Ferrell, or Buddy the Elf, told FanDuel TV's Carrlyn Bathe that ... and they took to social media to express their excitement over the sighting of the 57-year-old on Sunday evening.

Buddy seems to have fallen on some hard times ... "At the Kings game and this guy is a TREASURE," wrote Dan Woike of the LA Times. Elf, which was released in 2003, stars Ferrell as a human ...

Decked out in everything merry and bright, guests will be transported into the whimsical world of Buddy the Elf while staying in the suite, which is within walking distance to Rockefeller Center ...