An Australia vs USA basketball game is being compared to Fyre Festival after fans paid hundreds of dollars to sit in plastic seats with bad views
Twitter users have compared the Boomers vs Team USA basketball game held in Victoria on Thursday to the Fyre Festival after paying hundreds of dollars for plastic chairs.
Australian actor Russell Crowe also joined in the outrage, saying "jokes on me" after shelling out $1500 for a ticket.
Ticket promoter TEG Live is also under fire for misleading advertising after several high profile players slated to play in the game pulled out.
Aussie basketball fans have compared the Boomers vs Team USA game held on Thursday to the disastrous Fyre Festival, after paying hundreds of dollars for plastic chairs on ground level.
The basketball game kicked off at the Marvel Stadium in Victoria but ticket-goers could barely see it because of the seating - with rows of plastic chairs provided for typically prime seating on ground level.
Aussie actor Russell Crowe even chimed in on the abysmal seating arrangements, saying on twitter, "$1500 a ticket for this view...Jokes on me."
$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
Other twitter users highlighted paying upwards of $300 for seats, comparing the actual event to the disastrous Fyre Festival that never happened. The Festival promised a three day VIP experience in the Bahamas with gourmet food, fancy villas and a performance by punk rock band Blink 182. However attendees flew all the way to the island just end up stranded, eating sandwiches and having to sleep in tents.
Fyre Festival but for Australian basketball https://t.co/Mo2IEJ1W7K
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) August 22, 2019
And if the terrible view wasn't bad enough, a number of US players slated to play in the game pulled out since June 2019, including James Harden, Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond, the ABC reported.
The #BoomersUSA game is going to be Australia’s Fyre Festival. This stadium setup is more shambolic than all the big name players pulling out. Charging people $500+ for “floor” seats that are plastic chairs with no elevation pic.twitter.com/ox8HnochPf
— YEAHITSKEP (@yeahitskep) August 21, 2019
Ticket promoter TEG Live had released a promotional video of the game on August 15 featuring high profile players such as James Harden, but they never showed up to the event.
$150 floor seats and you can’t see the court. All the players dropped out too. What a stitch-up. #BoomersUSA pic.twitter.com/5IWh3e74RK
— Wade Shipard (@wadeshipard) August 22, 2019
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reportedly confirmed that TEG started making refunds to ticket holders, after raising concerns that the advertising for the event was misleading.
DEVELOPING - The @acccgovau has confirmed that the promoter of tonight's @BasketballAus v @usabasketball (@TEG_Live) has begun making refunds to ticket-holders, after concerns that the advertising for the event was misleading, by showing players who are not taking part (1/2).
— Seb Costello (@SebCostello9) August 22, 2019
The ACCC will continued to investigate after original posters advertising the event featured the likes of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. @9NewsMelb had previously been told that refunds would not be offered by a spokesperson for the @TEG_Live. 2/2
— Seb Costello (@SebCostello9) August 22, 2019
Amid the report that refunds were being made, other ticket buyers are still contacting TEG for a refund, but haven't received a response.
Looks like @TEG_Live has shut up shop. Not answering their phones or replying to emails...holding out as long as they can so people attending tomorrow have to go even though they are requesting refunds. Hope @acccgovau and @consumervic take this further
— BomberBoss (@Bombers_Boss) August 22, 2019
And there's still one more basketball game set for Saturday August 24.
If we've learned anything from the Fyre Festival, it's that sometimes it's best to just stay home.
Business Insider Australia has contacted the ACCC and TEG for comment.