Lauderdale Digs Give Colts Pre-Game Edge

By Thomas Francis Thu., Feb. 4 2010 at 10:53 AM

Categories: Broward, Sports

Flickr: Darrins

The Marriott at Fort Lauderdale's Harbor Beach

A prominent hotel industry blog has declared the Indianapolis Colts the Super Bowl champions in their pre-game hotel match-up against the New Orleans Saints. Credit goes to Fort Lauderdale's Harbor Beach Marriott Resort, which in a side-by-side comparison was found to have rooms and amenities superior to the Intercontinental Miami.

But the blog didn't even mention the biggest hotel-based advantage that the Colts have over the Saints: The Marriott's distance from the pro athlete candyland of mayhem, South Beach.

For the Saints, the temptation of sex, drugs and women lies just a short drive across the Intracoastal Waterway. That's the place where defensive back Eugene Robinson was arrested before the 1999 Super Bowl, and that's just one among a slew of unfortunate athlete encounters on the strip.

Another crucial advantage for the Colts: The Marriott is the same hotel they stayed in three years ago when they trounced the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl. Defensive Back Kelvin Hayden says he even has the same room as he did the last go-around.