Central Virginia fans gear up for March Madness travel as VCU and Richmond head to NCAA Tournament

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- College basketball fans in Central Virginia have plenty to cheer about as both Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the University of Richmond have secured spots in this year’s NCAA Division I March Madness tournament.

The Richmond women’s basketball team is headed to Los Angeles, while VCU’s men’s team will take the court in Colorado later this week. With both teams representing Richmond on a national stage, fans eager to support them in person are scrambling to finalize last-minute travel plans.

For those planning a trip, travel experts warn that booking at the 11th hour comes with high costs and limited availability.

“Flexibility is key when booking last-minute travel, especially when it comes to cost and convenience,” said Shawn Cordle, a senior travel agent with AAA.

Cordle suggests looking into travel packages that bundle flights, hotels and transportation for a more streamlined experience, though they may come at a higher price. As of now, a round-trip flight to Denver costs just over $1,000, while a trip to Los Angeles is priced around $800. However, with demand surging, prices are fluctuating rapidly meaning the longer fans wait, the more they may have to pay.

Another important tip? Travel light.

“Carry-on, carry-on, carry-on,” Cordle emphasized. “Go as light as you can. You're probably going to buy a fan T-shirt when you're out there, so the biggest thing is to pack light. You may have to be running through the airport to catch a connection, and you don’t want a big suitcase slowing you down.”

VCU’s men’s team will face off against Brigham Young University on Thursday, while the Richmond women’s team is set to take on Georgia Tech on Friday.

Fans making the trip will need to act fast to secure flights and accommodations, but for those unable to travel, Richmond will undoubtedly be rallying behind its teams from home.

"If you're that fan that has to be there, you can't sit on it because the tickets will just go up and up and the seats will be less and less available, hotel availability will be less available," Cordle said.