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The George Mason University men’s basketball program appears to have fallen victim to scam involving a Bahamas trip and a fake basketball tournament.
The Patriots were set to embark on a five-day trip to the island nation where they played multiple local teams.
But when they arrived in the Bahamas, the team learned that no hotels had been booked and there were no actual opponents for them to play.
The VII Group, which advertises itself as “a premier full-service, Black-owned, sports event marketing firm” handled to the organization of the trip.
It released a statement on Friday apologizing for what it called an “unforeseen outcome.”
One of the wildest stories of the year. George Mason men's basketball gets scammed out of their foreign trip to the Bahamas. pic.twitter.com/b5kwv5SMUI
— Joe Wright (@Sctvman) August 9, 2024
Fans Fume Over George Mason’s Canceled Bahamas Trip
“It is with deep regret and sincere apologies that the VII Group announces the cancelation of the George Mason University Men’s Basketball team’s foreign tour to The Bahamas, initially scheduled for this summer,” the statement read. “This unforeseen outcome is not only a profound disappointment to all involved but a failure that we at The VII Group take full accountability for.
“…We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment this has caused. Our immediate focus is on making amends and working diligently to regain the confidence of the George Mason University Men’s Basketball program and its supporters.”
But fans weren’t exactly accepting of the apology.
“’Unforeseen circumstances’ is language you use regarding a cancellation when it happens BEFORE an event, not when you cancel it the day of,” one fan tweeted. “The VII Group knew that nothing was booked. This wasn’t unforeseen.”
George Mason University did not release a statement of its own. The Patriots are widely know for their incredible Cinderella to the Final Four in 2006 under then-head coach Jim Larranaga. Larranaga is the current head coach of the Miami Hurricanes.
Current head coach Tony Skin enters his second season with the Patriots after a solid 20-12 season in year one.