March Madness continues to be major draw for city

Despite men’s NCAA Tournament games being played elsewhere this week at sites across the country, Las Vegas has become basketball central during March Madness.

Two of the three busiest weekends (based on Friday and Saturday occupancy) in Las Vegas over the past two years coincided with the NCAA Tournament, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Hotel occupancy during the first week of March Madness in 2016 in Las Vegas hit 98.8 percent, the highest percentage of that year, the LVCVA said. The 98.5 percent rate for the first week of the tournament in 2017 tied for No. 2 that year. Week 2 of the tournament was among the top 10 hotel occupancy weeks in 2016 but jumped to No. 2 in a tie with Week 1 of the tournament, at 98.5 percent, in 2017.

The LVCVA said the occupancy rate numbers can’t officially be tied to the NCAA Tournament, as hotels don’t have the data to pinpoint the reason for their guests to book rooms, and because the tournament occurs over multiple days. But with Las Vegas increasingly catering to fans during March Madness, it appears to be no coincidence.

Compared with last year, Mccarran International Airport is anticiapating a boost in passengers during this year’s first two weeks of the NCAA Tournament.

Mccarran expects 1.85 million passengers (coming and going) to travel through Mccarran from March 11 to March 24. The estimate represents an 8.4percent increase over March 14-26, 2017, which coincided with the first two weeks of last year’s tournament.

Mccarran spokeswoman Christine Crews said the increase could not be linked with certainty to the tournament, since it is contested on multiple days.

Hotel properties across the Strip and throughout the Las Vegas Valley host a bevy of watch parties, drawing droves of fans, and the accessibility to legal sports gambling is a big draw as well. The American Gaming Association estimates about $300 million will be wagered on the 2018 NCAA Tournament in Nevada sports books.

After tournament games this week taking place Tuesday through Sunday, next week’s games take place Thursday through March 25 at four regional venues. Final Four matchups are set for March 31 with the national championship to be settled April 2.