No games, no flights: George Mason athletes stranded in travel scandal

FAIRFAX, Va. (7News) — It remains to be a developing situation at George Mason University, but it is already drawing comparisons to the famous Fyre Festival debacle from a few years ago. The men’s basketball team had a trip to the Bahamas planned for some exhibition games and some beach fun. But, it did not go as expected.

Everything was derailed hours before the team was supposed to fly this past weekend. The website of The VII Group, the consultant agency behind this scandal, is still promoting upcoming college events.

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These foreign tours are popular among college programs during the summer, as a way for teams to bond and get some playing time in against new opponents before the start of the college basketball season. Some GMU student-athletes were already at the airport when they discovered nothing had been booked— No flights, no hotels, and no games.

The consulting agency released a statement apologizing, saying in part, “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. This tour was meant to be a significant experience for the George Mason Men’s Basketball program—a chance for the team to bond, compete, and represent their university on an international stage.”

It’s unclear how much of a deposit was put down by members of the college program.

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The school also issued a statement saying, “George Mason University is extremely disappointed for its student-athletes, coaches and supporters regarding the last-minute cancelation of the men’s basketball program’s foreign tour scheduled for last week in the Bahamas.”

No refunds have been issued and no word yet from the company about a refund. George Mason University has made some national news before, most notably a memorable final-four run in 2006. But now Head Coach Tony Skinn and his squad are making news after falling victim to the sudden cancellation after months of coordination by student-athletes, coaches, families, boosters and donors.

The university told 7News it was working to promptly resolve the matter and secure a full refund for those directly impacted.