ThatDonGuy
ThatDonGuy
  • Threads: 136
  • Posts: 7691
Joined: Jun 22, 2011
February 25th, 2026 at 12:08:53 PM permalink
Apparently, the newest "big thing" in Vegas is "parties" for the three weekends of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. However, in much the same way that the casinos (except for Caesar's, as it has a deal with the NFL) cannot use the term "Super Bowl," the NCAA has its own list of trademarks, including:
March Madness (actually, this one is licensed by the NCAA from the main Illinois high school athletics organization, which used it first)
Final Four (also Men's Final Four and Women's Final Four)
Elite Eight
NCAA Sweet Sixteen (just "sweet sixteen" is too generic)

As a result, during the three weekends of the tournament, we have:
Madness at the Bay (Mandalay Bay)
Mega March (Circa)
March to the Championship (Resorts World)
Note that Circa and Resorts World don't start theirs until March 18, which is the second day of the First Four (don't call them "play-in games" as the NCAA reserves that term for games where the winner gets into the tournament and the loser does not, and all eight of the First Four teams are "in the tournament") - something tells me there's something else going on in pretty much all of the bars on March 17.
AutomaticMonkey
AutomaticMonkey
  • Threads: 21
  • Posts: 1576
Joined: Sep 30, 2024
February 25th, 2026 at 12:45:48 PM permalink
Maybe all the locals casinos in Nevada with bowling alleys should exploit that fact.

"Want a night out that is Super? Bowl!"

What is the NFL going to say, that they can't call bowling bowling?
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 300
  • Posts: 20399
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
February 25th, 2026 at 1:30:43 PM permalink
The WWE has banned "watch parties" for Wrestlemania weekend within a 50-mile radius of the Stadium.
Based on last year's tremendous turnout, hotels and venues have already spent serious money on marketing and hiring special hosts for the events. The ban applies to any commercial venue in the area.
A weeklong 25% off promo last week didn't boost ticket sales much.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
SOOPOO
SOOPOO
  • Threads: 125
  • Posts: 12406
Joined: Aug 8, 2010
February 25th, 2026 at 2:52:58 PM permalink
Quote: billryan

The WWE has banned "watch parties" for Wrestlemania weekend within a 50-mile radius of the Stadium.
Based on last year's tremendous turnout, hotels and venues have already spent serious money on marketing and hiring special hosts for the events. The ban applies to any commercial venue in the area.
A weeklong 25% off promo last week didn't boost ticket sales much.
link to original post



I am stunned at what WWE is asking for tickets. The CHEAPEST seat for 1 night is over $260! Double that for the Saturday/Sunday combo. If you want to be near enough that you can see the fake punches it’s over a grand.

Did they just price themselves out of a sellout?
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 300
  • Posts: 20399
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
February 25th, 2026 at 3:23:13 PM permalink
It also appears that three of their biggest heels are down with possibly real injuries. The card looks weak at this point. I don't have ESPN+, so no more premium events.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
GenoDRPh
GenoDRPh
  • Threads: 14
  • Posts: 1137
Joined: Aug 4, 2022
February 25th, 2026 at 8:05:18 PM permalink
Quote: ThatDonGuy

Apparently, the newest "big thing" in Vegas is "parties" for the three weekends of the NCAA men's basketball tournament. However, in much the same way that the casinos (except for Caesar's, as it has a deal with the NFL) cannot use the term "Super Bowl," the NCAA has its own list of trademarks, including:
March Madness (actually, this one is licensed by the NCAA from the main Illinois high school athletics organization, which used it first)
Final Four (also Men's Final Four and Women's Final Four)
Elite Eight
NCAA Sweet Sixteen (just "sweet sixteen" is too generic)

As a result, during the three weekends of the tournament, we have:
Madness at the Bay (Mandalay Bay)
Mega March (Circa)
March to the Championship (Resorts World)
Note that Circa and Resorts World don't start theirs until March 18, which is the second day of the First Four (don't call them "play-in games" as the NCAA reserves that term for games where the winner gets into the tournament and the loser does not, and all eight of the First Four teams are "in the tournament") - something tells me there's something else going on in pretty much all of the bars on March 17.
link to original post



