5 Places To Watch March Madness Sweet 16, Elite Eight In Chicago This Weekend

Written By Joe Boozell on March 23, 2022
MarchMadnessFans

The men’s basketball NCAA Tournament resumes on Thursday, and sports fans will be treated to four more days of March Madness.

Plenty of brackets are busted, but we have an interesting field remaining. Three 1-seeds (Kansas, Gonzaga and Arizona) are still standing, and so is a 15-seed in St. Peter’s.

You can bet on March Madness at Illinois online sports betting apps, and now that Illinois and Loyola Chicago are eliminated, there are no restrictions.

If you care to leave the house to catch the games, here are five of the best places to watch March Madness in Chicago.

United Center (West Town)

We’ll start with the obvious, as you can actually see one of the regionals in person.

That’s right; the Midwest Regional will be at the United Center on Friday and Sunday.

Providence will take on Kansas first, followed by Iowa State vs. Miami on Friday. Then, the two winners will square off on Sunday for a chance to reach the Final Four.

Eventually, there will be a retail sportsbook at the United Center. FanDuel and the UC came to an agreement earlier this year, but they have yet to open the facility.

With that said, there is hope that United Center Sportsbook will open in time for the next basketball/hockey season.

Address: 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60612

Park Tavern (West Town)

If you’re looking for a place to go before or after attending a game at the United Center or want to be near the action, Park Tavern is a great option. It’s around the corner from the arena.

Park Tavern has plenty of space, huge TVs, a beer garden and a wide array of food and drink selections. The feel can be described as an “urban lodge.” It has upscale pub food and plenty of craft beers.

Address: 1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612

Over/Under (Lincoln Park)

Over/Under is a new sports bar in Lincoln Park, and if the name didn’t give it away, it has a sports betting theme.

There is no shortage of TV screens, and odds are constantly rotating for everyone to see. While this isn’t technically a retail sportsbook, it is a great place to go and bet on March Madness games on your mobile device. If that’s not your thing, it also has excellent food and drink options in a passionate sporting event atmosphere.

Over/Under says it offers a “Las Vegas sportsbook viewing experience,” and it’s right in the heart of one of Chicago’s most popular neighborhoods, Lincoln Park.

Address: 2723 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614

Joe’s On Weed (Near north)

Hoops and music fans, this one is for you. If you’re someone who enjoys the March Madness action and a live music show afterward, Joe’s on Weed is an ideal spot.

Joe’s says it specializes in live sports and music. There are massive TV screens and 20,000 square feet of space, as well as bar food and more drink options than you can likely imagine.

Joe’s is technically an Illini bar, and they have been eliminated. While that’s a bummer for many Illinoisans, one silver lining is that it could make securing a spot at Joe’s much easier.

Address: 940 W. Weed St., Chicago, IL 60642

Fatpour Tap Works (Wicker Park)

The Wicker Park location is the original, but there is also a new Fatpour near McCormick Place for those interested.

Fatpour is two stories, has a modern and sleek feel on the inside and is known for its extensive beer options. As far as bar food goes, Fatpour is near the top of the list in Chicago.

The Wicker Park location is also near several other bars, so you can go to multiple places if you’d like.

Address: 2005 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622

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Joe Boozell

Joe Boozell has also been a college sports writer for NCAA.com since 2015. His work has also appeared in Bleacher Report, FoxSports.com and NBA.com. Growing up, Boozell squared off against both Anthony Davis and Frank Kaminsky in the Chicagoland basketball scene ... you can imagine how that went.

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