Despite rumors concerning the unavailability of hotel rooms to accommodate the GMAC Bowl-bound, one Mobile, Ala. city official assured The Daily Helmsman that University of Memphis football fans should come on down, enjoy the game, and not fret about lodging.
Harriet Shade, communications coordinator for the Mobile Bay Convention Visitors Bureau said that while hotel rooms in the downtown Mobile area are mostly booked, abundant lodging is available within a few miles of the event.
"There's plenty of space for everybody," said Shade. "All those thousands of fans might have to spread out a little bit, but everyone who wants to come to the game can find a place to stay."
The phrase "thousands of fans" sounds about right Frank Modarelli, the executive director of the GMAC Bowl, who expects all 40,646 seats at Ladd-Peebles Stadium to sell for the contest between the Tigers and the Falcons of Bowling Green State University.
"The way tickets are selling, we'll definitely sell out," said Modarelli. "Tickets are selling faster than ever before."
In years past, fans have wanted to lodge close to or in the same facility as the football team, Modarelli said, forcing fans to find rooms to come back to after the game.
"There are definitely rooms available, just not near where the teams are staying," Modarelli said.
However, not everyone is content about the lodging situation.
There has been grumbling among some Memphians about the shortage of hotel rooms close to the game.
Bill Lansden, associate athletic director for development at The U of M, said he has received some complaints from fans who want to be closer to the action.
The lodging complaints stem from the relative ease of last year's New Orleans Bowl, where hotel rooms ran abundantly for fans of Memphis and North Texas, the opponent the Tigers defeated, 27-17.
"Mobile simply isn't as big as New Orleans, which has about 20 times more rooms than Mobile," said Lansden. "New Orleans could also afford to lower their prices in areas close to the Superdome."
Lansden also cited the recent hurricanes that have caused headaches in Mobile.
"There are still lots of workers in the area after the hurricane, and they are staying in a lot of these rooms," Lansden said.
To those fans who must lodge outside the immediate football area, Shade says never fear, for there's plenty to do in Mobile.
Shade said the downtown nightlife in Mobile is excellent, with lots of bars and restaurants, referring to a lively 10-block stretch of town as a "mini Bourbon Street."
Prospective student Trevor Berryhill said he will go to the game, despite unfamiliarity with the town and lack of downtown lodging.
"I'm definitely going to be there," said Berryhill. "I don't know Mobile at all, but I still wouldn't miss the game."
