Sask Winter Games filling up hotel spots fast

Feb 16, 2018 | 6:07 PM

As North Battleford prepares to host the 2018 Saskatchewan Winter Games, local hotels are filling up quickly, and ticket sales to events are seeing brisk sales.

The front desk associate at the Tropical Inn said there’s not a room to be had for people seeking a spot at the last minute to attend the games.

“We’re extremely booked,” Lori Moran said. “We don’t have any spots available right now. From the eighteenth to the twenty-fourth, we’re booked right through.”

She said she has heard of some visitors having to book hotels in Lloydminster or Saskatoon during their stay for the games because they can’t find a room in North Battleford.

Mark Richardson is co-chair of the volunteers’ committee and a member of the games organizing committee.

He said he believes the hotels in the city are booked solid for the games.

“From everyone we have talked to who booked in advance they knew they were coming,” Richardson said. “But I’m sure probably there are some rooms in the city if people needed it. For all the hotels, they will be pleased with the amount of people who will be staying in the Battlefords.”

He said preparations are coming along well to get ready for the athletes’ sleeping quarters.

Work is underway currently transforming the North Battleford Comprehensive High School into the athletes’ village. Some of the rooms in the high school will sleep up to 22 athletes.

The games needs to house a total of 1,600 young athletes, so there will be about 1,800 beds used also to provide accommodations for the coaches and managers.

“Things have been coming together, especially in the past few weeks,” Richardson said. “Everything is set to go.”

Fortunately, the games takes place during the high school’s winter break so the space will be available.

“The school and the school division have just been unbelievable to work with,” Richardson added. ”We really appreciate the partnership we’ve had.”

North West College also provided some space for the games’ athletes.

The first arrivals will be coming Sunday afternoon before the opening ceremonies begin. 

Tickets for games, ceremonies

As far as sales go, Richardson said tickets for the opening ceremonies are close to being sold out. As of Thursday night there were about 250 tickets remaining from the total of about 1,500 tickets that were available.

“If anyone is interested in going to the opening ceremonies, I would say it’s time to go out and get a ticket now,” he said. “We’re really pleased with how many tickets have pre-sold online.” 

For the closing ceremonies, there are more tickets still available but sales have also been going well.

Richardson said he is happy to see so many people planning to attend.

People can go online to purchase their tickets or in person at the Co-op pharmacy. 

They can also buy a ticket on their way to attend an event. 

“The volunteers will have half-week passes, full-week passes, and day-passes available as well,” Richardson said.

 

 angela.brown@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @battlefordsNOW