This will hurt the Gateway the most, they do a nice business booking state agencies having training and other stuff because of its location in the middle of the state. If the new hotel can get in on that, along with weddings and other events to fill in they will be fine. I wonder if visiting schools for bb will stay at the hotel before the game instead of the Gateway.
Cytown Update
- Thread starter norsemen
- Start date
Visiting football teams do not stay at the gateway. Maybe visiting basketball teams do.
As a dad of two young boys, I love the Sukup Cylo for its punniness. It looks like the technology will be great and if it takes having it look like a grain bin, so be it. I don't think that looks bad and if anything it will make it stand out as unique. You might get people making a trip to Ames to visit the Cylo just because of the name and look. If I could see the same concert at the McGrath Amphitheater in Cedar Rapids, I am probably driving a little extra to go to the Cylo.
If they get Weird Al, I guarantee I will be there.
If they get Weird Al, I guarantee I will be there.
A lot of them stay at the Sheraton off 50th.
Its why I did not mention football only bb, someone posted a video earlier about Utah making the trip to Ames and they stayed at the Gateway. Not sure the Gateway would be big enough to house a football team, coaches and staff.
At one point I think the Jordan Creek parkway Marriott was pretty common as well, don't know if it still is
While many basketball teams do stay at the Gateway, the Utah video showed the Utes staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in West Ames. I don't think the Gateway is as exclusive to teams staying there as it was when the legacy Big 12 teams would return there year after year.
Its time for the Gateway to decide if its going to keep up with the Jones' or die on the vine. In my opinion its been playing the middle ground for a while and that makes it more of a meh experience. In the hotel world, new and fresh is very crucial.
What would you suggest? They have been upgrading rooms. Not sure how many are new and how many are old.
Gamedays won't affect Gateway. It's events
A few years ago, I saw the Taco tech buses leaving Ankeny to head to Ames for football. They stayed at one of those hotels East of I35 off Oralabor.
At $400/night there's no way in hell I'd stay at the hotel for a game. Ubers are easy enough to come by in Ames.
Basketball and other teams frequently stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn when my sons were still in school. Not sure if that still the case. ISU has also put up some of my acquaintances there when they brought them in for job interviews
Same here or someone I know who has a place in town (grew up in Ames).
However, I'm sure there's a market or those that don't mind paying for location.
I don't have any friends still living in Ames, but you can get a hotels that are walking distance to Jack Trice/Hilton (in good weather) and walking distance to downtown bars for like $140 on game nights with some regularity.
Not the nicest places, but good enough and not inconvenient enough to be worth $500/weekend difference.
The Gateway is used by the ISU Football team the night before games.
I'm kind of pumped for this as an off season option too.
The kids are still pretty young, but I'd like to get them on campus to expose them to school.
Staying right there by the stadiums with the playground and field.... they'd love it
The kids are still pretty young, but I'd like to get them on campus to expose them to school.
Staying right there by the stadiums with the playground and field.... they'd love it
