Every Hotel NBA Teams Stay In When Traveling

Professional sports teams are on the road a lot, especially NBA teams. About half the season is played in away games so that is a lot of nights in hotels throughout the US.

Have you ever wondered what hotels they stay in?

The NBA generates $10 billion dollars a year so they are certainly picking some of the best hotels in every city to stay in. Typically these include top tier brands like Four Seasons, St Regis, and Ritz Carlton but they also book luxury boutique hotels in certain cities.

We wanted to know the hotels in each NBA city that are known or most likely to host an NBA team when visiting.

We decided to do research and gathered a full list for you below.

Hotels

NBA teams are not very transparent about where the teams stay and that’s not a surprise. Mainly for security reasons, if more people knew where they stay it could cause overcrowding at certain hotels.

We decided to do some research through media reports, fan sightings, and more to figure this out. Now don’t go and use this list to stalk NBA players. But if you’re curious like us where they stay here is a list of the most common hotels for NBA team in each city.

All the above hotels have confirmed sightings of NBA players when traveling on the road. It’s no guarantee they stay in the above hotels but for certain cities its almost always the case.

We’ll break down the hotels from each major city and why it attracts NBA teams when they are on the road.

Boston – The Ritz Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton Boston is a luxury retreat located very close to the TD Garden, making it an ideal choice for NBA teams during their visits to Boston. The hotel is located just off Boston Commons in a very convient part of downtown. The hotel features all the amenities of a 5 star hotel experience and a relaxing ambiance as well as privacy. Boston is home to many luxury hotels but the convenience and privacy the Ritz offers makes it an attractive place for team travel.

New York – St Regis New York or Ritz Carlton

There are few hotels in New York as iconic as the St Regis. The first location of the brand, this hotel has been a luxury staple located directly in the heart of Midtown Manhattan for many years. The hotel has an old school luxury style with some modern upgrades. Rooms offer amazing city views and the iconic St Regis bar is the place to be for the after work scene in New York. The hotel is positioned right off Fifth Avenue and just a stones throw from Time Square. While Midtown Manhattan can be hectic with traffic, players can typically get to Madison Square Garden in about 20 minutes depending on the time of day.

Now even though the St Regis is an excellent hotel, we expect NBA teams will be making the switch to the newly opened Ritz Carlton Nomad in the near future.

The new Ritz Carlton Nomad is an ultra modern skyscraper located in the bustling Nomad district of Manhattan. The new Ritz location is a huge upgrade from the existing hotels in the city that offer a more traditional style of luxury. The lobby of the Ritz includes a lot of greeniery in their bar and restaurant and the hotel features an amazing rooftop bar with unmatched views of the city. The best part for NBA players is the location of this hotel is only a few blocks from MSG, making the commute in minutes at all hours of the day. While no confirmed sightings of NBA players here just yet, it’s only a matter of time before they make the switch as this property is much better suited than the St Regis.

Brooklyn – 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

The 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is an stylish hotel situated in the Dumbo district of Brooklyn, just under the bridge. The hotel emphases nature-inspired luxury and wellness amenities, such as the rooftop pool and farm-to-table dining options. The rooms have a modern appeal combing wood tones with floor to ceiling windows with the best view in the city. The location of the hotel is right touristy part of Brooklyn with many of the cities famous pizzerias located close by. For NBA players and teams, the hotel is well situated just a 10 minute drive to the Barclays center and the rooms boast some of the best views of any hotel in the city.

Philadelphia – The Four Seasons

One of the newer hotels in Philadelphia, The Four Seasons property is now one of the most luxurious in the world. Standing at 100 floors above the sky the property boasts one of the most impressive lobbies and skybar. The location is just minutes away from the Wells Fargo Center and the hotel is large enough that NBA players can roam around without drawing too much of a crowd. The Four Seasons hotel is the ultimate comfort and convinience providing a peaceful escape from the surrounding city.

Houston – The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons Houston embraces the Texan style and design with the same standards the luxury brand has been known to uphold. Located just a short distance from the Toyota Center, the hotel is a convenient and upscale retreat between games. Beyond the hotel, Houston’s vibrant culture and attractions are easily accessible to the hotel, so there are plenty of options for players entertainment and relaxation off the court. In essence, the Four Seasons Houston offers NBA players a luxurious haven where they can experience the best that the city has to offer while enjoying the comforts of home.

San Francisco – The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons San Francisco has everything you want out of a luxury hotel in a major city. Located just moments away from the Chase Center, the Four Seasons is the perfect place to stay for players that are looking for a modern hotel that still remains comfortable.The hotel features panoramic views of the city skyline and some of the best restaurant the city has to offer. Its central location also allows players to easily explore the vibrant neighborhoods and cultural attractions that San Francisco has to offer, ensuring they have plenty of opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment off the court.

