Vegas Gets To Flex Its Muscles For 2025 March Madness

The initial weekend of March Madness has just concluded.

Once again, visitors had a great time watching and betting on games as the Las Vegas experience returned to its pre-pandemic state.

Even experienced participants of March Madness in Las Vegas, though they have a great time, can reflect on changes that have occurred for better or worse.

Next year, watching and betting on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament should reach a new level.

Sweet 16 And Elite 8 In Las Vegas

While most college basketball enthusiasts are preparing for this week’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8, Las Vegas is already setting its sights on 2025.

Las Vegas will host the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games for the first time next year.

Typically, Las Vegas only hosts great March Madness watch parties for the tournament’s first weekend. However, this could change next year as regional round games are scheduled to be played in Las Vegas and across the country from March 23 – 25.

From both a fan’s perspective and considering Nevada’s sports betting, the second weekend of March Madness in Las Vegas next year might surpass the quality of the NCAA basketball tournament’s opening weekend.

The atmosphere in Las Vegas will resemble conference tournament week as it will host the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Sportsbooks will showcase games from all over the country for spectators to watch and place bets on, simultaneously with the tournament games occurring in Las Vegas.

The main distinction from the conference tournament week is that Las Vegas is expected to be busier and more costly.

How We Got Here

Before the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was repealed, states with legal sports betting were not allowed to host NCAA championship events. However, this needed to change as some states, which regularly host NCAA championships, were on the path to legalizing sports betting.

The NCAA would need to revise its policy to guarantee that events can continue to occur nationwide. In 2020, they declared the venues for 450 championship events scheduled to run through 2025 and into 2026.

The announcement included the opportunity for Nevada to host 11 NCAA championship events. The highlight of this was Las Vegas being chosen to host the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball regional tournament games, including the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds.

The tournament games are scheduled to be held at T-Mobile Arena, which is situated behind New York-New York and adjacent to Park MGM.

Hotel Rooms Already Sky High For The Sweet 16 And Elite 8

The biggest college basketball fans and bettors are fond of the conference tournament week in Las Vegas.

Part of the reason is that Las Vegas isn’t as crowded and the hotel rooms are cheaper compared to the first weekend of March Madness. The week of games is also popular as Las Vegas organizes several tournaments and broadcasts all other games in the sportsbooks.

Next year as well, this will remain accurate. An initial review of room rates at Caesars Palace hotel shows an average of $316 per night for the week of the conference tournament. The cost escalates by $100 to $416 during the initial weekend of March Madness.

The average price of a hotel room at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas soars to $732 per night during the weekend when the NCAA men’s regional rounds take place. The high demand for hotel accommodations in Las Vegas during this period is expected due to the influx of college students, staff, players, media, and tourists.

The trend in hotel room pricing in Las Vegas is expected to follow a typical pattern. Although prices may fluctuate over the coming year, the tendency for rates to escalate during the various weekends of March Madness is predicted to persist.

Live events are the biggest attraction in Las Vegas, and March Madness games held there should be just as enticing.

NIT In Las Vegas?

Next year, Las Vegas might host not just the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but also the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The NIT is contemplating relocating its semi-finals and final game to Las Vegas.

In the past, the NIT was considered the apex for college basketball events. However, in the present day, it is overshadowed by the NCAA basketball tournament, with teams that didn’t qualify for the NCAA tournament ending up in the NIT.

Early round matches of the NIT take place on college campuses, while Madison Square Garden in New York City has been the venue for the NIT’s semi-finals and finals since 1938.

ESPN reports that the tradition could be coming to an end, with Las Vegas potentially being considered as the host for the final two rounds of NIT games in the future.

Potential locations range from historical venues such as Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to resort destinations like Las Vegas. A decision is anticipated in the upcoming months.

This year, the last two rounds of the NIT are scheduled for March 29 and 31. These mid-week games will not interfere with the Sweet 16, Elite 8, or Final Four rounds of the NCAA basketball tournament.

Assuming next year’s scheduling doesn’t change, it’s plausible for Las Vegas to host both the NCAA basketball regional and the NIT semi-finals and final game. NIT organizers may opt to select a different location next year and consider Las Vegas for the following year.

The NIT might not be as widely popular among the public, but it could be attractive to businesses in Las Vegas. The three basketball games are expected to attract mid-week visitors who might not have otherwise planned a trip to Las Vegas, providing a surge to hotels and businesses citywide.

Anticipate that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will make a strong effort to host these NIT games.