It’s that time of year again: March Madness! College basketball fans unite. Here is what you need to know to plan the best March Madness party (or parties) this season.
What’s the #MarchMadness schedule look like this year?
Here are the important dates for March Madness that you might consider planning a party around.
- Selection Sunday: March 14
- First Four: March 16-17
- First Round: March 18-19
- Second Round: March 20-21
- Sweet 16: March 25-26
- Elite Eight: March 27-28
- Final Four (national semifinals): April 3
- National Championship: April 5
This means that you have plenty of dates to schedule a get-together. If you are looking to book venues for Elite Eight, Final Four, or National Championships…best get started now! Those dates are always the first to go.
Brainstorm Session
First, you will need to sit down and decide on the basics. How many people do you want to invite? Do you want to stay home, go out, or book a private venue? What will the food and drink situation look like? Make a detailed plan about your expectations and goals. You’ll want to consider:
- What is being served to eat? Will there be a meal or just snacks?
- Is it BYOB or bar provided?
- What is the maximum number of people you can host?
- Which basketball game are you focusing on?
- What is the maximum amount of money you intend to spend?
- Will you expect others to pitch in on the cost?
Create a Budget Plan
Parties can get out of control quickly so you need to decide ahead of time how much you want to spend and whether the other guests will be expected to pitch in. Do you want to funnel money into a private venue, maybe with a large screen and sound system? Do you want to focus on decorations and accessories? Do you want to spend on a great food spread or bar? Here’s a simple party budget template to use.
Build a Guest List & Send Invites
How many people can you feasibly host? How many people were you hoping to invite? Build a list of potential guests and whittle it down if you have too many. A consideration: If you have a large group of people, consider splitting the cost on a private event space. Secondly, decide how you want to invite people. Physical invitations? Facebook event page? Group text? Get RSVPs as soon as possible.
Source Supplies & Décor
You’ll probably need bowls, cups, decorations, banners, and so forth. Start figuring out where you want to get them from, giving yourself time to order online if needed. If you are on a tight budget, give yourself plenty of time to shop around and find the best price for each item.
Do You Need an Event Space?
If you are hosting a large group, want a big-screen experience, or just want to be the host of a party to remember, you might consider booking a private venue for the party. For example, La Casa Mirador Guest House can sleep 26, hold a lot more, and has everything you need to host a party built-in. We also have a 130 seat private media theatre center with a 10 x 20 ft screen and 15 surround-sound speakers.