Find out where to watch a game in NYC during the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, dubbed March Madness.
This year’s edition of March Madness is steering clear of the Big Apple, even if a few games are being held across the state in Buffalo (and slightly further afield in Philadelphia).
That being said, New York City is very much a basketball kind of town, and devotees of the game are not in short supply of places to catch one of the most important months on the college basketball calendar.
If you’re not planning on driving to catch a game or two in person, here’s a small list of the best venues in the city for sports.
Download the Blacklane app and book a ride in advance so all you need to concentrate on is the game. Taking care of travel in advance means you can avoid public transportation or haggling with a local taxi firm.
Manhattan
Manhattan has a little bit of everything, and that certainly doesn’t preclude sports bars. If you’re in this most dazzling of boroughs then you have plenty to choose from.
Sláinte in Nolita, just up from Little Italy, is a staple for Manhattan sports enthusiasts. While perhaps a little smaller than many might be accustomed to, its size gives the bar an extremely intimate atmosphere. If you enjoy watching basketball through the gaps in your fingers surrounded only by those who know precisely how seriously to take a game, this may be the best bet for you.
On top of that the exceptional array of food and drink on offer means you won’t go hungry, while wetting your whistle is as easy as choosing from the huge selection of beers, cocktails, and wines.
Brooklyn
Union Grounds in Brooklyn is one of the best bars in the borough for watching sports. While Brooklyn may be more known for its art and hipster community (particularly since the turn of the decade), there are still some hidden gems to be uncovered for those who dream of the simpler things in life.
A homemade hot dog or some extremely delicious wings are recommended for those hoping to snack away during the game. The menu is somewhat limited, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need, especially in an area that can sometimes seem like it caters to everybody generally but nobody specifically.
Union Grounds has an understated ambience that puts the sports front and center, so don’t be afraid to swing by to catch some March Madness.
Queens
The Irish Rover in Queens is an institution of the area. Don’t let the local and loyal following to put you off – during March Madness, everyone will be here for precisely the same reason. This is an archetypal sports bar, a central point of the community of sports aficionados who call Astoria home.
If you feel the urge to strike up a conversation here, then sit back and listen to the locals wax lyrical about the abilities of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Athens-born superstar. He was recently voted the MVP for the 2021 finals as he led the Bucks to their first NBA championship since 1971.
Wherever you end up in New York City this March, if the aim of the game is watching basketball, then book a Blacklane service in advance.
Knowing exactly how you’re going to arrive and depart from your destination in advance of the day itself gives you the opportunity to focus on the one thing that truly matters in life – throwing a ball through a netted hoop and stopping your opponents from doing the same.
