Don't Buy Tour Packages From Maximum Sports Connection

[BlueStar3398]

Just thought I would post this so other Cowboys fans don't lose their money. Several people paid money in advance to attend the Cowboys/Steelers game and Maximum Sports did not deliver on game day.


Is Maximum Sports Connection just the ticket? Not hardly, clients say
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12...#storylink=cpy

Has Ronni Sokol this time bitten off more than she can chew?
Readers of this column may recall several instances where Sokol's Maximum Sports Connection sold travel packages for Dallas Cowboys games but, angry customers told us, failed to deliver promised hotels and sometimes tickets.
Maximum lost its designation as the Cowboys' "official fan tour partner." And it earned an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau -- 25 consumer complaints in three years. The BBB website says Maximum made only one "good faith" attempt to settle a complaint.
But Sokol has remained in business and even sold scores of ticket-tailgate party combo deals for the Dec. 16 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, an exciting game that Dallas won in overtime. But dozens of Sokol's customers from as far afield as Canada, Mexico, Tennessee and Pennsylvania would only hear about it secondhand.
[View Full Quote]Sokol did not return our call seeking her side of the story. But an employee, Chelsea Brown, assured us the refunds would be made by Wednesday.
Among the piqued clients were two lawmen, a detective with a sheriff's department in South Texas and a police officer from eastern Pennsylvania.

One, Eduardo Lopez of Eagle Pass, was promised a refund in 72 hours. The other, Kerry Vincent of Pennsylvania, received an email saying he'll get his money back in five to seven business days, which means today or Wednesday.
Doubting if they'll ever see anything, both want to see Sokol prosecuted; Vincent said he has contacted Arlington police and the Texas Attorney General's office.
Before leaving Mechanicsburg, Pa., with a police colleague and their wives, Vincent told us that he was assured by Maximum that their tickets were waiting for them at a tailgate party. They weren't. A relative ended up buying four more tickets for them over the Internet.
The tailgate turned so ugly that Vincent called over an Arlington police officer to quell the situation, he said.
Vincent photographed a signup sheet of those requesting refunds and is trying to organize them into pressuring authorities to take action against Sokol. He said he believes Sokol might have misdirected tens of thousands of dollars.
"In Pennsylvania, we call that 'theft by deception,'" the police officer told us in a call. "I worked a boatload of overtime to pay for this."
Among victims is Richard Harris, a West Point graduate who is an administrator at a Houston charter school. Harris also vows to see action taken.

http://khou.mlnwap.com/article.html?...ae8c4694c83%2F

DALLAS -- Six fans from Houston had anticipated the Cowboys-Steelers matchup since last spring. They each paid $300 to Maximum Sports Connection for a pre-game tailgate party and seats to the game.
When they arrived for the tailgate party, they were told there were no tickets; that Maximum had "oversold" the game.
They were given the option of standing room only tickets or getting their money back.
The Houston fans elected to get their money back, but so far, they haven't seen it.
Busloads of other fans who purchased packages from Maximum were stood up as well.
"The group from Memphis, I know spent $10,500 just to come down to Dallas," said Houston resident Tina Thomas. "And the numbers start adding up, and she is pocketing this money."
[View Full Quote]"She" is Ronni Sokol, who runs Maximum Sports Connection out of a P.O. Box in Dallas. Maximum markets ticket/tailgate packages with access to former Dallas Cowboys stars.
Richard Harris, one of the six fans from Houston who talked to News 8, said Sokol has a checkered past. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram cites past complaints from ticket-less fans.
"Until something is done, this is going to happen every single year," said Thomas, one of the Houston fans.
Two other couples said they did not just lose the ticket money on their Cowboys-Steelers weekend; they paid for hotel, food, gas, and care for their children.
"We had to get pre-arrangement with relatives to come in and take care of our kids," Rodney Fielder said.
All of the victims said Maximum Sports knew days ahead of time there were no tickets available for the fans, but instead waited until they had already arrived in Dallas to tell them.
"None of the employees seemed to have any empathy," Tanya Harris said. "It was almost as if we were aggravating them because we wanted some answers."
News 8 called Maximum Sports Connection and spoke to a woman identifying herself as Chelsea Brown. She said she would have Ronni Sokol call us back.
So far, that has not happened.

[CowboysYanksLakers]

Terrible.. SMH

[dallasfan4evr]

Surprised to hear about this. I have used this company a few time, and never had any issues...

[BlueStar3398]

I bought tickets a few years ago when the Cowboys were 6-10. Picked them up at the tailgate. No problems, but it was a game with low attendence.

I thought I would warn fans because I had no idea this was happening with Maximum Sports either. Their website says they are taking "deposits" on the 2013 season. I don't want to see any fans lose their money. The fans from Houston paid for their tickets way back in March and Maximum Sports did not deliver on gameday.

[Cajuncowboy]

Okay. I am going to add my two cents on this.

A few years ago I went to Texas Stadium and uses Star Sports Tours. At the time Maximum was the official Cowboys travel partner. I went with Star Sports because one of the members here Cowboy Dan works for them and I had some conversations with him and felt comfortable with him. We went for the full package and had a fantastic time.

This year we decided to make the trip to see this very game, the Steelers. My friend who was going is a pastor and we had to do this on a bit of a budget so I checked on pricing. Maximum is also a member here so I checked them out. They were a bit less than Star but not by much.

My friend and I decided to go with Maximum Sports. Just after I made the decision and put the deposit down, I was made aware of some other concerns with them and just like this. Checked the BBB and indeed there were many complaints of this very type. I called Roni and she said she would NOT refund my money.

Since I used my AX card they said they would work on getting it refunded. I called Roni once more and explained why I had concerns and she assured me this wouldn't happen again and it was just a one time thing. But after reading a lot of the complaints I wasn't satisfied. AX refunded my money and I went with Star Sports Tours. I am so glad I did because the experience was first rate. I have never heard a single complaint regarding Dan's company and should have gone with what I knew was the best from the start.

I cannot tell you how glad I am after reading this that we made the decision we did.

If anyone has any questions about my experience with Star Sports Tours just let me know in a PM. They are great and HIGHLY recommended.

[BlueStar3398]

I'm really glad you got your money back! Apparently it is not a one time deal with her. She is not telling the truth. She should not take any money if she doesn't have the tickets. That's just wrong. And to offer these people a $29 party pass when they paid $300? Ridiculous. When I saw that she was taking "deposits" on 2013, I thought I better warn people.

[Cajuncowboy]

Originally Posted by BlueStar3398

I'm really glad you got your money back! Apparently it is not a one time deal with her. She is not telling the truth. She should not take any money if she doesn't have the tickets. That's just wrong. And to offer these people a $29 party pass when they paid $300? Ridiculous. When I saw that she was taking "deposits" on 2013, I thought I better warn people.

To be clear, she did not give me my money back. When AX contacted her, she refused to talk with them about it. After several attempts, as a matter of policy, AX just refunded it and charged her account back for it. It wasn't like she was going to do it on her own.

[BlueStar3398]

Originally Posted by Cajuncowboy

To be clear, she did not give me my money back. When AX contacted her, she refused to talk with them about it. After several attempts, as a matter of policy, AX just refunded it and charged her account back for it. It wasn't like she was going to do it on her own.

Wow... Well I'm glad AX charged it back.

Several fans have seen these news articles and posted on her Maximum Sports Connection Facebook page. The comments have been deleted and they were blocked from the FB page.

[Cajuncowboy]

Originally Posted by BlueStar3398

Wow... Well I'm glad AX charged it back.

Several fans have seen these news articles and posted on her Maximum Sports Connection Facebook page. The comments have been deleted and they were blocked from the FB page.

Figures.

[muck4doo]

I plan on going to a game next season. Thanks for this info.

[DA FAN]

I guess I should consider myself lucky.

I bought a package from her for the Aikman HOF back in 2006.

Upon check-in to the hotel in Ohio, she was giving us Tshirts. Mine was too small and she said she would mail me one. 12 years later, and I'm still waiting on it.

Our package also should've included tickets for a concert that was held Saturday night at the rib bbq contest/festival. When I asked about the tickets, she said she never promised tickets to the concert. I let it go cause I really didn't care about the band that was playing. It was the principle of the the matter that I asked about the tickets.


I guess like with anything else, they start off getting away/ripping off people with small things. Next thing they are ripping people off hundreds or thousands of dollars.

I hope they take legal action against her. It's just wrong to do that to anyone.

[SaltwaterServr]

If anyone is looking for a packaged tour company, I'd recommend this one:

http://www.fivepointstexastours.com

[Sportsbabe]

Originally Posted by BlueStar3398

Just thought I would post this so other Cowboys fans don't lose their money. Several people paid money in advance to attend the Cowboys/Steelers game and Maximum Sports did not deliver on game day.


Is Maximum Sports Connection just the ticket? Not hardly, clients say
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/12...#storylink=cpy



http://khou.mlnwap.com/article.html?...ae8c4694c83%2F

Co-sign. Been there ... done that ... got the (partial) refund to prove it.

[CowboyDan]

Thanks for the kind words Rob, it was great seeing you at the Steelers game tailgate party!

I can't stand seeing Maximum (cowboysportstours.com) treat Cowboys fans this way, but it's become the norm for them. But then again, they're not really true Cowboys fans themselves: http://www.maxtoursandtravel.com/pit...h-steelers.htm They sell Steelers packages too.

Star Sports Tours is the only Official Fan Travel Partner of the Dallas Cowboys.
www.starsportstours.com

This is our 15th year in business and we have an A+ Accredited rating with the Better Business Bureau because we take care of our customers. Any fans looking for an incredible Dallas Cowboys experience should feel free to contact me via PM or email: dan@starsportstours.com , or call our office toll free 877-589-1546 and ask for Dan. We have an incredible selection of game tickets, tours of Valley Ranch, Player Meet & Greets, Tailgate Parties with Cowboys Legends, Stadium Tours and so much more. None of our competitors can match the experience we provide.

[CowboyDan]

Originally Posted by SaltwaterServr

If anyone is looking for a packaged tour company, I'd recommend this one:

http://www.fivepointstexastours.com

This is a quote from their website:
There will only be 50 packages sold per game due to ticket availability.


That is not something you'll see on our website. We took over 500 people to the Cowboys v Steelers game.