consider this cool popcorn machine or, if they have a sweet tooth, consider a Snow Cone Machine.
Snow Cones, Popcorn and Cotton Candy!
And if you are serving alcohol, remember to play it safe with at least one designated driver to get the crew home safely.
Somewhat related: You’ll also want to let the neighbors know you are having a big crew over if you live close together. And, of course, invite them, too!
Is Everything Working?
There’s nothing quite like having all the decorations in place, the food set out, the popcorn popping and then have the television not work properly. Make sure the set is ready to roll. You might want to also check all your appliances, like the microwave and oven. No one wants to get ready to heat some nachos and find that they can’t.
The main thing for March Madness is to keep it simple and fun – all the entertainment is provided on the hardwood, and the rentals from Fun Crew USA have you covered for anything else. Just get everything set and then relax and enjoy the action.
