Bradley News- 2009 MVC tournament hotel

[Da Coach]

Here is news for the Bradley fans who might be considering a trip to St. Louis next March for the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament--
Bradley will again be assigned to the Renaissance Grand Hotel and Suites.
This is the same hotel Bradley has been centered at for the past 4 years.

Anyone interested in staying at the same hotel as the team should make reservations early, since the hotel has sold out for that weekend the last couple years.

There can be a couple advantages to staying at the team's hotel. In past years, there have been activities planned for the fans at the team hotel such as pregame parties, postgame receptions, send-off celebrations, etc.
However, last year, the pregame party was held at The Shed, a newer restaurant in Union Station.

The hotel rates can vary widely in St Louis, and also depend on other activities that are going on in town that weekend. The rates at the Renaissance Grand are a little high right now, and there are many hotels with better prices. Even the rates for the Renaissance Grand could drop. Feel free to post your recommendations and what your plans are.

Note that the MVC will arrange fan blocks of rooms at several hotels in St. Louis. These usually are not announced until sometime around January, 2009.

Here is information about the St. Louis Renaissance Grand, if anyone is interested in making a reservation. If you do make a reservation now, I would recommend doing it through a booking service or the hotel website that allows the reservation to be cancelled, incase your plans change, or the rates go down.--
The tournament is Thursday, March 5-Sunday, March 8, 2009
Renaissance Grand, 800 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO
Phone 1-314-621-9600
1-800-397-1282

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/stldt-renaissance-st-louis-grand-and-suites-hotel/

MVC Tournament website (not updated from last year, yet)--

http://archmadness.com/

[Grassman]

MVC Hotel

I booked The Renaissance in July for $119.00 a night, before the Mo. Valley rates were posted. Last year it was $109.00 Year before $99.00
Suggestions: Call the hotel 1 314 621-9600, ask for the reservation desk at the Hotel. DO NOT go into Marriott central reservations. Ask for the Mo. valley rate, it is usually cheaper.
If rate is still not available, wait until it is, or book on line at Marriott.com.
It is ALWAYS cheaper to book on line, than through Central reservations.
Several discounts are available such as AAA & AARP, which ever way you book..

[lightsout]

Great news made my reservations for the Renaissance Grand early in July. Looking forward to Arch Madness and Bradley making a long run at a Valley championship.

[amckillip]

Im not too concerned with staying in the team hotel. Anyone found any good deals for downtown? I like the Drury plaza, just curious if there are any other good deals out there.

[it's boogie time]

The dynamics of this tournament certainly have changed the past few years. You actually have to plan out the weekend in advance. The days of getting a suite for $25 downtown look to be over.

[Da Coach]

Im not too concerned with staying in the team hotel. Anyone found any good deals for downtown? I like the Drury plaza, just curious if there are any other good deals out there.

The Millenium (south of the arch) and the Holiday Inn Select (west of the Convention Center) usually have some of the the lowest prices among the downtown hotels.

[Majik45]

Hotwire had a 3 star downtown today for like $95. Based on websites that I use to tell which hotel it is, it was most likely the Millenium Hotel, so that was a good rate. Of course you can't cancel a room you book through hotwire.

[Dubl R 1]

Booked at the team hotel in July as well. Stayed there last year, it's a pretty nice hotel.

[MacabreMob]

Booked at the team hotel in July as well. Stayed there last year, it's a pretty nice hotel.

I stayed in a Suite last year (at the Renaissance). My bathroom at home is bigger than the room I stayed in. LOL!

[Grassman]

I stayed in a Suite last year (at the Renaissance). My bathroom at home is bigger than the room I stayed in. LOL!

Wow! You must have a BIG bathroom. Although I am never in my room, except to do the 3 S's, it has always been fine with me.

[real fan]

I just got a good rate at my daughters house in suburban ST.Louis .

[MacabreMob]

Wow! You must have a BIG bathroom. Although I am never in my room, except to do the 3 S's, it has always been fine with me.

I exaggerated a little. The room was fine for the 3 S's. I don't do a lot of traveling and haven't traveled much my life.... so maybe I was expecting a little more out of a room called a Suite. Also, shared the tight quarters with 2 other people.

The floorplan was 5 little squares which you could pass through in a circle. The Kitchen and Bathroom seemed like 5x5's and the other rooms seemed to be 10x10's... and I am sure those are exaggerated too.

Step in the door to the Kitchen, forward into the Living Room, then left into the bedroom, then left again (working your way back) through the dressing room/closet, another left takes you back to the Bathroom which has the 2nd door leading back to the Kitchen.

I guess I was thinking the Suite would be "sweet".... instead, it was just another little cracker jack box with fancy artwork, wallpaper, decorations, etc. Next time, I'm gonna spare myself the "fluff" and get a schlocker for a little bit less (if it can be found). Hey - I'll give ya $20 bucks to "crash" on the floor of your room.

[Grassman]

I exaggerated a little. The room was fine for the 3 S's. I don't do a lot of traveling and haven't traveled much my life.... so maybe I was expecting a little more out of a room called a Suite. Also, shared the tight quarters with 2 other people.

The floorplan was 5 little squares which you could pass through in a circle. The Kitchen and Bathroom seemed like 5x5's and the other rooms seemed to be 10x10's... and I am sure those are exaggerated too.

Step in the door to the Kitchen, forward into the Living Room, then left into the bedroom, then left again (working your way back) through the dressing room/closet, another left takes you back to the Bathroom which has the 2nd door leading back to the Kitchen.

I guess I was thinking the Suite would be "sweet".... instead, it was just another little cracker jack box with fancy artwork, wallpaper, decorations, etc. Next time, I'm gonna spare myself the "fluff" and get a schlocker for a little bit less (if it can be found). Hey - I'll give ya $20 bucks to "crash" on the floor of your room.

If my wife says OK you are in, but I doubt that approval is forthcoming.

[dogsrus]

If my wife says OK you are in, but I doubt that approval is forthcoming.

Yeah besides the floor is usually where YOU end up isn't it.