There is plenty to do in the city if you’re taking a road trip or jumping on a plane to experience March Madness in Denver.
Tucked at the base of the Rocky Mountains , Denver is world notable for its outdoor bodily function and beautiful scene , . But over the last 25 age , its pro and college sports team have made Denver into one of the country ’s top goal for indoor adventure , as well . While Denver is not specifically known for its college hoops history , it does have a tradition of hosting the NCAA tourney and its fans . This March 20 - 23,The Mile High Cityis host the NCAA tourney first and 2d round for the sixth time . It also famously host the 1990 Final Four at McNichols Arena when a memorableUNLV Runnin ’ Rebels teambeat Duke in the championship plot . Ball Arenaopened in 1999 and was in the first place known as the Pepsi Center .
There is great deal to do in and around the Denver area if you ’re taking a road trip or jump on a plane to see your alma mater or favorite squad in the NCAA tournament . Ball Arena ’s proximity to downtown Denver make it a groovy home to visit for a few days ; here we ’ve got your guide to March Madness in Denver .
How do I get tickets?
There are three sessions of games hosted at Ball Arena with two academic term being host on Thursday good afternoon / evening and one twofold header school term on Saturday . The NCAA ’s prescribed ticketing web site , Ticketmaster , provides a safe and reliable way to buy ticket , but my hint is to corrupt up tickets from devotee guide out of town after Thursday ’s games . Many dejected fans of losing teams will offload ticket on secondary site likeStubHubandSeatGeekto endeavor to recoup some of the cost of the loss . My recommendation is to check out Ticketmaster as you ’re plan your head trip to Denver so you bonk the market prices ( and thus your discount ! ) and to purchase your tickets on Thursday night after the first set of games . If your team play Thursday , use this trick yourself to recoup some hard cash .
The downside of host an NCAA tourney at Ball Arena ( home to theNuggetsand the NHL’sAvalanche ) is that it ’s not ideal for 19,000 the great unwashed watching college basketball game . I ’d powerfully suggest splurging on a lower bowl prat . The stadium is far too large and the upstair ( 200 ) sections do n’t offer great views . My pet low-down bowl sections are 124 or 126 , so you ’re courtside with the upright sight lines .
How should I get there?
Denver International Airportor DIA is the main aerodrome for getting to and from Denver . It ’s a hub for United , Frontier and Southwest Airlines so there are plenty ofdirect trajectory optionsfor getting here no matter where you exist . Be warned , though — the airport is about 25 miles from downtown Denver and rideshares can soar up during bill time of day so if you plan on going without a rental car , be prepare . My suggestion is to avoid arriving during surge hour and to give up the rental machine . The rideshare getaway islocated near island 5 in both terminals , a short walk from luggage call .
If you happen to be feel adventurous and have extra clock time , Amtrak also give way through downtown Denverand the mountain views in and out of Ithiel Town are prominent .
How do I get around?
Denver is a very well-to-do city to voyage without a rental car . While Denver ’s airport may as well be in Kansas ( check out this chartthat show how it stacks up to other mankind city ) you could take the light runway into town on theAirplane Train . From there it ’s an easy rideshare or light track to your lodging . Ball Arena is n’t technically in downtown Denver but it ’s close enough ( around 2 miles away ) so get down there is middling soft whether you want to rent a machine , use rideshares or take public conveyance to the games .
Denver ’s clear rail system has a stop directly at Ball Arena so that ’s my principal recommendation . Purchasing a rotund trip ticket is encourage as the stock to purchase tickets after events can be quite long . you’re able to expect even more convenience on this prospicient weekend , too - during the 2023 NCAA tourney , theRTDoffered an express path between Union Station downtown and Ball Arena . There should be no issue grabbing a rideshare once games terminate ; the designated rideshare spate is locate near the intersection point of 5th and Walnut street .
What should I know about the venue?
In general , you wo n’t experience any singultus getting into the building . Ball Arena is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary this year and legion more than 250 upshot yearly so they ’re battle tested . There are two tumid entrances on each side of the arena that get fan into the arena chop-chop . I recommend channelize into the domain at least 30 instant before scheduled wind - off and you should have no effect .
If you ’re seem for something singular , thebasketball and ice hockey sculpturehanging in the howling atrium when you get into the arena is worth making certain you see . It features ice hockey and hoops players in apparent motion , is depicted at 1.5x exfoliation , count a ton , and costs $ 75,000 to produce . The grand atrium entrance is settle near 9th and Chopper Circle .
Similar to other first and 2d round server city , Ball is customized for NBA ( Nuggets ) and NHL ( Avalanche ) game but the area still gets gaudy and is a not bad place to observe March Madness . Avalanche public address announcer Alan Roach is one of the best in the concern and you ’ll probably recognise his part from NFL internal event throughout the years including serving as PA for 17 Super Bowls .
Illustration by Don Caminos for Thrillist
Whatever your dietetical restrictions , Ball Arena gives wad of unique concession items;this menuon the arena website gives every vegetarian , vegan , junkie friendly , dairy friendly and gluten friendly option . I also commend try a few local favorites like the apple pie funnel bar Roger Fry , a delightful dessert in the anatomy of Gallic fries ( these can be found in thePointsBet lounge ) . If you ’re a grown inwardness feeder , try the elk terror , an elk kernel sausage you may find in sections 106 and 306 . And for the adventurous among us , essay aRocky Mountain oyster po boy(section 330 ) , a sandwich fill with calfskin testicle meat .
Ball Arena also has an amusement / water park , Elitch Gardens , just across the wagon train tracks which hold it one of the more unequaled venue in North America — unfortunately it does n’t open until April .
Basketball, brackets, and betting
The games at Ball Arena areinteresting in that they do not feature a No . 1 or No . 2 seed . No . 3 Wisconsinis the highest semen meet in Denver and will face No . 14 Montana ; they’refavored by a sizeable 17.5 points . One affair to note is that Montana ’s campus is close to Denver so you could anticipate a decent gang inspire for the Grizzlies .
No . 6 - seeded player BYUis the closest team to the Denver domain that will be playing at Ball Arena . The Cougars , led by forward Richie Saunders averaging 16 point per secret plan , take on No . 11 - seed VCU andare only a 2.5 - point favorite .
If you ’re looking for your Hellenic No . 12 upsetting a No . 5 , Denver has that for you . Michigan is the No . 5 - ejaculate in the South regionaland will confront No . 12 UC San Diego . The Tritons are make their first appearance in the NCAA Division I tournamentafter moving from Division II in 2020 . The skunk bear areonly favored by 3.5 pointsand will be pick to be bowl over in plenty of square bracket pool this class .
Courtesy Visit Denver
Texas A&M takes on Yalein the fourth game on Thursday at Ball Arena . The Aggies are a sentry go - heavy squad with Wade Taylor IV and Zhuric Phelps lead the squad in scoring . Of course , Yale has no athletes on scholarshipas it represents the Ivy League .
The two biggest schools in the state - the Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State Rams — haven’t made it to the Sweet 16 since 1969 when both teams made it that year . Colorado State is the only team from Colorado to measure up for the NCAA Tournament this year , but it will be playing in Seattle as a No . 12 seed .
Other places to eat (and watch)
Machete Tequila and Tacosis a must - stop in Denver ; there are three locations , one of which is a ten moment walk to the arena . They have TVs for your insatiate sports appetite and some of the best Mexico City - inspired fare you ’ll have in the west . Try the al pastor tacos , pair it with one of their many tequilas , and throw in a Mexican beer while you ’re at it . For extra credit , order the El Perro del Machete , essentially your standard post - game 1st Baron Verulam - wrapped hot dog from a street go-cart , but made even advantageously overstep with beans , lard and pico de gallo .
The 99ersis a women’s - focused variation bar that honors the1999 United States women ’s interior association football teamthat won the World Cup . It ’s Denver ’s first - everwomen ’s athletics - focused sport barso if you ’re in the mood to see the women ’s tournament ( which begins Friday ) , this is your spot . Pro confidential information : interpret the underground menuahead of time and sense like a true Coloradoan while you rank .
Since you ’re nearby , try the1UpArcade Bar , a multi - location stripe full of Greco-Roman colonnade game , rowdy patrons and great intellectual nourishment and drink avail . If you ’re indulging , render thefroggerif you ’re into spiced rum and the fried fix chips if you ’re into dipping anything into cattle ranch sauce .
Courtesy Visit Denver
Another expectant sport stripe option that ’s right on next to the scene of action isBrooklyn ’s . My go - to order is the buffalo chicken sandwich with dispirited cheese on top coupled with one of the Browning automatic rifle ’s many splendid mules ; try the macho nachos to deal .
In the break of day , stop byLarimer Square , which is whereDenver was foundedin the early 19th C . It ’s now a mix of new and old with eating house that have outdoor terrace field that are perfect during the summertime . In March , this spot will be packed with NCAA tournament fans from every schooling and is a slap-up start point for breakfast atPort Side , where you should consecrate The Duke , a pulled porc breakfast sandwich you ’ll be thinking about for weeks .
Final tips
The weather in Denver in March can be a rollercoaster and full of wicked turns . It ’s not rare to see a winter C. P. Snow violent storm instantly followed by a 75 degree sunny good afternoon . Definitely bundle for the prospect of some coolheaded weather no matter what the forecast says and know that there ’s a stealthy , bite wind instrument lingers during previous Winter and former Spring .
Courtesy Visit Denver
