“March Madness” hits Maricopa

It’s March; for many sports fans, the greatest month of the year. It’s when the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament takes place. It’s when dreams are fulfilled – and dreams are broken.

It’s also a time of slacking for an estimated 59 million American workers. But while most employers are dreading their part of the inevitable loss in productivity, which could total a whopping $3.8 billion nationally, according to outplacement consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, some Maricopa companies anticipate an increase in sales.

Native New Yorker, Maricopa’s first sports bar located in the Bashas’ center, is bracing for a deluge of college hoops fans. Owner Pat Kieny expects a spike in sales in March and is in the process of replacing the 24 TVs in his restaurant and bar with even newer models.

Arena Sports Grill opened for business Feb. 16 in The Shops at Maricopa Fiesta. Arena has 13 HD plasma TVs and a 10-foot projection screen.

Ramsey’s American Grill offers yet another option to watch the games. The restaurant in the Fry’s Marketplace Center has seven TVs and three satellite dishes and, according to owner Ramsey Harkness, will show whatever games are being telecast.

Both Native New Yorker and Arena Sports Grill will be showing every tournament game. But if you’re one of those fans who shouldn’t be in public when cheering your team come tournament time, Orbitel Communications is showing all 63 games on its cable system. Complementing local CBS affiliate KPHO-TV 5, Orbitel has added channels 195, 196 and 905 and is providing them at no cost to its customers.

“It’s really cool to be able to do this,” Oribtel’s president and CEO Keith Kirkman said. “We’re really excited to be able to use our digital technology to deliver all of the games to our customers at no additional cost.”

Orbitel and Native New Yorker have also collaborated to host a citywide “office” pool dubbed Maricopa Madness. The online contest is free of charge and open to anyone 21 years or older. More than $1,000 in prizes are at stake. Fans can enter via https://www.inmaricopa.com/sports/ncaa.html before 9 a.m. Thursday.

So if you haven’t already made your initial contribution to the $3.8 billion in lost productivity, you have a few hours left before “March Madness” officially hits Maricopa.