Not all hotels to benefit from Cornhusker pep rally
By ANNE LOUISE BANNON Special to the Daily Press
Thousands of football fans have left the cornfields of Nebraska for the warm beaches of Santa Monica this week, packing the pier and local businesses with an extra year-end economic boost.
Between 6,000 and 8,000 University of Nebraska Cornhusker fans are expected to pack the Santa Monica Pier Tuesday, Jan. 1, to celebrate their football team at a pep rally. Local businesses will be celebrating a much-needed economic shot in the arm.
Up to 60,000 fans of the Nebraska Cornhuskers are descending upon Southern California for the national college championship game this Thursday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, against the University of Miami Hurricanes.
Thanks to aggressive discounting by local hotels, a significant portion of those fans will be staying in Santa Monica, particularly the main alumni tour that includes up to 1,200 people.
“It seemed like the pier was going to be the best for everybody involved,” said Marc Shkolnick, associate executive director of the Nebraska Alumni Association. “Most of our tour will be at the Loews (Hotel) and some have upgraded to Shutters on the Beach.”
Both venues are within walking distance to the pier.
The City of Santa Monica cut the group major breaks to use the pier, mostly in waiving user fees.
“The city really stepped up to the plate,” said Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kathy Dodson. “It’s really expensive to rent the pier.”
The final economic impact remains to be seen, but Debbie Lee, communications manager for the Santa Monica Convention and Visitor Bureau, is optimistic.
“Any large group that comes to town is definitely a boost to our economy,” Lee said. “I think it is very good exposure for Santa Monica.”
Cornhusker fans have a reputation for not only traveling en masse to support their team, but for spending lots of money wherever they go.
“We hear Nebraskans make great guests,” said Santa Monica Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McKeown. “This is good news for our businesses and tourism workers.”
However, not all of the city’s hotels are seeing a boost in business.
“We put an ad in the paper out there (Nebraska),” said Hany Sabongy, general manager of the Best Western Gateway. “But this year we have no business. We were full last year. Right now, we’re doing 60 percent occupancy.”
Jodi Stone, director of sales and marketing at the Georgian Hotel, said she hasn’t seen any increase in business either.
“I got nothing. It’s a big goose egg,” she said. “I’m only at 52 percent (occupancy) for New Year’s Eve and 55 percent for January 3rd. I’ve been full every New Year’s since the hotel’s been open."
But a couple hotel workers pointed out that while they may not have many Cornhusker fans, they are getting a fair amount of overflow business.
“We’re busier now that we’ve been the last few weeks,” said James Warren, general manager of the Santa Monica Beach Travelodge.
Ocean Hotel General Manager Seth Horowitz also is looking forward to the fan invasion.
“They have a strong presence and it’s wonderful here,” Horowitz said. “It fills up the city. There’s going to be a buzz in the city with the Cornhuskers here. Depending on who wins the game, we’ll see how the celebration is going to be.”
The pep rally starts at 3 p.m. on the Santa Monica Pier. Admission is free and is open to the public.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2001. Read the original PDF.