The VIP Experience: A Day in the Life of a March Madness Attendee
In the words of Final Four Ambassador Sean Elliot: “The Final Four is different. The Final Four almost transcends sports.”
Is it any surprise, then, that the NCAA chose San Antonio to host one of the most prestigious sports events of the year?
Given our city’s historic reputation for excellence, beauty, and charm, prospective March Madness attendees squealed with delight at the announcement, seizing the immediate opportunity to book a first-class ticket to the Alamo City for the weekend of March 31-April 2nd.
And while all fans and guests will surely enjoy a thrilling game, only a few attendees will be privy to the exclusive VIP treatment.
Curious as to what the VIP experience holds? Below, we’ve compiled a sort of “day in the life” feature...courtside seats, elite access to private events, and other luxury features that most basketball fans can only dream of.
Image Courtesy of Hotel Emma
The Accommodations
When the proverbial red carpet is rolled out for the arrival of March Madness guests, they will surely arrive in style. Upon their welcome into the sparkling Alamo City, these elite guests will trickle into San Antonio’s most exclusive hotels, from the opulent, historic Menger to the Pearl’s boutique Hotel Emma.
Once settled in, these prestigious guests will set out to explore the city, from luxury shopping to fine dining. We recommend a guided tour of historic San Antonio landmarks or a private dinner cruise down San Antonio Riverwalk for a classic experience.
The Pre-Game Experience
For an all-inclusive pre-game experience, most fans will head to the acclaimed Final Four Fan Experience at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio (see the overview and schedule here). This proverbial “sports wonderland” will feature interactive games, special celebrity and athlete appearances, autograph signings, and more.
Meanwhile, VIP guests will surely opt for the VIP Pre-Game Experience, complete with all-session hospitality (for $575 per person). Besides rubbing elbows with talent, coaches, and surprise celebrity guests, this all-inclusive event will feature an open bar, deluxe food stations, entertainment, interactive games, music, and so much more. This Official Pregame NCAA VIP Experience is located at the San Antonio Convention Center and is open pregame, allowing guests to sip champagne and cocktails with the most famous guests in the Alamodome!
The Game-Day Experience
Image courtesy of the NCAA March Madness Facebook Page
Attendance of the March Madness Final Four tournament practically necessitates a luxury lifestyle. Given that all-inclusive tickets start at $1,050 and skyrocket upwards of $13,000 (for “Courtside Club” ticket holders), both individual ticket-holders and suite guests are inherently elite.
The premium in-stadium Courtside Club is located directly behind the accompanying ticketed seats from gate opening until the end of the games...meaning delicious regional food stations, snacks, and unlimited soft drinks, and premium bar service is available from the moment you sit down to the end of the thrilling evening! Besides the highly acclaimed food and drink service, guests will enjoy photo ops with NCAA Final Four Trophy!
A peek inside the lives of Alamodome Suite guests includes multiple HDTVs, WiFi, wet bar and kitchenette, premium theater-style balcony seating, and upscale furnishings (along with a personal suite attendant).
The After-Party Experience
After a Final Four tournament, even the most polished voices are sure to be hoarse from cheering. After that final whistle and those last thrilling plays, it’s time to let down those perfectly set curls and unwind. The March Madness Music Festival at the newly renovated Hemisfair Park will feature exclusive musical guests (TBA), and several venues around the city will offer you the chance to sip champagne and cocktails with the tournament’s most famous guests (previous have ranged from Bill Murray to the Kardashians to Kendrick Lamar!).
We can hardly wait for March, when this highly-anticipated men’s basketball championship series (and its devoted fans) will make its way to the heart of the Alamo City, an urban center marked by the very definition of opulence, luxury, and style...a lifestyle summed up perfectly in the VIP March Madness experience!
Schedule of NCAA Final Four Activities:
(Times subject to change; see the official schedule here for updates!)
Friday, March 30th:
10:00 AM: Reese’s Final Four Friday doors open
11:00 AM - 7:00 PM: Final Four Fan Fest
4:00 -10:00 PM: March Madness Music Festival
Saturday, March 31st:
10:00 AM-7:00 PM: Final Four Fan Fest
2:00 -10:00 PM: March Madness Music Festival
TBA: National Semifinal Game #1
TBA: National Semifinal Game #2
Sunday, April 1st:
11:00 AM-6:00 PM: Final Four Fan Fest
3:00 -10:00 PM: March Madness Music Festival
3:00 PM: Final Four Dribble
Monday, April 2nd:
11:00 AM-6:00 PM: Final Four fan fest
TBA: National Championship Game
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