Out-of-towners looking for accommodation during the Memorial Cup festivities need not despair. While all major hotels in Brandon such as the Canad Inns, Victoria Inn and Royal Oak are all booked up during the Memorial Cup time period, the host committee has released hotel rooms around the city that are no longer needed.

As well, Brandon University’s McMaster Hall has opened its doors for visitors.

“There are approximately 200 rooms in there (McMaster),” said Memorial Cup chair Jeff Cristall. “I do know there are people who have booked to go and stay there for the duration of the event because it’s in May and school is not in session.”

“Between that and the various other hotels, I think it’s going to settle down in the next 30 or 40 days and we’ll find out whether we have a (accommodation) problem or not. We shouldn’t.”

Meanwhile, Cristall says the host committee is continuing to look for volunteers for the event and is now in the process of determining what area of the event each volunteer wants to work.

“We have enough in number but whether we have enough in terms of individual areas, that’s what we’re in the process of figuring out over the next few weeks,” said Cristall.

Cristall admits he’s a bit nervous and hopes everything runs smoothly the time of the event and cannot wait to get the Memorial Cup underway.

“We’re under 100 days away,” said Cristall. “Overall, things are going great. We have a great crew in putting this on. We’re as prepared as we possibly can and are ready for what’s to come.”