The NCAA Tournament is on its way, make sure you're ready with a basketball party

Date Created: 02/14/2012


Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament takes place on March 11, and then will  begin one of the most popular tournaments in American sports. The NCAA Men's basketball tournament causes businesses to lose thousands in lost productivity, begins office pools for the perfect brackets and truly lives up to the title of March Madness. With a full slate of games soon to be on the schedule, you can throw a basketball party to show your team pride. Keep the following tips in mind to avoid any scheduling conflicts and help your bash go smoothly.

1. Party invitations. Take a quick look at the NCAA Tournament schedule to see when the most important rounds will be played so you can plan accordingly. Ideally, you can throw your bash during the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight when the tourney is really heating up. Best of all, you can customize your party invitations to include your alma mater's team colors or whoever you're cheering for this year.

2. A personalized photo stand-in. If you're looking for a unique idea for party favors that won't break the bank, consider ordering a personalized photo stand-in. This features a picture of a basketball player soaring through the air for a slam dunk with a cut out for your friends to take a picture in. You can also make a few personalized picture frames quite easily with construction paper. Simply print out the photos, put them in the frames and your friends will have a wonderful memento of your get-together.

3. Game day cuisine. With a whole day of basketball on the docket, your friends will probably get a bit hungry, so consider whipping up something in a slow cooker. Whether it's chili or a delicious roast of pulled pork, your friends can indulge throughout the day and it will lessen the cleanup you'll have to do later on. You can also invest in team-themed party tableware and dress up your serving table with personalized banners, streamers and curling ribbon.

March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year, so if you don't want to be left out of the action, use these tips and a few basketball party supplies to throw this year's best sporting bash.

Tags: