Don't Buy Tour Packages From Maximum Sports Connection - Page 6 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

CowboyDan · 01-15-2013

Still going...

No seats, no refunds for Cowboys fans from afar
BYRON HARRIS
Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:57:46 CST
WFAA
NEWS 8 INVESTIGATES
"Cowboy Fans Welcome. Others Not Allowed"
That's what the sign hanging over the door of the den at the Fuller house in Memphis, Tennessee says.
For a decade, the annual event for the Fullers and dozens of friends has been a junket from Memphis to North Texas to see a Cowboys game.
"Starting in January, we start planning for the next year," Kevin Fuller said.
In 2012, it was supposed to be Cowboys vs. Steelers in December.
After forking over $10,500 to Maximum Sports Connection in three installments, 42 Fullers and friends arrived at Cowboys Stadium in their chartered bus on December 16, after spending the previous night in a hotel.
Katherine Fuller, the matriarch of the family who arranged the trip, said when the group arrived at the Maximum Sports tailgate party, a Maximum employee told her, "You don't have any tickets. You got a choice. You can get all your money back. Or you can get standup passes (Party Passes) and a ticket to next year's game."
No one accepted the Party Pass.
As for the next year's game promise, many of the Pittsburgh fans on the bus found that unacceptable, because the Steelers play the Cowboys only once every four years, and the two wouldn't meet in Dallas for another eight years.
And the Fullers weren't the only ones turned away.
"I counted 10 buses," said Darryl Eason, who was on the Fullers' bus. "I went and asked a bus driver that was already there. He said, 'They don't have no tickets for you all, because they didn't have any for us.'"
A map of fans who say they were left seat-less by Maximum Sports stretches across the country: Los Angeles, Albuquerque, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, Canada, Chicago, Louisville, Pennsylvania and even a couple from France.
"People would get off the bus. Go around and talk to the [Maximum] guy. Get on the bus, turn around and leave," Eason said.
The Fuller group suspects Maximum Sports owner Ronni Sokol sold their tickets to someone else as the Pittsburgh-Dallas game became more important in the season.
"That's exactly what happened," Kevin Fuller said.
Sokol declined to be interviewed on camera by News 8; nor would she disclose where her office is located. She said she "lost control of the Steeler game," something she's "never done before."
She said she wasn't sure how many people she sold tickets for the game, but would get back to us with the exact number.
She did not.
Sokol told us some complainants in Houston had received refunds.
We contacted them. They had not.
Sokol told us the Fullers were told before the game they would only get Party Pass tickets, and she'd promised to provide a signed receipt from Katherine Fuller to prove Ms. Fuller had agreed to it.
Sokol did not produce the receipt.
Sammy Irving, who was one of the fans in the Fullers' bus, finds it difficult to believe the incident was all an unfortunate mistake.
"I think it was greed," he said. "She saw us coming, and once we left Dallas, we weren't going to contact her any more."
The geographic spread of the victims has made it difficult for law enforcement agencies. Arlington police and the Texas Attorney General say they haven't received enough complaints to begin action yet.
Maximum Sports Connection still has an active website, selling tickets for the 2013-14 Cowboys season.
E-mail bharris@wfaa.com

LeonDixson · 01-15-2013

I would think that just the 42 complaints from the Fuller party would be enough to launch an official investigation.

This woman could be in serious trouble if someone charges her with mail fraud for defrauding people across state lines.

Cajuncowboy · 01-15-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonDixson

I would think that just the 42 complaints from the Fuller party would be enough to launch an official investigation.

This woman could be in serious trouble if someone charges her with mail fraud for defrauding people across state lines.

Man, that's what I thought as well. Not to mention Credit Card fraud. I literally feel like this guy since I ALMOST went them before changing to Star Sports Travel.

CowboyStar88 · 01-15-2013

This lady is messed up! Man I can't believe the articles and how she hasn't had charges pressed against her for false advertising and theft. How she has been able to get away with this is beyond crazy. I know if these people paid with CC they can file a fraud claim and get their money back and let the CC company go after her. She has taken something great and turned it into a headache. I feel so bad for these people and I hope she doesn't get a chance to screw over anyone else. I would spit on her if I ever saw her again she makes me sick.

BlueStar3398 · 01-16-2013

She told the media that she refunded the money. She is lying!

What is she doing with all the money? I heard that she also owes hotels and companies that provide bus transportation money too.

CowboyStar88 · 01-16-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueStar3398

She told the media that she refunded the money. She is lying!

What is she doing with all the money? I heard that she also owes hotels and companies that provide bus transportation money too.

Wouldn't surprise me she is a fraud. I guess if you lie enough times you start to believe your own lie. Crazy!

WittenFan · 01-17-2013

This is the first year in the last five years that my family didn't attend a game through Maximum Sports. For the most part, our experiences were ok but every year there was something that was just a little weird to me. Last year though, we were informed that the "Gaylord" package was no longer available because it was no longer the "team hotel" and that we would have to choose a different hotel...which we did. But when asking if we could stay at the same hotel as where the dinner the night befor the game was held we were informed that the meal would be held in a hotel that they didn't use for rooms because the "food was so incredible" there. When we showed up and were sandwiched into a room 1/2 the size as usual with food that was just this side of disgusting I began to see red flags. This year, we decided to take a break from going to a game and planned to revisit the idea in 2013. Glad I saw this thread first.

Cajuncowboy · 01-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by WittenFan

This is the first year in the last five years that my family didn't attend a game through Maximum Sports. For the most part, our experiences were ok but every year there was something that was just a little weird to me. Last year though, we were informed that the "Gaylord" package was no longer available because it was no longer the "team hotel" and that we would have to choose a different hotel...which we did. But when asking if we could stay at the same hotel as where the dinner the night befor the game was held we were informed that the meal would be held in a hotel that they didn't use for rooms because the "food was so incredible" there. When we showed up and were sandwiched into a room 1/2 the size as usual with food that was just this side of disgusting I began to see red flags. This year, we decided to take a break from going to a game and planned to revisit the idea in 2013. Glad I saw this thread first.

Star sports is your answer. Quality all the way around and they are the official Cowboys travel partner.

Irving Cowboy · 01-17-2013

What Cajun just said x10.

Barry and Dan are first-class. I'd eat light bulbs for them.

DallasDW00ds0n · 01-17-2013

Wow that sounds terrible

BlueStar3398 · 01-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by WittenFan

This is the first year in the last five years that my family didn't attend a game through Maximum Sports. For the most part, our experiences were ok but every year there was something that was just a little weird to me. Last year though, we were informed that the "Gaylord" package was no longer available because it was no longer the "team hotel" and that we would have to choose a different hotel...which we did. But when asking if we could stay at the same hotel as where the dinner the night befor the game was held we were informed that the meal would be held in a hotel that they didn't use for rooms because the "food was so incredible" there. When we showed up and were sandwiched into a room 1/2 the size as usual with food that was just this side of disgusting I began to see red flags. This year, we decided to take a break from going to a game and planned to revisit the idea in 2013. Glad I saw this thread first.

A guy that works in the hotel business in Dallas said she owes thousands to the Marriot and the Gaylord will not let her on the property. I think she is in way over her head. He said she owes the IRS too. I hope fans take the warning not to give her any money on "deposit" for games next season.

DallasDW00ds0n · 01-17-2013

It bothers me to read all this, I wonder how does someone get away with this crap

Irving Cowboy · 01-17-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by DallasDW00ds0n

It bothers me to read all this, I wonder how does someone get away with this crap

Because she has simple-minded employees who she gets to go out and shill for her (I know this because one of them used to be a friend of mine) and she gives a little twinkle of her eye and convinces you she can deliver the moon, all the while she's neck-deep in debt with no plan to get out. It's sad, really.

Kristi · 01-17-2013

How many complaints do they need to go after her?

I almost used them a few years ago. I had already had my accessible tickets to Texas Stadium, but was looking at staying at the team hotel, doing the meet and greet, etc. They said they would get back to me on the cost without tickets and I never heard back. I consider myself lucky!!!

Thanks for posting this!

Cajuncowboy · 01-18-2013

Some first hand experiences....

http://www.insiderpages.com/b/152451...nection-dallas