Disgruntled basketball fans in Melbourne have requested refunds after claiming they were left unsighted for this week’s international match between Australia and the USA due to a poorly thought out seating plan.
The Australian Boomers and USA Basketball match was held on a temporary court at the AFL-owned 53,359-capacity Marvel Stadium on Thursday. Fans were placed on plastic chairs around the slightly raised court with no elevation in the stands.
The event has been compared on Twitter to the ill-fated Bahamas’ Fyre Festival. Hollywood actor Russell Crowe was among those to complain about the view via social media.
$1500 a ticket for this view. AUS v USA .
Jokes on me.
If you weren’t among 50,000 there and you chose to watch it on tv at home, good decision . pic.twitter.com/VlNuXWp6iI— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 22, 2019
Basketball Australia and promoter TEG Live played down the controversy in a statement issued on Friday.
“Over 51,000 fans attended the event and it is worth noting the feedback to us has been strongly positive. Clearly there have been some fans that feel their expectations were not met on their purchased seats,” a spokesperson said.
“TEG Live and Marvel Stadium worked with a number of fans at the game to make alternative arrangements. Of the 11,000 fans who had purchased floor seating to last night’s game, only 200 people were relocated. They were relocated promptly without issue and just two refunds were requested.
“We appreciate that it was a different viewing experience than many basketball fans are used to because the event was staged within a traditional football stadium.
“There were 14 massive video screens to augment the live action, including providing action replays, statistics and video pieces to keep the audience entertained.”
Fans have also complained that the USA Basketball team did not include many of the stars who featured in promotional campaigns. Read the full story on TheTicketingBusiness.com.
Image: Leanne Willis (Twitter)
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