Super Bowl Seating Lawsuit: Fans Sue NFL Over Seating Snafu
You knew this wasn't going to end well. After thousands of fans traveled thousands of miles, shelled out thousands of dollars and showed up for the Super Bowl, they found that they didn't have a seat.
The NFL took preliminary steps to try to please the fans, but it wasn't enough. And thus the Super Bowl seating lawsuit began.
Furious football fans sued the NFL and the Dallas Cowboys for failure to secure them seats despite the fact that they paid thousands of dollars for their tickets. The league has admitted that around 400 people did not receive seats. In addition, other ticket holders were moved to seats on folding metal chairs with blocked views, Reuters reports.
The Super Bowl seating lawsuit alleges breach of contract, fraud and deceptive trade practices. According to the lawsuit, the NFL was aware of the seating problems before the game, but did not inform the fans. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Dallas, Texas, seeking class action status.
The league has invited the 400 fans who did not receive a seat to come to a future Super Bowl for free. The NFL made the following offer to those left out: $2,400 and tickets to next season's Super Bowl, or to attend any future Super Bowl and receive round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations. With the first option, the ticket is transferable, while with the second, it is not, ESPN reports.
"Frankly, it is astounding to us that the Cowboys and the NFL would treat its fans like this," lead attorney Michael Avenatti said in a telephone interview, Reuters reports. "What is perhaps even more amazing is that they still haven't done the right thing."
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