Excitement builds in businesses as they prepare for March Madness in Seattle
Eight teams, thousands of fans and millions of dollars will be coming to Seattle as the Emerald City plays host to the first and second rounds of the March Madness NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Oregon, Colorado State, Arizona, Grand Canyon, Memphis, Maryland, Liberty and Akron are the universities picked to play at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday and Sunday.
“March Madness is just the best time of year. It’s my favorite sports competition in general,” Sam Jain said. “It’s really anyone’s game, you can be a one seed or a 16 seed and you never know what’s going to happen.”
Sam and his friend Nick Smyrnov watched the selections roll in at Atlas Sports & Spirits, perusing Ticketmaster to punch their own tickets to the game. The two have their eyes on the second-round doubleheader next Sunday.
“It’s what is motivating me to look for tickets for this game—the college atmosphere. I don’t think you can get it anywhere else,” Smyrnov said.
While Smyrnov and Jain are locals, though trying to get a group to pregame with them before the games next weekend, spending from the fans of teams coming into town has the potential to generate millions of dollars spent in Seattle during the weekend round of games. At the MarQueen Hotel, they watched their rooms fill up minutes after the selections were announced.
“We’re hoping to sell out almost all of our rooms and in just the last hour we booked seven rooms which is like quite quick,” Kennady Brantley, with the MarQueen Hotel in Lower Queen Anne.
Brantley says Climate Pledge events noticeably help their business. With a long weekend of events like this, it’s several days of good vibes.
“It’s just the best. The buzz in the air, the excitement, everyone is in a good mood it’s wonderful,” Brantley said.
In previous years, the Seattle Sports Commission reported as much as $6 million is spent by traveling fans when they are in town. Helping Seattle’s case, teams like Colorado State, Arizona, Grand Canyon and especially Oregon have a relatively short way to go.
“Oregon being here I expect it’s going to be pretty crazy, I’m looking forward to it,” said Marco Alvarado, owner of Atlas Sports Bar.
It’s Alvarado’s first time open during a March Madness tournament, though he feels like he had a preview in December when Climate Pledge hosted Kentucky and Gonzaga in an overtime thriller.
“We were a Kentucky bar for the night. We didn’t ask to be, but they didn’t give us a choice and it was great.” Alvarado said.
Topics
-
Get to know the men's basketball teams headed to Milwaukee for March Madness
These are the 10 teams ticketed for Milwaukee (or for Dayton, with a chance to play in Milwaukee) in the first round of the 2025 NCAA tournament.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Oregon basketball vs. Liberty in men's NCAA Tournament: March Madness 'never gets old'
It’s Oregon basketball vs. Liberty in March Madness to open its NCAA Tournament men’s bracket. Here’s what Oregon said about the first-round game.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
NCAA tournament selection metrics used to build March Madness bracket, explained
The men's NCAA Tournament selection committee team sheets have seven metrics for building March Madness bracket. Here's a breakdown of each one.Yahoo Sports - 3d -
March Madness bracket 2025: NCAA tournament first round schedule
The 68-team NCAA tournament field is set. Here's the 2025 March Madness first round schedule, including First Four and all four regions.Yahoo Sports - 13h -
Where Cleveland's first/second-round matchups stand in March Madness bracket predictions
Cleveland first/second-round March Madness bracketology and predictions on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Nebraska to play Louisville in NCAA Tournament
The Nebraska women's basketball team is taking part in March Madness. The Cornhuskers will play the Louisville Cardinals in Friday's first round.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Oregon vs. Liberty officially set. Time, date for March Madness first round game
What time does Oregon basketball play Liberty in March Madness Round of 64? Here’s time, date, TV for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Vanderbilt vs. Saint Mary's officially set. Time, date for March Madness first round game
What time does Vanderbilt basketball play Saint Mary's in March Madness Round of 64? Here’s time, date, TV for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Oregon vs. Vanderbilt in March Madness: Prediction for 2025 NCAA Tournament opener
It's Oregon vs. Vanderbilt in the first round of the 2025 Women's NCAA Tournament. Here's our prediction for the March Madness basketball game.Yahoo Sports - 9h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Rodriguez takes a common sense approach to analytics
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that analytics have a place in college football. Rodriguez has learned some really beneficial things from looking at the analytics but he doesn’t ...Yahoo Sports - 7m -
Two ESPN experts pick Rams' addition of Davante Adams as the best move of NFL free agency
The Rams made a splash by signing Davante Adams and two ESPN experts say it's the best move any team has made in free agencyYahoo Sports - 11m -
Manchester City need reliable players and not ‘more’ players insists Pep Guardiola in transfer message
Pep Guardiola has sent a clear message of intent to Manchester City’s chief decision makers over the club’s strategy moving forward into the next campaign.City are set to undergo a major squad ove...Yahoo Sports - 12m -
Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State
Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Lady Vols versus South Florida basketball TV channel, streaming in NCAA Tournament
A look at TV channel and streaming information for the Lady Vols versus South Florida basketball in the NCAA Tournament first round.Yahoo Sports - 16m
More in Sports
-
Rodriguez takes a common sense approach to analytics
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez believes that analytics have a place in college football. Rodriguez has learned some really beneficial things from looking at the analytics but he doesn’t ...Yahoo Sports - 7m -
Two ESPN experts pick Rams' addition of Davante Adams as the best move of NFL free agency
The Rams made a splash by signing Davante Adams and two ESPN experts say it's the best move any team has made in free agencyYahoo Sports - 11m -
Manchester City need reliable players and not ‘more’ players insists Pep Guardiola in transfer message
Pep Guardiola has sent a clear message of intent to Manchester City’s chief decision makers over the club’s strategy moving forward into the next campaign.City are set to undergo a major squad ove...Yahoo Sports - 12m -
Ronald Acuna Jr. says he'll be more careful this season -- but no one believes him
From 40/70 to 40/30? The Braves' 2023 NL MVP is rehabbing with a plan to be stronger -- and healthier.ESPN - 14m -
Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong for Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State
Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi opens up about what went wrong against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.Yahoo Sports - 15m