Los Angeles – The Ritz Carlton

The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles is located directly by the Staples Center making it a long time fix for teams when they play the Lakers. The modern tower stands out as a luxury centerpiece of downtown that is not usually known for its opulence. The hotel boasts several critically acclaimed restaurants and has all the accommodations you can expect out of a Ritz Carlton. With all the celebrity hot spots in LA, the Ritz Carlton is the perfect location to relax without getting caught up in the Hollywood scene.

Portland – The Nines Hotel

The Nines Hotel in Portland is a boutique urban retreat located in the heart of downtown, making it an enticing option for NBA players during their visits to the city. Situated a short distance from the Moda Center, the hotel offers players a convenient and upscale sanctuary between games. While not the most modern compared to big brands, The Nines still provides luxury accommodations, top-notch amenities, and attentive service.

Oklahoma City – The Skirvin

The Skirvin Hilton in Oklahoma City, known as the a “haunted hotel” is a staple for NBA teams visiting the city. Many teams have stories about the hotel, with the most notable in 2010, when the New York Knicks famously blamed their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on the haunting. It also occurred when the Chicago Bulls reported doors slamming shut on their own and strange sounds outside their rooms. This hotel is the staple for NBA teams when visiting the city, haunting or not.

Memphis – The Westin

Not the most luxurious on the list but the The Memphis Westin is comfortable enough for NBA players when visiting Memphis. Located just a short distance from the FedEx Forum, the hotel provides players with a convenient and upscale haven between games.

Sacramento – The Sawyer

Another boutique hotel on the list with The Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento. The property is a a chic and stylish retreat located in the heart of Downtown Commons, making it a prime choice for NBA players during their visits to the city. Situated just steps away from the Golden 1 Center, the hotel offers contemporary design, upscale amenities, and personalized service.

Milwaukee – Pfister

The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee is a historic gem located in the heart of downtown. Many NBA teams have been spotted in this hotel when visiting the city and it makes sense given its short distance to the Fiserv Forum.

Washington DC – The Four Seasons

The Four Seasons Washington DC is a staple luxury hotel in the city and not only attracts NBA players but world leaders. The property is a luxurious and sophisticated retreat in the heart of the nation’s capital, making it a premier choice during their visits to the city. The location is a bit from Capital One Arena but teams tend to favor the Four Seasons brand whenever it is has a property in their desired city.

Cleveland – Ritz Carlton Tower City

The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland, is nestled within Tower City Center, and is one of the few luxury hotels in the city. Located not far from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the hotel has been known for many sightings of players when visiting the Cavaliers. The Ritz Carlton is a quiet hotel that is perfect for a team that is looking for some private but comfortable accomodations.

Orlando – Grand Bohemian

The Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando is an artistic retreat in the heart of the city and has been a staple for NBA teams for years. The location is just moments away from the Amway Center, the hotel has some of the most stylish interiors as well as a well designed bar and restaurants.

Detroit – Shinola Hotel

Owned by the iconic Shinola brand from Detroit, The Shinola Hotel is a unique and stylish retreat right in the heart of the city. The city combines the brands design aesethic and appeals to those looking for modern luxury. The hotel style is unmatched in Detroit and there its easy to see why NBA teams would choose this as their home base when playing the Pistons.

New Orleans – Ritz

Located right in the iconic French Quarter of the city, The Ritz-Carlton is one of the best hotels in New Orleans. The hotel design perfectly captures the essence of the city while blending with the luxury brand of the Ritz. There have been a few sightings of NBA teams at this property and given the cities offered we think there is no other hotel that compares.

Miami – JW Marriott Marquis

If there were ever a hotel perfect for NBA players than it would be the JW Marriott Marquis Miami. Located directly in downtown Miami, the hotel is a sports dream with a full basketball court, bowling alley, tennis court, outdoor pool and so much more. Located very close to the arena, this property is the perfect level of luxury but also escape from the distractions of Miami nightlife. Given the modern accomodations and the sports facilities, there really is no better hotel in Miami for NBA teams.

Phoenix – Kimpton

The Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix is a chic and stylish retreat in the heart of downtown Phoenix. NBA teams have been known to make this their home when visiting due to its close distance to the Footprint Arena. The hotel is not the most luxurious NBA teams stay in but still provides a comfortable escape when playing the Suns.

Denver – Four Seasons

The Four Seasons Hotel Denver is a stylish and sophisticated property located in the heart of the city. NBA players have been known to frequent this hotel and use it as their escape when playing the Nuggets. One of the many Four Seasons hotels on our list, the Denver location aligns its style with the surrounding city and is a great place to relax in style.

Summary & Takeaways

If you take a look at the list we were able to gather, there are some common themes. NBA teams tend to favor the top tier luxury brands like the Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton, making it almost a certain they will stay in those properties if available.

Now we posted this list because its interesting to see where some of the wealthiest sports teams decide to stay when visiting a city. We don’t recommend you staking out any of these places just to get a glimpse as you may leave disappointed.

Know of any new hotels NBA players decide to stay in? Let us know and we will update and add to our list.