If you have any "light-weights" in your group (or ppl who freeze if it's below 40) you may want to consider the sunny side (East)
I even heard from some guys last year, who were cold on the west side... just saying I know... drink more, yell more, etc!
Off topic: Perhaps this has been mentioned, but some hotels have a 14-21 day cancellation policy... which puts us at the 20th or 21st of Dec.
(Not the Embassy - they only require 24 hrs, but some of the others are much longer. Ex: Comfort Suites near the stadium, Hilton Garden, etc.)