March Madness is upon us. And with it, plenty of TV screens in bars across the city will be playing basketball through early April. Fans of college sports may flock to team-specific bars to cheer on their favorites.
While many bars will show an ongoing rotation of games from both the men’s and women’s tournaments, several spaces have guaranteed they’ll have the women’s games playing so fans can watch. Afterall, 2024’s NCAA women’s tournament is a hot ticket: Prices and viewership for the women’s games have reached record highs, and yet, that still doesn’t mean women’s sports are prioritized. In fact, some spaces showing the women’s games are only organizing brackets for the men’s league. Here’s where to watch women’s games in New York City, no ticket required.
Head to Fidi’s retro-themed bar and restaurant at Moxy NYC Downtown. Specialty programming, food specials and promos for guests will be available during men’s and women’s games. Stadium-themed bites — nachos, wings, sliders, etc. — can be chased down with coolers full of beer and guests wearing a jersey of the team currently playing will receive 10% off their check. Guests can also shoot hoops on the bar’s half-court or play classic tabletop games during commercial breaks.
The basketball court at Recreation
The 17,000 square-foot food hall in Chelsea will show every game and will have food and drink specials including beer buckets, wings from Pen’n’Coop, fried chicken from Kinn Thai and more. Guests can also book a private room with a dedicated bartender in the speakeasy. The market has its own ESPN March Madness brackets for both the women’s and men’s tournaments. Grand prizes for five winners include a private watch party for an upcoming sporting event, a $500 gift certificate, Kinn Thai 7-course Tasting Menu for four, a 13-course meal for two at DDOBAR, and a full spa package at an upcoming Wellness Day.
Enjoy specialty food and drink at Gansevoort Meatpacking’s ground-floor bistro, The Chester. Both men’s and women’s games will play while fans snack on Chester burgers, sriracha wings and beef sliders. Drink specials include buckets of beer, margarita pitchers and an off-menu espresso martini pitcher. The Chester will host its own “Chester Champions Challenge,” a men’s bracket challenge offering the prize of a two night stay at Gansevoort Meatpacking for two, including drinks at the Gansevoort Rooftop and bottomless brunch at The Chester. Scan a QR code at the table when the check comes to complete the bracket between Sunday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 19.
March Madness offerings at The Chester
The cult favorite burger restaurant on the lower level of Thompson Central Park will be showing both men’s and women’s games and serving newly introduced chicken wings. VIP fans can reserve plush armchairs complete with endless beer, burgers, fries and milkshakes for a gametime feast. Book four chairs for $600 by emailing LGATP-SMB-VIP@thompsonhotels.com.
Head to Fort Greene for a pop-up women’s sports bar from Athena Keke’s on Sunday, April 7 to watch the championship women’s NCAA game. Before that, visit the multiscreen neighborhood venue for great food and drinks and multiple screens to watch concurrent games.