Pack Attack

How to watch—and where to light it red in Raleigh

First things first: Go Pack 🐺🏀! NC State men’s and women’s basketball teams are each playing in the Final Four this weekend, with the women’s team set for a Friday night faceoff against South Carolina at 7pm and the male Cinderella shooter’s taking the court against Purdue Saturday night at ~6pm. 

As the Pack preps for a duo of (hopeful) dubs, here are a lineup of local spots to witness NC State wolf out a win or commiserate an L this weekend—or beyond (🤞) when the championship game takes place Sunday, April 7, for the ladies and Monday, April 8, for the gents. Wake up, Wolfpack—and get ready to light it red this week! No matter what happens, it’s surely been a March Madness to remember! See you at the Belltower? #WPN

Game Times

NCAAW | Friday, April 5, 7pm, ESPN/ESPN+, 3 seed NC State vs. 1 seed South Carolina
NCAAW | Friday, April 5, 9pm, ESPN/ESPN+, 3 seed UCONN vs. 1 seed Iowa

NCAAM | Saturday, April 6, 6:09pm, TBS/TNT/truTV, 11 seed NC State  vs. 1 seed Purdue
NCAAM | Saturday, April 6, 8:49pm,  TBS/TNT/truTV, 4 seed Alabama vs. 1 seed UCONN

NCAAW | Sunday, April 7, 3pm, National Championship, ABC, winner of NCSU/USC vs. winner of UCONN/Iowa

NCAAM | Monday, April 8, 9:20pm, National Championship, TBS/TNT/truTV, winner of NCSU/Purdue vs. winner of Alabama/UCONN

Prime Watch Spots

Players Retreat
Packed from the start, this OG NC State go-to watch spot is sure to be a packed house this weekend—blasting volume like you’re at the game itself. Go for the could-be-in-Phoenix (without Raleigh FOMO) feels, stay for the comfort food (burgers FTW)… and to (🤞🏼) witness some Wolfpack dubs. Added bonus: It’s an easy jump to the Belltower. @theplayersretreat

Mitch’s Tavern
A fan fave for its prime locale on Hillsborough Street (read: also less time sprinting to the Belltower after the final buzzer), travel the stairs to the tavern for fab fare and team camaraderie. Pro tip: Go at least two hours before tipoff. @mitchstavern.raleigh

Amedeo’s
A true NC State staple (and literally built on a history of Pack athletics), Amedeo’s touts all the collegiate memorabilia to percolate the good game day energy—so book your watch party rez and bite your nails alongside dozens of your closest friends. Pro tip: Order the Pack Pasta to fuel all the cheering! @amedeos_restaurant

The Avenue
Adding one more DJ to mix—NTM huge outdoor screens, Jenga during commercial breaks and a spinning tunes postgame to amp up the winning party or lessen the blow of an L—the hoppin’ alfresco-esque garage-bar vibes have been a huge draw for a howlin’ good game time, offering an outdoor sprawling playground all weekendlong. @theavenueraleigh

TheMixx
If you’re in north of West Raleigh and want to Mixx up March madness, vibe and imbibe at this wolf den for a (hopeful) Wolfpack win! @themixx_raleigh

Tobacco Road Sports Cafe
A weekly in-season fave for State fans—it’s Tobacco Road, baby!—the sports cafe is a primo Wolfpack watch spot for its smattering of TVs. …  And those Wolfpack Wings don’t hurt anybody’s chances at a good time, win or lose. @tobaccoroadnc

My Way Tavern
Fingers crossed WPN has it their way! Regardless, good sportsmanship and loaded menu selects abound at a neighborhood tavern plenty of Wolfpackers deem worth watching at. @mywayraleigh

Carolina Ale House
If the strength of the wolf is the Pack, find plenty of wolves to pack in with raising the roof on Glenwood South at this game-day go-to. Pro tip: Cheetos wings and $5 March Madness margs, natch. @carolinaalehouse

The Davie 
Where our Wolfpack at? RM’s Best Game Day Bar for a reason—this DTR watering hole has been a popular watch party spot all March long. @thedavieraleigh

Woody’s Sports Tavern
Another RM Best Game Day Bar you’ll find plenty of revelry and fans throwing up Wolfies at. Come for the camaraderie, stay for the “best damn wings in the Triangle.” @woodyscitymarket