Times Union Center Gets Ready to Host March Madness

This March, college basketball madness is going to land in the Capital Region.

For the first time in 17 years, March Madness is going to be happening in our home turf, with the road to the Final Four happening at the Times Union Center.  The first and second rounds of the tournament will be at the TUC MArch 19th-21st, and since it's only a little over 3 months away, tickets already are on sale here.

I think I've made some mention before about my first experience at a March Madness tournament.  A little under a decade ago I was living in Salt Lake City, Utah when I opened the morning news and saw some tickets were released for the tournament the morning of the games.  As a ski racer, I didn't know much about college basketball, but my boyfriend at the time sure did.  So I grabbed the phone, called and bought us some tickets (yes, you still had to buy them on the phone and not online).  We went.  And I'm so glad we did.  To this day, it was the best sporting experience of my life.

In a packed arena in Salt Lake City, our tickets got us entry to two games, which happened to be two of the major upsets that 2010 tournament.  Xavier overtook Kansas State, and Butler overthrew Syracuse.  Two historic upsets, one brand new fan (me), and an almost-louder crowd than any concern I've been to.

March Madness has an energy of its own, and even if you're not a dedicated fan, this is an event to catch if you can.  I truly understood after going why the tournament is as famous as it is. As the Times Union reported, the TUC is eagerly getting ready for the games, with preparations going as planned.