Yes, it's only the middle of February, and no the brackets for the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament have yet to be announced, but it is never to early to start planning ahead for your March Madness 2012 travel and ticket arrangements, especially for those who will be traveling internationally.
March Madness is one of the most popular and oft-attended sporting events each year in the United States. The 68 best college basketball teams are seeded and placed in a giant bracket, and over three weeks of "madness" a single champion is determined. The final weekend is known as the "Final Four" and this year will be held in New Orleans.
Final Four tickets are predictably expensive, but that is far from the only venue or set of games worth going to. Take one look at the March Madness 2012 schedule and tickets information and you can see immediately that there are numerous options throughout the country where March Madness games can be attended. Though you won't know which teams are playing until Selection Sunday the first week in March, you can at least get an idea for where the tournament sites are located and which sets of games will be played where.
In addition to opening round games in the Dayton (known as the "First Four"), there are eight venues that host 2nd and 3rd games, then four regional sites that host the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 contests. Those regionals feed into the Final Four in New Orleans.
March Madness is one of the greatest events in sports, not just in the United States but worldwide. There is always drama, it features college athletes playing their hearts out on the grandest of stages, and it is a great time for proud alums to show their school spirit and even reconnect with old friends at the tournament venues.
If you're thinking of going though, don't hesitate to make plans. Tickets get gobbled up quickly, and plane/hotel reservations also must be made in advance. Otherwise, there will be a lot more "madness" for you in planning the trip than in watching the games!
