Hornets' season opener jams downtown hotel occupancy

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

Available rooms will be scarce at Oklahoma City's three downtown hotels as fans, media and visiting players check in for tonight's season opener between the Hornets and the Sacramento Kings.
The Sheraton, Renaissance and Courtyard hotels all are within walking distance of the expected sell-out game at Ford Center. Both the Sheraton and Renaissance report visiting team members among their guests, while the Courtyard, which adjoins Ford Center, appears to be filling with fans.

The increased room bookings come at a time when average downtown hotel occupancy rates already were exceeding 70 percent. Downtown had only one hotel a decade ago -- the Sheraton -- but that count will be up to seven with openings of the Skirvin Hilton, Colcord Hotel, Residence Inn and Hampton Inn by 2007.

Gary Desjardins, general manger at Ford Center, said the hotels can expect an entourage with every visiting team that can include not just players, but also trainers, coaches, families and friends.

Hotel officials say they're also booking guests from across the state -- NBA fans stretching out their stay downtown beyond seeing just the game.

"We are seeing a spike in bookings, especially for the first game," said Ray Perez, director of sales at the Courtyard by Marriott. "We're forecasting that we will be sold out."

Perez guessed more of his guests are fans, since the hotel was not booked by visiting teams.

John Pasley, general manager at the Renaissance Hotel, reported heavy bookings for game nights for the next several weeks.

"The supply is getting very limited," Pasley said. "For the next six weeks, we see peaks on game nights."

Matt Cowden, director of sales and marketing at the Sheraton, estimated about 65 percent of the Kings organization is staying at his hotel tonight. Guests also include reporters from regional and national news organizations, Cowden said.

Cowden said visitors attending downtown conferences added to what he said will be a high occupancy rate throughout the week. He said the Sheraton is ramping up efforts to sell game-day room packages.

"It's just going to get better," Cowden said. "As the season unfolds, I think you'll find people coming from outside Oklahoma City who are not just going to the game, but also coming to enjoy Bricktown and the other attractions we have downtown."