NMED Iekist

NINE ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK CITY

August Slst, 1942.

Dr. Forrest C. Allen,
Director of Physical
Education and Recreation,
University of Kansas,
Lawrence, Kansas.

Dear Phog:-

I have made a rather comprehensive study of the hotel situation
for the college basketball teams that will visit New York this coming
season. Following this survey I would like to recommend that in making
your plans for the New York trip you plan your stay at the Hotel Bel-
vedere, 319 West 48th Street, New York City, of which Mr. George A.
Fechtman is the manager.

I feel certain that this arrangement will be to the best advan-
tage of the visiting teams and completely satisfactory in all ways.
The Belvedere is semi-residential in character and has slightly lar-
ger rooms than other hotels on the West Side. It has the outstanding
advantage of having an entrance on 49th Street which is just across
the street from the entrance which is used by the players in entering
Madison Square Garden. The hotel has been recently redecorated, and
Mr. Fechtman assures me that he will place your squad all on one floor
in adjacent rooms at the rate of $2.00 per man for twin-bedded rooms
with bath,.etc. This is a remarkably good value in rooms at this time
since most of the hotels have raised their rates and some of the lar-
ger transient hotels, according to newspaper reports, face being taken
over by the Army.

An additional reason why I feel that this hotel will have an
advantage to visiting teams is its accessibility to the Garden for
players in the event that it should be necessary for the players to
dress and use their hotel rooms for showers after the game. The play-
ers could simply step across the street in their warmup suits without
running the danger of catching cold if staying at a hotel further from
the Garden. The uncertainty of the fuel situation here in New York
makes it likely that we might have to curtail on our heating which
would affect the hot water supply in our dressing rooms.

In addition, taxi cabs are bound to be limited and the nearer
the boys are to the Garden the better off it will be for your squad.

Mr. Fechtman will undoubtedly get in touch with you concerning
reservations. I hope that you will be able to make your stay in New
York at the Belvedere,

   
 

Sincerely

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