Shaq’s shacking up at posh Boston digs

Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal bounced his way into Boston today to meet with his new team, the Celtics. While he’s on the court, his reps are hitting the streets looking for a place tall enough to accommodate the 7′ 1″ athlete when he’s here.

The Celtics signed Shaquille O’Neal to help win another NBA title, but The Boston Herald is reporting one luxury address could also score big with Shaq’s arrival to the Bay State. Reports say Shaq’s reps are looking at the W Boston Hotel & Residences, which have suffered a bit of a lag in sales since opening.

The W could actually be a great fit for Shaq. It’s a new building with high-end security, valet service and a 24-hour concierge. The downside – it’s not very close to the TD Garden, where the Celts play during the season. Other hotel residences in the running include the Residences at the Mandarin Oriental, the Four Seasons and the Residences at the InterContinental.

This wouldn’t be the first time contracted sports stars have shacked up in posh Boston hotels. Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez called the Ritz-Carlton home during his time with the team. The four-bedroom condo is currently available for rent at $25,000 a month (in case you’re interested).

W Boston Hotel owner faces financial woes; files for bankruptcy

The hotel has only been open a few months, but developers of the upscale W Boston Hotel and Residences are already facing financial problems. The owners filed for bankruptcy this week – a severe blow to the recently revitalized theater district area where the 28-story W Boston stood ground.

The W Boston was a welcome addition to Boston’s downtown theater district, which had been under construction for years working on the restructuring of worn facades and dilapidated buildings. The sheer glass exterior of the W Boston added a light to the darkening theater district streets giving Bostonians a reason to venture back to their old stomping grounds, which once hosted some of the best night life events and late-night clubs in the city. While the lights still shine bright on the theater marquees, there’s a dim shadow cast on the future of the W Boston.

According to documents filed in US Bankruptcy Court in Boston by SW Boston Hotel Venture LLC, a subsidiary of Sawyer Enterprises, the owners list liabilities of $100 million to $500 million.

The Boston Globe
reported that several months ago, in an effort to help the ailing hotel group complete the project, the City of Boston provided a $10.5 million loan to the developer, claiming it would take another $234 million to finish the project. However, troubles began way before the opening.

The high-end touches and amenities added to the residences and hotel rooms were purchased on the assumption that people would the price for the W brand. Unfortunately, not everyone bought into the trendsetting digs.

As of the filing, the W Boston Residences are only 10 percent sold. The Globe reports the condominiums have sold for as much as $1.9 million for a three-bedroom and $345,000 for a studio. According to the W Boston website, hotel rooms average around $300 a night, depending on the day of the week.