5 to try: Where to watch March Madness

March 18th, 2009, 10:18 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Jess Harter

Few sports-viewing experiences can rival the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Dubbed “March Madness,” it’s a 19-day rollercoaster ride of amazing plays, emotional gut checks and, every year, a few small-school Davids that slay a hoops Goliath or two.

Here are five East Valley sports bars with lots of TVs and pretty good food that’ll open by 9 a.m. for first-round games (which tip off as early as 9:20 a.m.) and continue to offer specials throughout the tourney:

Majerle’s Sports Grill: The former Phoenix Suns player’s 20-TV sports bar (pictured above) at Chandler Fashion Center will offer basketball-shooting contests in the parking lot and give away Suns tickets during first-round games. Tournament-long specials include $10 buckets of four Bud or Bud Light bottles, $3 Bud Light drafts and $5 baskets of skins, tacos, sliders and wings during games. 3095 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, (480) 899-7999.

Blue 32 Sports Grill: Twenty-eight TVs allow you to watch multiple games from just about any seat at this new place just west of SanTan Village. Enjoy $2.50 Miller Lite and Coors Light during games. Fans can fill out a free NCAA bracket to win prizes. Food specials, not yet determined, will change for each round of the tournament. 1524 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert, (480) 963-0032.

McDuffy’s Grille: This Chandler neighborhood hangout, which has 20 TVs inside and on its enclosed patio, does $4.99 Burger Madness every Thursday, $7.39 beer-battered cod Fridays and $1 chef’s sliders Saturday. Drink specials include $3.50 wheat or white beers Thursday, $4.50 glasses of wine Friday and $3.50 domestic drafts Saturday. 980 E. Pecos Road, Chandler, (480) 966-8200.

Payton’s Place: Nine of this south Gilbert sports bar’s 16 TVs are on the wall behind the bar, allowing you to follow all the first-round games at the same time. Food and drink specials change daily. Get $5.95 burgers and $1 off all drinks Friday, $225 drafts Saturday and $2.25 bottles Sunday. Its Tempe location will have similar specials. 4903 S. Val Vista Drive, Gilbert, (480) 855-5242.

First Round Draft: Buy this sports bar’s special NCAA Tournament t-shirt for $20 and pay happy-hour prices during all games. That means $1.75 domestic pints and $2 domestic bottles, as well as half off all appetizers like chicken fingers, jalapeno poppers and nachos. Games will be shown on more than 50 TVs. 1520 W. Warner Road, Gilbert, (480) 497-2445.

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