Recommendations for Arch Madness hotels

[Jim]

I received this today from Bradley Athletics:
"A "Fan Block" has been established this year for the men's MVC tournament at the Embassy Suites St. Louis Downtown. Below is the link for online reservations. There are 20 king suites (only option available) currently being held. The rate is $192/night with a two night minimum stay required. Rooms are being held for March 5 - 8."

I must be missing something. I find it hard to believe that only 20 rooms are going to be made available as a "Fan Block" for Bradley fans.

I've never been to Arch Madness but we want to go next March. Where have Bradley fans stayed in the past? Ideally I would like to be within walking distance to the Enterprise Center but all recommendations would be appreciated! It would be fun to get a group from the BradleyFans Forum to book rooms at the same hotel! Anyone interested??

[Da Coach]

Each of the 10 MVC teams are assigned to a hotel for the tournament. For the last 8 or 9 years the Bradley team hotel has been the Embassy Suites located at 610 North 7th St. (at the corner of 7th St. and Washington Ave). I have always heard that the Bradley people have been happy with the Embassy Suites, and put in their request for that hotel, though the MVC makes the final decisions.
It looks like this is the 2020 Arch Madness hotel list, and Bradley again is at the Embassy Suites-

http://mvc-sports.com/sports/2017/5/12/ARCH_0512171840.aspx

Everyone who goes to the tournament has their own technique, so here is mine. I have been to all 29 MVC Tournaments in St. Louis. I have never booked through the MVC "Fan Block". Those are usually other hotels that are not among the ones hosting the teams, but are hotels that want to get in on the business from the fans visiting the city. They might be decent options, but in my experience, you can always find hotels with rooms at equivalent rates on your own.

I have always booked at the team hotel, but I think most fans don't. There will always be hotels with lower rates or which are closer to the arena.
The Embassy Suites rates are higher than many of the other St. Louis hotels, but they have bigger rooms (all suites) and they include a really good breakfast included in their rate. Plus there are several team events that take place at the team hotel that are fun to attend.
I just checked and the rates are quite high right now. But usually the rates come down as it gets closer to the tournament weekend and they have unsold rooms.

https://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/missouri/embassy-suites-by-hilton-st-louis-downtown-STLWAES/index.html?SEO_id=GMB-ES-STLWAES

It depends on what your priorities are. If staying at the team hotel isn't real important, I'd suggest booking through one of the websites that compares all the hotels and gets lower rates like Kayak.com. There have been a years when we didn't know whether Bradley would be playing their first game on Thursday (play-in round) or Friday (quarterfinal round). So in a few of those years, I waited until the last minute and still always got a room where I wanted.
Good luck. I am sure you'll have a great time. We always have. There are a lot of fun things to do and great restaurants in St. Louis.

[it's boogie time]

This seems to be a good time to get a room for the tournament. I went Priceline and got the Embassy Suites with a $61 bid. All total for two nights was $172.44. I like getting a drink before the games at the pre-game party, so it's more important to me to be near the Ballpark Village than the Enterprise Center.

[Mikovio]

I got the Red Lion on Priceline for Fri and Sat for $170 total. A block from Enterprise. It’s the Missouri State hotel though, so that could be interesting.

[Da Coach]

Good suggestion. The Red Lion (formerly the Sheraton) is, by far, the closest hotel to the Enterprise Center. It is literally right across Clark St. from the main entrance to the arena, and is a decent hotel. They always have very low rates, even when most of the hotels are jacking their rates up for the MVC Tournament weekend.

[BravesWinINStyle]

You’ve been to all 29 tournaments? That’s amazing!

[Da Coach]

Yes, but I have actually been to more than 29 MVC Tournaments, since the MVC Tournament has been a yearly event since 1977. I was referring to the ones in St. Louis, which started in 1991.
The 2020 MVCT will be the 30th year for the Arch Madness/MVC Tournament in St. Louis, and I have been to all 29 of the ones in St. Louis.
From 1977-1990 the tournaments were held on campus sites, and I attended several of those tournaments, too.
It was held in Peoria twice- 1980 at Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse and 1988 at Carver Arena. Bradley won both of those tournaments.

Here is the history of the MVC Tournament, 1977-2019-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Valley_Conference_Men's_Basketball_Tournament