Starting March 17th, something happens in offices across North America: the sports fans emerge! March Madness is one of the most talked-about sporting events of the year and can be a great way to bring some joy and laughs to your team. Here are three ways to make March Madness a joyful moment for everyone!
1. Run an Office Bracket Challenge
Bracket pools are the entry point for anyone who’s never watched a game in their life. The beauty of a bracket challenge is that it’s randomized, so everyone has a fair shot!
How to make it work:
- Use a free bracket tool (ESPN, NCAA.com) and share the group link in Slack or email on Selection Sunday.
- Add low-stakes prizes: a $10 gift card, a free WFH day, or simply “bragging rights on the leaderboard.”
- Post weekly leaderboard updates to build anticipation and keep conversation going through the tournament.
- Keep it light hearted and fun!
Pro tip: Pair your bracket challenge with themed trivia rounds in CrowdParty to kick off the tournament week!
2. Host a Game-Day Watch Party (In-Person or Virtual)
Nothing builds friendly competition like watching a game unfold together in real time! March Madness is packed with buzzer-beaters, upsets, and Cinderella stories that create instant laughs and memories for the team.
For in-person teams:
- Book the conference room during a First Round game.
- Set up snacks, a TV or monitor, and an easy sign-up link so people can drop in and out.
- Run a quick icebreaker, SocialBingo, or trivia game before the game tips off to warm up the room!
For remote or hybrid teams:
- Schedule a 30-minute optional video call during a key game window.
- Start with a 10-minute CrowdParty March Madness trivia round so even people not watching the game feel included.
- Post a running bracket leaderboard in a dedicated Slack channel throughout the tournament for the async team members too!
3. Play a March Madness Trivia Game With Your Team
Instead of coordinating a watch party or managing a bracket pool logistics chain, you drop a game into your team’s daily workflow and let CrowdParty do the work!
CrowdParty’s March Madness room is pre-curated and ready to run within a few clicks! Share a QR code or link, and your team can join on any device! CrowdParty's March Madness room blends basketball trivia with fun, delightful rounds that keeps the whole team laughing and bonding.
When should I use CrowdParty?
- The first 10 minutes of your team standup
- As an async game shared via Slack for teams across time zones or as a daily challenge
- Before your watch party kicks off, as an icebreaker
FAQ: March Madness at the Office
Is it okay to celebrate March Madness at work?
Absolutely! The goal is to create connection and joy. A bracket pool, a themed game, or a casual watch party are all low-effort, high-reward team fun for March Madness.
What if half my team doesn’t follow basketball?
That’s totally fine, and expected! Games like CrowdParty mix basketball trivia with fun personality questions that anyone can enjoy. The shared experience is what matters, not basketball knowledge!
What’s the easiest way to celebrate March Madness at work?
Run a CrowdParty March Madness trivia game on a team call or create an async game. It takes under two minutes to set up, works on any device, and doesn’t require anyone to know anything about basketball!
Bring instant joy to the workplace for March Madness with CrowdParty!
