'What a stitch up': Fans fume over seating arrangements for Boomers v Team USA
Angry basketball fans have taken to social media to post pictures of their seats for the first of two matches between the Boomers and Team USA at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
Those who purchased some of the more expensive tickets were greeted by rows of plastic chairs which had been cable-tied together.
The seats themselves were also below the level of the actual court, limiting the view available from the floor.
Some even compared it to the ill-fated Fyre Festival.
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
When your sporting showcase event is being compared to the biggest rip-off in recent ticketing history, that’s uh not great #BoomersUSA pic.twitter.com/4NxY6fN3KB
— Steve Smith (@stevesmithffx) August 22, 2019
$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
Lmao @ paying top dollar to watch Marcus Smart from 300m away.#BoomersUSA
— Nathan Webojevic (@SeaEagleSpur) August 22, 2019
Disappointing to see photos of expensive seats (AFL field level) Marvel basically with no view. That doesn’t grow the game, it just infuriates people. #BoomersUSA
— Kitch 🇦🇺 (@kitchtrips) August 22, 2019
Fans at the game weren’t the only ones unhappy with the viewing arrangements.
The unconventional court set-up meant the broadcast angle was lower than usual for basketball games, throwing viewers of the game at home off.
This camera angle on tv is rubbish. #BoomersUSA
— Adam Fryday (@the_fryz) August 22, 2019
The camera angle is a bit weird #BoomersUSA
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) August 22, 2019
This looks really odd on TV. Go Australia though #BoomersUSA
— Matt (@Matt4RD) August 22, 2019
While I applaud the ambition, the key thing to learn from this is that basketball should never again be played in a big stadium like this. Those floor seat views 🤮 and the TV angle is terrible #BoomersUSA
— Ill (@warraSteelers) August 22, 2019
Soooo.... Billy McFarland is doing basketball tours now.#BoomersUSA #FyreBasketball #BillyMcFarland pic.twitter.com/OjxIvkhgHI
— Drunk Logic (@drunk_logic) August 22, 2019
Fortunately for fans, their frustration was soothed by the high standard of play on the court.
At half-time, Australia trailed Team USA by just one point, 44-43 in a highly competitive arm-wrestle.
Leading into the match there was disappointment and anger from ticketholders with the US team missing much of its star power.
Fans felt the advertising and marketing material featuring global NBA names such as Anthony Davis and James Harden to promote the game was misleading, given they weren't taking part.
Australia's own NBA superstar Ben Simmons also withdrew from the Boomers squad.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced last week that it was in talks with the promoter TEG Live.
According to the ABC, the ACCC announced on Thursday night that was "aware of refunds being made to consumers for the USA Basketball games ... in Melbourne and Sydney on 22, 24 and 26 August".
Despite this many ticketholders on social media remained frustrated.
While fans didn't get to see all the stars they wanted, the court set-up meant some could have ended up get up close and personal with some NBA players.
From the sideline to court edge is just 3.1-metres followed by a 93cm drop.
That means that if things get physical those paying the big bucks for courtside seats could end up with a player in their lap.
WITH AAP