‘You cannot be serious …’
Tennis fans have reacted with fury on hearing that they will not receive a refund despite play at June’s Champions of Tennis event in Stockbridge being a wash out.
Hundreds of spectators were left drookit – and seriously out of pocket – as the heavens opened and torrential rain poured through a temporary £100, 000 ‘roof’ at Edinburgh Accies’ Raeburn Place stadium. Four hours play was lost as staff tried in vain to mop up the court with towels, and instead of seeing three top quality matches, fans – some of whom paid £100 for the day’s ‘entertainment’ – were served up a shambles.
Play, such as it was, started at 6pm, with match durations slashed to just one set as light deteriorated.
Before the tournament tennis lovers had been promised big names, but in the event they were sorely let down. Fans favourite John McEnroe played one just set, Ivanisevic never even started his game and the third match featuring Mark Philippoussis was also scrapped.
However furious fans have now learned that there will be no refund.
NEN reader Sarah Fox was there. She writes …
‘I’m sure you heard about the disaster that was Brodies Champions of Tennis on the Saturday, you may have even been there yourselves. After nearly two months they have finally some back to ticket holders offering no refund.
With all the profits that a firm like Brodies makes and they take it out on the tennis lovers who were unable to see the tennis due to the completely unsuitable ‘roof’. Please see pathetic response below from the tournament director…..
Dear Ticket Holder
Thank you for supporting Brodies Champions of Tennis and for your patience while we have carried out a thorough review of the inaugural tournament.
We share your frustration at the disruption caused by bad weather on Saturday, June 22, and your disappointment that more tennis was not played within the original match timings. We believed that the purpose-built canopy would allow play to continue in the event of rain. Unfortunately, due to the squally conditions on the day, water did get on to the court and we were advised by the umpire to suspend play to ensure the players’ safety.
Under the terms and conditions of our ticket refund policy, refunds would only be issued if less than 40 minutes of play took place. Despite the adverse weather conditions on Saturday we made every effort to minimise disruption so that fans could see as much tennis as possible. As a result, we were able to put on just under two hours of play on Saturday.
Whist it was disappointing only two hours of tennis were played, disruption due to bad weather is a risk at any outdoor event. No matches were cancelled on Saturday 22 or any of the other days so refunds are not eligible .
We assure you that lessons have been learnt.
Viki Mendelssohn, Tournament Director
Sarah goes on: ‘Anything you can do to help us Saturday ticket holders have a voice and ensuring the tournament feel some consequences from this disaster and therefore making sure this incidence doesn’t happen again would be very much appreciated.’
Chris Ross received the same letter, and he too was less than impressed. He has since responded to the organisers, and told NEN:
“I’m very disappointed with the organisers’ response, both in the inconsistencies and the disingenuous statements it contains. Yes, they can say that no matches were cancelled on Saturday but the McEnroe match was reduced to a set, although it was advertised as the best of three. The Enqvist Ivanisevic match – originally scheduled for the Saturday night – did not take place until the Sunday morning, so presumably Saturday ticket holders would therefore not have been able to get in to watch this match so, from our perspective, it might as well have been cancelled.”
Tournament organisers are understood to be considering a ‘goodwill gesture’, although they have not specified what this might be – perhaps reduced price or even free tickets to next year’s event. Dissatisfied fans, however, are now considering legal action.
And the way it was …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6LHq6W0lzY