Best Spots To Watch The NCAA Tournament
It's tournament time! Get your NCAA bracket together, a group of friends and head to any one of these sports bars/restaurants to enjoy the games on big screens while also getting some great deals on food and drinks. From city to suburbs, we've got you covered with several locations to take in your favorite college basketball games.
Big 10 Restaurant
3 Locations - Stadium Village, Hopkins, Owatonna
Website
It's named after an NCAA conference, so you can't go wrong pulling up a bar stool or sitting in a booth at one of the three locations. Their homepage even has the daily schedule of sporting events they'll have on their television screens that circle the restaurant. For some game day nourishment, try some award-winning chicken wings and subs made exactly how you want it. They even advertise daily specials like two-for-one drinks and appetizers specials. Check their website for any NCAA deals they'll offer at the different locations.
Joe Senser's
4 Locations - Bloomington, Eagan, Plymouth, Roseville
Website
Their motto "If the game is on – it's on at Senser's!" will ring true for the dozens and dozens of basketball games you can watch on their big screen with your own, personal speaker tuned to your game of choice. Besides, Sports Illustrated can't be wrong since they named Joe Senser's the 15th best sports bar in America. Want to bring your laptop to keep an eye on your NCAA pool? They've got free WiFi for that! Check their website or follow them on Twitter for the latest specials.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Several locations
Website
You can't go wrong with a basket full of finger-lickin' wings, a cold drink and a large TV in front of you to enjoy every NCAA moment between bites. Not down with wings? They've got a huge menu with appetizers, burgers and salads galore. If you've never been to a Buffalo Wild Wings, the NCAA tourney is the time to try it out with all their food and drink specials. They've even got a Bracket Challenge you can sign up for with prizes that include an iPad and gift cards (note: it's a national contest, so hope you're a good picker!).
The Ugly Mug
106 N. Third Street
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612-343-5930
Website
Promising to open early (6:30 a.m. M-F) and stay open late (2 a.m.) for March Madness, the Ugly Mug is the place to enjoy the games and a cold beer -- they've got 20 beers on tap and more than 40 bottled beers. For the tourney, the Ugly Mug will have appetizer, food and drink specials. And if their eight-hour happy hour ($3 waffle fries, tater tots, onion rings and $3 rails and calls) is any indication of the specials they serve, you're in for a good deal at a great place. As for the TVs, keep your eyeballs glued to 16 HD flat screen TVs or their 5x8 projection screen with theater seating.
Champps Americana
If you're looking to be surrounded by TVs, every angle you turn, then head to Champps. The first location opened more than 25 years ago in St. Paul and they now have nine locations in Minnesota and several others in more than a dozen states. They've got the "typical" sports bar food but also serve delicious entrees from ribs to salmon to pasta. As for March Madness specials, you'll want to check the individual locations to see what they'll offer. A favorite at the Minnetonka location -- the wall of TVs, enough to make you dizzy.
Tiffany Sports Lounge
2051 Ford Parkway
St. Paul, MN 55116
651-690-4747
Website
If you're a Kansas basketball fan, you probably already know about Tiffany's ... and if you want to be surrounded by Kansas fans for the NCAA tournament, this is your place. You might recognize the lounge's name from this last Super Bowl since Tiffany's is also a huge Packer bar. As for March Madness, this place boasts more than a dozen HDTVs and two 120-inch big screens. Look for specials on their bar food fare from burgers to apps to KU smoked beef brisket.
Mad Jacks
935 County Road East
Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
651-287-3900
Website
For a more "cozy" atmosphere and a menu selection larger than bar food, check out Mad Jacks in Vadnais Heights. Mad Jacks boasts that they were the first place in Minnesota to have TVs right in your booth for "all your sport watching needs." Of course, the restaurant and bar also have plenty of LCD, HDTVs to catch the action on a bigger screen. Their menu is huge -- from homemade, flatbread pizzas to rotisserie chicken and grilled ribs. Take advantage of their daily food specials and happy hour deals (seven days a week) to make the viewing experience all the more enjoyable.
