March Madness Hits Las Vegas

I clearly remember March Madness of 1990. It’s the year I won $120 on a three-team parlay (big money in those days) when Duke’s Christian Laettner drained a buzzer-beater versus Connecticut, and I remember having no problem finding a seat at any of the Las Vegas sports books where I watched the NCAA basketball tournament that year. People cared, but not like these days. Now it’s truly March Madness. Round one of the NCAA men’s college basketball championship begins today, and hotels and casinos are guaranteed to be slammed. And not just for today. For three consecutive weekends.

Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News writes:

The sports book at Caesars Palace was busy but not chaotic Wednesday afternoon. The lines at the betting windows were only two or three deep. Cocktail waitresses held empty serving trays, and plenty of seats were available.
But by early this morning—and we’re talking 7 a.m.—those seats will be occupied. All 300 of them. And good luck finding a place to stand, squat or kneel.

“People will start camping out for seats at 2 or 3 in the morning,” said Chuck Esposito, assistant vice president for race and sports book operations. “It’s like they’re waiting for Rolling Stones tickets or something.”

Wilner writes that hotel rooms for this weekend have been sold our for six months, and the tournament will add between $150 million and $200 million to the Las Vegas economy for the next three weeks.

And they’re going to be screaming, yelling, drinking, and cheering. Wallets will grow and shrink. Hearts will be broken. It’s going to be a madhouse.

I wish I were there.

At least I have my bracket. Go UCLA!

 

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