You don’t have to be a huge fan of college basketball to know it’s March Madness time – from the constant barrage of advertising to the office pools, it’s kind of hard to miss. But you have to be a certain kind of dedicated fan to actually go the games live – right?
Not necessarily.
Some sports are easier to watch on TV, but basketball is one that is enhanced by being in the arena during the games. And when the stakes are as high as the NCAA Championship, the atmosphere just can’t permeate a television screen. So whether or not your team is a Cinderella team that just feels lucky to have made the playoffs, one of the Final Four, or somewhere in between, seeing the NCAA March Madness games in person is a great experience.
The trouble is that if you’re waiting to see where your team is playing (or if your team advances) before you make travel plans, you could get caught out. Last-minute travel is notoriously expensive, so obviously you’re better off booking as soon as you possibly can. We’re here to help, too, with some links to help you find the best deals on trips to the various cities hosting the NCAA tournament games this year.
>> The NCAA Championship Tournament in 2012 runs from March 13-April 2
For some of those so-called Cinderella teams, just making it to the NCAA playoffs is a dream come true. But for four teams, the dream doesn’t end when the playoffs begin. Four teams will make it through to a coveted place in the NCAA Final Four – and if your team is one of them, you’ll want to be there.
When you’re watching the games leading up to the NCAA March Madness tournament and you’re hoping your team makes the playoffs, it seems like you have to wait forever for those games to actually happen. But if you’re lucky enough to have your team make it through the first and second rounds to the regional games, there are only a few short days between the second round and the regionals – so you’ve really got to be on your toes if you’re planning to go to the games.
Seeing your favorite team play during the NCAA’s March Madness tournament is, for many, a dream come true. Of course everyone wants their team to be in the Final Four, but just getting to the big dance is a victory in and of itself for some teams.
Sports fans who like to travel have plenty of excuses to get away and take in a game throughout the year, and although some sporting events are always in the same place every year there are others that give you a chance to explore a new destination every time. So if the location of your favorite sport’s big game isn’t exciting one year, hang on and it might be next year.
Say the words “vacation package” to a bunch of travelers and you’re likely to get a mixed reaction. Some will shun them regardless of the details because they prefer to strike out on their own. Some only book vacations as package deals because they’re too busy to do the research themselves. Most people fall somewhere in between, booking vacation packages when it makes sense schedule-wise or it saves money.
When you’re considering taking a trip to see a big sporting event, you’re probably prepared for the prices on airline tickets to be higher than usual. The airlines, after all, know a whole bunch of people are going to be buying tickets to the same place at roughly the same time – they’d be silly not to raise prices, right? That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t still find a good deal – or at least not get stuck paying through the nose for airfare.
It’s really nice of the organizers of the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend to hold it in Dallas, a city that’s warm in February when the event takes place. I’m sure the temperature outside isn’t the main thing the organizers consider when they’re planning the weekend, but it’s still quite considerate of them. Because what do you need more than anything else if you live in a cold place? A trip to a warm place in February.