LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — What was alleged to be an evening of magnificence and inspiration on the RISE Competition, positioned south of Las Vegas, as an alternative left many attendees disillusioned and demanding solutions.
Excessive winds pressured organizers to cancel the signature lantern ceremony Friday night time, and now, frustrations over refunds and communication are rising.
“I mean, one of the biggest sky lantern festivals, that was a huge part of us being here, but it was a little disappointing that they canceled it,” stated Lincoln Marks, who drove in from California.
For the hundreds who made the journey out to Jean Dry Lake Mattress, the RISE Competition was alleged to be a once-in-a-lifetime expertise. Nevertheless, the climate wasn’t the one supply of frustration on platforms like Reddit and Fb, the place pissed off attendees shared their disappointment.
For individuals who paid a whole lot of {dollars} to be a part of that glowing second, hours-long entry delays and poor communication made their expertise a bit disappointing.
“People weren’t taking the shuttles, they just got out because they felt trapped like, ‘We got to get out of here,’ so they were trying to walk like three miles, and it was crazy,” Marks stated.
Marks additionally pointed to the dearth of meals and disorganization, which he stated made for a busy night time.
“Hopefully, we’ll get some kind of payment because people are pretty frustrated, like ran out of food. People were in cars for three hours, really needed food and nothing. So hopefully, they’ll do some sort of refund,” Marks stated.
It’s not the primary time the pageant has confronted climate hassle. In earlier years, storms and excessive winds additionally pressured organizers to name off lantern launches, providing reductions on future tickets as an alternative of money refunds.
RISE Competition’s ticket coverage states, “All sales are final”. Organizers have not introduced any plans for refunds or credit.