March 17? They must be celebrating Evacuation Day...
GenoDRPh
GenoDRPh
  • Threads: 14
  • Posts: 1137
Joined: Aug 4, 2022
February 25th, 2026 at 8:06:28 PM permalink
Quote: billryan

The WWE has banned "watch parties" for Wrestlemania weekend within a 50-mile radius of the Stadium.
Based on last year's tremendous turnout, hotels and venues have already spent serious money on marketing and hiring special hosts for the events. The ban applies to any commercial venue in the area.
A weeklong 25% off promo last week didn't boost ticket sales much.
link to original post



I'm sure some intrepid bar owner will bring in a cable box from home and get the event anyway.
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 300
  • Posts: 20399
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
February 25th, 2026 at 8:26:05 PM permalink
Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: billryan

The WWE has banned "watch parties" for Wrestlemania weekend within a 50-mile radius of the Stadium.
Based on last year's tremendous turnout, hotels and venues have already spent serious money on marketing and hiring special hosts for the events. The ban applies to any commercial venue in the area.
A weeklong 25% off promo last week didn't boost ticket sales much.
link to original post



I'm sure some intrepid bar owner will bring in a cable box from home and get the event anyway.
link to original post



All they need is a patron to record them showing the event, and they are screwed. WWE's parent organization is notorious for its bounties on illegal showings.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
ShadowVale44
ShadowVale44
  • Threads: 0
  • Posts: 24
Joined: Sep 6, 2025
March 3rd, 2026 at 3:32:08 AM permalink
At this rate we’ll get “Roundball Ruckus Weekend” and “Bracket Bash Extravaganza”

But seriously, does anyone actually care what it’s called as long as the games are on and the drinks are flowing?
ThatDonGuy
ThatDonGuy
  • Threads: 136
  • Posts: 7691
Joined: Jun 22, 2011
March 3rd, 2026 at 7:54:46 AM permalink
Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: billryan

The WWE has banned "watch parties" for Wrestlemania weekend within a 50-mile radius of the Stadium.
Based on last year's tremendous turnout, hotels and venues have already spent serious money on marketing and hiring special hosts for the events. The ban applies to any commercial venue in the area.
A weeklong 25% off promo last week didn't boost ticket sales much.
link to original post



I'm sure some intrepid bar owner will bring in a cable box from home and get the event anyway.
link to original post


Yes, because nobody has ever considered checking for these...
Seriously, the NFL was notorious for shutting down bars in the San Francisco area that were (choose one: using illegal equipment; registering a fake address with DirecTV) so they could air either a blacked-out Raiders home game or Fox's "game of the week" that the local Fox affiliate was not allowed to air because there was a Raiders home game being played at the same time, and never mind that the Raiders game was blacked out.
billryan
billryan
  • Threads: 300
  • Posts: 20399
Joined: Nov 2, 2009
March 3rd, 2026 at 9:13:02 AM permalink
In the 1980s, I ran afoul of Cablevision. I had an illegal box and showed a lot of stuff, but the thing they went after me for was a boxing PPV. I went to a hearing to fight it and saw a guy I thought was a regular, but who turned out to be a Cablevision inspector.
They gave me a choice: pay a few hundred dollars right then or face theft-of-service charges for myself and my bartenders. I took door #1.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
ThatDonGuy
ThatDonGuy
  • Threads: 136
  • Posts: 7691
Joined: Jun 22, 2011
March 10th, 2026 at 8:32:30 AM permalink
Quote: ThatDonGuy

As a result, during the three weekends of the tournament, we have:
Madness at the Bay (Mandalay Bay)
Mega March (Circa)
March to the Championship (Resorts World)
link to original post


Now including:
Basketball Bonanza (Palms)
ThatDonGuy
ThatDonGuy
  • Threads: 136
  • Posts: 7691
Joined: Jun 22, 2011
March 12th, 2026 at 11:32:08 AM permalink
Let's add: College Basketball Madness (El Cortez)
  • Jump to: