March Madness 2025: Food Deals and More to Enhance Your Tournament Experience
College basketball fans, prepare for an exhilarating ride! March Madness 2025 is upon us, promising weeks of thrilling upsets, nail-biting finishes, and unforgettable moments. From the opening tip-off of the men’s NCAA Tournament Round of 64 on Thursday, March 20th, to the crowning of the champions, expect your eyes to be glued to screens of all sizes. Whether you’re huddled around a TV with friends, streaming on your smartphone, or catching the action on a tablet, the excitement is palpable.
The men’s tournament action unfolds rapidly, with the remaining half of the Round of 64 games taking place on Friday, March 21st. The stakes rise significantly as teams battle for a coveted spot in the Sweet Sixteen on Saturday, March 22nd, and Sunday, March 23rd.
The women’s NCAA Tournament kicks off with its own brand of excitement, beginning with a First Four game on Thursday before the official Round of 64 starts on Friday. The first two rounds of the women’s tournament will be played through Monday, March 24th.
With all this basketball to consume, it’s inevitable that hunger will strike. Thankfully, numerous restaurants and businesses are offering special deals and promotions to fuel your March Madness viewing experience. Remember to check your local establishments’ social media accounts for even more localized offers.
Fueling Your Fandom: Food & Drink Deals
-
Wendy’s: As the "Official Hamburger of March Madness," Wendy’s is bringing back its popular app-based deal. Through April 13th, you can score a $1 Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or a $1 Double Stack with any purchase made through the Wendy’s app. This deal is available daily, providing a consistent stream of affordable burger goodness. The app does require a minimum purchase, so make sure to factor that in.
-
KFC: Just in time for the tournament, KFC has introduced Mashed Potato Poppers to their menu! These fried morsels of mashed potato are available à la carte, but the real deal lies in the "Dunk It Bucket" combos. The standard Dunk It Bucket ($7) includes two Original Recipe Tenders, an individual size of Secret Recipe Fries, five Mashed Potato Poppers, and your choice of three dipping sauces. For a larger gathering, the Double Dunk It Bucket ($25) offers ten Original Recipe Tenders, two individual sizes of Secret Recipe Fries, ten Mashed Potato Poppers, four Biscuits, and six sauce choices. Don’t forget to check out the KFC Dunk It Collection merchandise on KFCShop.com, featuring items like a mini basketball and hoop.
-
Dave & Buster’s: Gather your crew at Dave & Buster’s to catch all the March Madness action on their 30-plus TVs while enjoying arcade games. For the opening rounds on Thursday and Friday, enjoy 20 wings for $20 and $5 draft beers. This deal returns on April 7th for the men’s championship game. You can also grab the Eat & Play Combo, which includes a $10 Power Card and your choice of entrées such as BBQ Ribs or an All-American Smash Burger, starting at $19.99 per person. For ultimate entertainment, consider the Unlimited Game Play upgrade for 90 minutes of unlimited arcade fun at $59.99. Note that the Eat & Play Combo offer is not valid after 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and some location restrictions may apply.
-
Grubhub & Seamless: Food delivery giants Grubhub and Seamless, now operating as one company, are offering a variety of deals throughout the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments and the finals on April 6th (women) and April 7th (men). Amazon Prime subscribers with Grubhub+ can take advantage of a special offer: $5 off your order of $20 or more using the code HOOP5. This code can be redeemed twice between now and April 7th. Keep an eye out for other Grubhub promotions that don’t require a code or Grubhub+ subscription.
-
Yard House: For beer aficionados, Yard House is hosting an "IPA Madness" promotion through April 7th. For $15, you’ll get a flight of four IPAs, then choose a full pint of your favorite. The current IPA lineup includes Oskar Blues Dale’s American IPA, Founders Mortal Bloom Hazy IPA, Boulevard Space Camper Juice Nova IPA, and Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA. The IPA that proves to be the most popular will be added to the beer menu for a full year! A $5 Pint Pass grants you a refill on any beer once per day with a food purchase. Yard House is also introducing limited-time food items, including Cheeseburger Pizza, Loaded Beer Cheese Fries, and Crispy Szechuan Ribs. On National Beer Day (April 7th), Yard House will offer $10 half yards of select house beers at participating locations. Lastly, whenever there’s an upset in the men’s tournament during the opening weekend, you can get a free sandwich with a purchase of $15 or more the following day. This offer is valid from Thursday, March 20th, to Monday, March 24th, on online orders or via the Arby’s app.
-
P.F. Chang’s: Embrace the chaos of March Madness with P.F. Chang’s "Busted Bracket? Lettuce Help" promotion. If your bracket is already looking like a disaster, bring a copy to P.F. Chang’s and you can get free Lettuce Wraps with the purchase of any entrée. This offer is valid from March 20th to April 7th at participating locations.
Beyond Food: Looking Good for the Games
- Great Clips: March Madness deals extend beyond food! You can snag $10 off a haircut at Great Clips through April 4th. Keep an eye out for their television commercial featuring actor/comedian Mikey Day (from Saturday Night Live) and University of Kansas center Hunter Dickinson. Other student-athletes participating in the promotional campaign include University of Iowa guard Lucy Olsen and BYU guard Amari Whiting. Visit the Great Clips website to redeem the $10 discount.
Stay Connected & Discover More Deals
Remember to follow your favorite restaurants and businesses on social media for the latest updates on March Madness deals and promotions. These platforms often feature exclusive offers and discounts that you won’t want to miss.
Follow Mike Snider on Threads, Bluesky and X for more news and updates.
March Madness is more than just basketball; it’s about community, shared experiences, and indulging in your favorite foods and drinks while cheering on your teams. With these deals and promotions, you can make the most of this year’s tournament and create lasting memories. Now, grab your snacks, settle into your favorite viewing spot, and enjoy the Madness!
