George Mason Scammed out of International Trip

[MUbiz]

I am sure there are more details to follow, and I know Trilly has been talking about it on his discord, but having a D1 basketball program getting scammed out of a international trip is wild in 2024.

https://x.com/CBB_Central/status/1821935453420810593

https://x.com/statsbywill/status/1821932182257938761

[rocky_warrior]

https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/2024/08/09/george-mason-basketball-foreign-tour-bahamas-cancelled/

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I figured a Nigerian prince was sponsoring, not the Bahamas. 
Free Uggs should have been the tipoff?

[MUbiz]

https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1821979111985684956?t=ZOFO0CmrBmlm8qPjqaRUHg&s=19

[StillAWarrior]

https://x.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1821979111985684956?t=ZOFO0CmrBmlm8qPjqaRUHg&s=19

"Chris Williams, the organizer of George Mason's trip to the Bahamas, told @thefieldof68 that he takes full responsibility for the cancellation of the trip. He said that the company he outsourced the flights never booked them, but the hotels and games were booked and scheduled, and had to be cancelled."


I would think that chartering a flight for the team would have been the best alternative once this was discovered. I think it probably would cost less than they're going to end up being liable for...not to mention that the publicity from this trainwreck may end their company.

[avid1010]

"Chris Williams, the organizer of George Mason's trip to the Bahamas, told @thefieldof68 that he takes full responsibility for the cancellation of the trip. He said that the company he outsourced the flights never booked them, but the hotels and games were booked and scheduled, and had to be cancelled."

I would think that chartering a flight for the team would have been the best alternative once this was discovered. I think it probably would cost less than they're going to end up being liable for...not to mention that the publicity from this trainwreck may end their company.

Flights get cancelled all the time...seems odd.

[Jay Bee]

Maybe GM was never going to fund the trip & tricked its student-athletes!

An even crazier story?: a couple of teams are going to the Bahamas just to play a random one off game this season!!!!

[brewcity77]

An even crazier story?: a couple of teams are going to the Bahamas just to play a random one off game this season!!!!

Only one team is going there for a random one-off that I know of.

[copious1218]

Only one team is going there for a random one-off that I know of.

Who are they playing against?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Who are they playing against?

A team whos going to the Bahamas just to play two random one off games this season

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I guess we have to scream Fake News at Bee Jay

[Billy Hoyle]

"Chris Williams, the organizer of George Mason's trip to the Bahamas, told @thefieldof68 that he takes full responsibility for the cancellation of the trip. He said that the company he outsourced the flights never booked them, but the hotels and games were booked and scheduled, and had to be cancelled."


I would think that chartering a flight for the team would have been the best alternative once this was discovered. I think it probably would cost less than they're going to end up being liable for...not to mention that the publicity from this trainwreck may end their company.

This is a failure at the institutional level as much as by the company. Having worked with multiple programs taking these trips the amount of contact the coaches and particularly the DOBO have with these organizers should have been frequent and everything documented over the course of months. Tickets in hand, hotel reservations booked and documents, and daily itineraries set weeks in advance. GMU is making it seem they scheduled all of this at the last minute. Unless the company engaged in outright fraud this is on GMU hoops as well. 

The school announced the trip on July 16. https://gomason.com/404-1.aspx?url=%2fstory.aspx%3ffilename%3dmens-basketball-patriots-to-embark-on-5-day-international-basketball-tour-in-bahamas%26file_date%3d7%2f16%2f2024

https://www.wusa9.com/article/sports/ncaa/george-mason-university-basketball-trip-bahamas-canceled/65-50793e4d-b3fe-4072-a187-8312d0440dc6

George Mason booked its travel through The VII Group which organizes international tours, according to its website.

McKay says a few members from the team were scheduled to arrive in the Bahamas early. They got to the airport Tuesday to find the entire team had no tickets and no reservations.

"No, our team was not dumb enough to show up at an airport thinking we had reservations and we didn't," said McKay. "I just want everyone to know that wasn't the case."

[wadesworld]

This is a failure at the institutional level as much as by the company. Having worked with multiple programs taking these trips the amount of contact the coaches and particularly the DOBO have with these organizers should have been frequent and everything documented over the course of months. Tickets in hand, hotel reservations booked and documents, and daily itineraries set weeks in advance. GMU is making it seem they scheduled all of this at the last minute. Unless the company engaged in outright fraud this is on GMU hoops as well. 

The school announced the trip on July 16. https://gomason.com/404-1.aspx?url=%2fstory.aspx%3ffilename%3dmens-basketball-patriots-to-embark-on-5-day-international-basketball-tour-in-bahamas%26file_date%3d7%2f16%2f2024

https://www.wusa9.com/article/sports/ncaa/george-mason-university-basketball-trip-bahamas-canceled/65-50793e4d-b3fe-4072-a187-8312d0440dc6

George Mason booked its travel through The VII Group which organizes international tours, according to its website.

McKay says a few members from the team were scheduled to arrive in the Bahamas early. They got to the airport Tuesday to find the entire team had no tickets and no reservations.

"No, our team was not dumb enough to show up at an airport thinking we had reservations and we didn't," said McKay. "I just want everyone to know that wasn't the case."

Company responsible for the flights releases a statement apologizing for screwing over GMU.

Chicos: This is entirely GMU's fault.

[DFW HOYA]

No coverage in the Washington Post, as they have largely dropped local college sports coverage.

[Billy Hoyle]

Company responsible for the flights releases a statement apologizing for screwing over GMU.

Chicos: This is entirely GMU's fault.

You probably believe people who tell you "the check's in the mail" if you believe GMU has not culpability