Denver's Top Hotels for Fans of Basketball, Hockey, Lacrosse and Nightlife

Hilton Garden Inn Denver Downtown is proof that you don't have to bust the budget for a convenient location exactly where you want to be, which in this case is in the middle of downtown, a stroll from LoDo and a short drive from the Pepsi Center. And in case you don't have tickets to a game every day, it's nice to know that the Denver Art Museum and more restaurants to try than you can get to in one vacation are right out the front door. This hotel is also value packed. It features a fitness center, indoor pool, complimentary Wi-Fi and serves up locally sourced food at full-service Territory Kitchen & Bar. Want to stay in your room for dinner? This budget-friendly hotel offers evening room service.

Hampton Inn & Suites Denver--Speer Boulevard is a nicely affordable choice for guests who want to be near the Pepsi Center, which sits just under a mile away. While its location on the other side of I-25 makes it less ideal for walking to a game, it's a very quick drive. And it offers impressive views of the Denver skyline for those moments when you're not at the game. On the affordability side, guests here are treated to complimentary breakfast and to complimentary Internet access in every room. This is a good choice for sports-loving families. Not only is it a short drive from the Pepsi Center, Coors Field and Sports Authority at Mile High, it's also less than a mile from Downtown Aquarium, the Children's Museum of Denver and Elitch Gardens.

It's a nice stroll or quick drive to the Pepsi Center, just under a mile away, and accommodations are all in spacious two-room suites so bring the kids along. Best bets for views: the 26 corner suites (rooms ending in 01 and 31), which typically sell out far in advance. Travelers on a budget will be glad to know that the made-to-order breakfast is complimentary. And after a day at a game, guests can gather for a complimentary evening reception with drinks and appetizers on the house, another positive for the budget bottom line. In addition to its location in the heart of downtown, this hotel is Silver LEED certified, meaning it has a host of environmentally responsible features that help guests reduce their carbon footprint. Among them: regenerative drive elevators, a saline swimming pool and solar reflective roof panels.

On the 16th Street Mall, the Courtyard Marriott Denver Downtown is less than a mile from the Pepsi Center and under 10 blocks from Coors Field, making it an ideal choice for sports lovers, whether their game is basketball, hockey, lacrosse or baseball. The hotel is in an historic building that provides a cozy, evocative ambiance not usually associated with the Courtyard brand. Guest rooms are outfitted with luxury linens and feature stylish decor. For floor-to-ceiling windows and spectacular views of downtown, book a king room in the line that ends with 25. Among the amenities are complimentary Wi-Fi and a three-meal restaurant, Rialto Cafe, which offers bottomless mimosas with its weekend brunch. Just out the hotel door, guests can catch the free MallRide that will get them close to the Pepsi Center and Coors Field as well as to all that LoDo and downtown offer.

Located less than a mile from the Pepsi Center and across the street from the Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Curtis is a cheeky ode to Pop Art culture. The retro-hip hotel completed a renovation in 2014 and still makes you smile with its splashy colors and flower-power artwork. Each floor has a "personality" (the 9th is devoted to big hair) and also features a "hyper-themed" suite, including a Startrek Enterprise suite on the Sci-Fi floor. The Corner Office restaurant is a favorite with locals and visitors. Ask the bartender for one of the memorably monikered martinis or cocktails or settle in for dinner after a day game. If staying in is on the agenda, the Curtis has your favorite games from childhood, including Clue and Boggle. Free Wi-Fi in every room adds to the fun.

Hotel Teatro is about there-quarters of a mile from the Pepsi Center and in the heart of Denver's performing-arts district. It's the romantic choice for sports lovers. A renovation in 2014 resulted in several engaging new spaces. Among the most inviting is The Study on the lobby floor, where couples and others can gather by the fireplace to read and sip tea or have breakfast. Also new is The Nickel, an interesting restaurant concept where guests can check off the charcuterie items they want, sushi style, or order from a traditional menu. If barrel-aged cocktails are a favorite, the hotel's Barrel Bar is an excellent choice, and though there are many places within walking distance, a luxury SUV is available to shuttle guests throughout the downtown area. Sophisticated and exuding warmth and style, the 110-room Hotel Teatro prides itself on exemplary service.

While it's not the closest hotel to the Pepsi Center, rumor has it that visiting basketball teams often choose to stay at the Westin Denver Downtown. This AAA Four Diamond hotel has much to offer guests whether they're athletes or not, including an indoor-outdoor pool and sundeck, a fitness center, policies and facilities dedicated to environmental efficiency and sustainability and the famed Palm Restaurant. Did we mention the Westin Heavenly Bed? Dogs are welcomed as well, so if you like to travel with your four-footed friend, the Westin is a good choice. The hotel is located just off the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall and its free mall shuttle, which will take guests within easy access of the Pepsi Center.

Nicely located between the Pepsi Center and Coors Field, the Oxford is for sports lovers, history lovers and spa lovers, as well as for anyone who appreciates timeless luxury and style. Opened in 1891, it's is on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to a coveted spa and salon and to the ageless Cruise Room, a 1933 Art Deco landmark and one of the best places in Denver to sip a martini. Each of the 80 guest rooms is individually decorated with such elements as floor-to-ceiling Chinese silk curtains, French and English antiques and claw-foot bathtubs. There's also an extensive collection of Western American art on display. McCormick's Fish House has long been a favorite of visitors and locals. Guests can walk to many LoDo restaurants and attractions, but the hotel also offers complimentary car service within a two-mile radius, which includes Coors Field.

The city's second-closest hotel to the Pepsi Center, The Crawford is also near Coors Field. The uber stylish Crawford opened in July 2014, retrofitted into Denver's renovated Union Station, which reopened to much fanfare that same month. This is a fine choice not just for sports fans but for train lovers, too. Guests can meander through the hotel and Union Station and discover artifacts and art throughout both that tell the story of the station and Denver's history. Guest rooms have a custom feel. The second-floor rooms are a nod to the golden age of train travel, evoking classic Pullman cars, while loft rooms on the top floor feature exposed brick and beams and opulent bathrooms. Crawford guests have access to the Oxford Hotel's opulent spa across the street.

The first LEED Gold-certified hotel in Denver, SpringHill Suites Denver Downtown is just a three-point shot from the Pepsi Center where the Denver Nuggets play. But it's also walking distance from Coors Field, giving baseball lovers an eco-friendly base from which to experience Denver and the Colorado Rockies. Set on the city's Auraria Campus, the hotel is staffed by professionals as well as students studying hospitality at Metro State University. Among the amenities: free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, a complimentary hot breakfast, a well-equipped fitness center and oversized suites. For cyclists, runners and walkers, the Cherry Creek Trail is practically right out the door. Not surprising, the hotel, which opened in 2012, has already won numerous awards.