BigEast Tournament -Thread -Who's Going, Hotels, Ticket Sources, Meeting Places

[Bocephys]

I'm thinking about heading to New York for the first time for the Big East Tournament.  Would you guys recommend staying in the Chelsea area near Madison Square Garden, or someplace like Lower Manhattan a few miles away?  I've never been to New York so I'm not familiar with either area.

[sailwi]

Use trip adviser to figure out if a place is decent and then select something within walking distance to the garden combined with price.  Do not stay at the Hotel Penn across the street from the garden, good rates but an absolute pit.  Also check NYT's travel section, they have a lot of good suggestions for diamonds in the rough type of hotels, not well known but good values.  I've been to NYC a few times on business and one thing that is consistent the rooms are small no matter where you stay.

[79Warrior]

I'm thinking about heading to New York for the first time for the Big East Tournament.  Would you guys recommend staying in the Chelsea area near Madison Square Garden, or someplace like Lower Manhattan a few miles away?  I've never been to New York so I'm not familiar with either area.

Chelsea, SoHo are nice areas with good restaurants. Lower Manhattan is a bit of a trek from The Garden.

[Freeport Warrior]

I think the team hotel is the Roosevelt this year (thought I read that somewhere). I stayed there for a BE tourney a few years back (it was West Virginia's team hotel back then). It is like a run-down Pfister. I've stayed at the team hotels for travel games and it is pretty cool riding the elevators with the coaches and players, running into them in the lobby, etc. -- it happens more than you think it would. I thought MU had a special rate there this year. I know they have stayed at the Westin Times Square as well.

[ATL MU Warrior]

The US headquarters of the company I work for is located about 2 blocks north of MSG.  I am up there about 2x/year and have stayed at the following hotels which were pretty nice:

The Strand - 37th between 5th and Ave of Americas
http://thestrandnyc.com/

Hotel Indigo - 28th between 7th and Ave of Americas
http://www.hotelindigo.com/hotels/us/en/new-york-city/nycin/hoteldetail/photos-tours

There were several hotels on 28th including a couple of different Marriott properities (if you are into collecting Rewards Points).  Can't vouch for those personally but they probably are decent.  

Strand was probably nicer, but there were more nightlife options near Hotel Indigo...mutliple bars on 7th south of MSG.

[Bocephys]

Awesome, thanks for the advice!

[warriorchick]

For tourney-related information, you can also try Liz Thorson in Marquette Advancement.  Her "territory" is the East Coast, so she is always coordinating events connected with Big East happenings.  She might even have info on special Marquette hotel deals.

[TallTitan34]

Do not stay at the Hotel Penn across the street from the garden, good rates but an absolute pit.

This is where Marquette puts the cheerleaders, dance team, mascot, and band.

It is a piece of crap.

[🏀]

This is where Marquette puts the cheerleaders, dance team, mascot, and band.

It is a piece of crap.

TT34 still hasn't fully recovered from the ringworm.

[BallBoy]

I travel to NY a lot for work and I found the Cassa Hotel and Residences is a good place.  It is about a 15-20 minute walk to MSG but you get a room that is 1-1.5 old for pretty reasonable.  The rooms are on the smaller side unless you are in residence one bedroom which they have put me in before.  Last I paid it was $200-225 a night.  Marriotts will be in the $300s typically.

[reinko]

Just hotwire or priceline 3.5 stars+, in a few different neighborhoods.

[Boognish_MU]

I think the team hotel is the Roosevelt this year (thought I read that somewhere). I stayed there for a BE tourney a few years back (it was West Virginia's team hotel back then). It is like a run-down Pfister. I've stayed at the team hotels for travel games and it is pretty cool riding the elevators with the coaches and players, running into them in the lobby, etc. -- it happens more than you think it would. I thought MU had a special rate there this year. I know they have stayed at the Westin Times Square as well.

I stayed in the Westin Times Square last year and that is where they team stayed.  We ran into players all the time.  Very cool to see the players come back after a big night win and dig into some pizza!

[onetime]

Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn W35th (&6th) last year and will again this year.  Highly recommended.  Facility is less than 3 years old and a short approx 4 block walk to MSG past a few bars (Blarney Stone, Stout).  Thought it was very reasonable for NYC prices. 

[Bocephys]

Has anyone ever stayed at The Mansfield or The Beekman Tower Hotel?  They're both near the team hotel, but I found much better prices than the group rate of $259 that Marquette is offering at the Roosevelt. 

[4everwarriors]

This is where Marquette puts the cheerleaders, dance team, mascot, and band.

It is a piece of crap.

Bonafide chicken coup, aina?

[77ncaachamps]

Has anyone ever stayed at The Mansfield or The Beekman Tower Hotel?  They're both near the team hotel, but I found much better prices than the group rate of $259 that Marquette is offering at the Roosevelt. 

I think that "group rate" is inclusive of the "Marquette experience" (read: pay more to be with people who support your team).

[kcjen80]

Official Marquette fan hotel for the 2012 Big East Tourney:

The Roosevelt Hotel
$259 per night
(888) 833-3969
Ask for the Marquette Men's Basketball Block
Deadline to book is Feb. 13th.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

And The Roosevelt stars in the film opening today, "Man on a Ledge."

[frozena pizza]

I'm thinking about heading to New York for the first time for the Big East Tournament.  Would you guys recommend staying in the Chelsea area near Madison Square Garden, or someplace like Lower Manhattan a few miles away?  I've never been to New York so I'm not familiar with either area.

Depends on what you want to do besides the games but I would definitely not stay in lower Manhattan over Chelsea.  Chelsea has more going on, is closer to MSG and you won't really save any money be staying in the financial district.  There are plenty of good options on the west side from Midtown to Tribeca depending on your budget.

[reinko]

Stay in Hoboken, take the PATH in.

[injuryBug]

Stay in Hoboken, take the PATH in.

Then you can get some bakery from Carlo's

[Freeport Warrior]

And The Roosevelt stars in the film opening today, "Man on a Ledge."

I thought this was a joke. I just read the review in the WSJ and it isn't. Bizarre.

For those of you thinking of staying here, the rooms are pretty generic. The one redeeming quality is the big bar in the front that everyone congregates at. Huggy Bear was in there every night holding court with boosters and totally accessible.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Zuccoti Park is nice this time of year....

[rocky_warrior]

Renamed and stickied this as a good starting point for those trip planning

[NotAnAlum]

For those of you looking for a safety valve out of NYC if MU fails to make the finals Airtran has several $71 one way fights to MKE via ATL Saturday.  Non-refundable but cheaper than another night in NYC.  Don't know how long they'll last but I got one.