George Mason University basketball trip to the Bahamas abruptly canceled

FAIRFAX, Va. — George Mason University’s men’s basketball team was supposed to be in the Bahamas this weekend, but the trip meant for team-bonding was abruptly called off. 

"I bleed green and gold and travel with the team as much as I can, and I wasn't going without the team," said Patriots booster Kathy McKay who was supposed to fly with head coach Tony Skinn and the team Thursday.

“On Wednesday after practice, Tony pretty much told all the guys it's been canceled," said McKay. "Nothing had been set forth like it was supposed to.”

George Mason booked its travel through The VII Group which organizes international tours, according to its website.

McKay says a few members from the team were scheduled to arrive in the Bahamas early. They got to the airport Tuesday to find the entire team had no tickets and no reservations.

“No, our team was not dumb enough to show up at an airport thinking we had reservations and we didn't," said McKay. "I just want everyone to know that wasn't the case.”

McKay says the company also set up a couple of exhibition games against Bahamian teams.

“They were scheduled to play Friday and Sunday, but you know what? To be honest with you, were they really scheduled? We don't know," she said. "We got a block of rooms, but they weren't paid for. Did we have buses from the airport to the hotel? We don't know.”

The VII Group released a statement Friday apologizing:

It is with deep regret and sincere apologies that The VII Group announces the cancellation of the George Mason University Men’s Basketball team’s foreign tour to The Bahamas, initially scheduled for this summer. 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.

However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we were unable to fulfill our obligations, leading to the unfortunate cancellation of the trip.

We understand the magnitude of this cancellation and the ripple effects it has caused. The impact on the student-athletes, who have spent months preparing for this experience, cannot be overstated. The coaching staff, who have worked tirelessly to plan and coordinate this opportunity, deserve better. Furthermore, we recognize the disappointment this has caused to the families, boosters, donors, and the entire Green Coat Society, all of whom have invested their time, resources, and unwavering support in the program.

This failure is not reflective of the standards and values The VII Group holds itself to. We are acutely aware of the trust that has been placed in us by George Mason University, and we deeply regret that we have not lived up to those expectations. We are currently undertaking a thorough review of the events that led to this cancellation to ensure that such a situation never occurs again in the future.

To all the stakeholders of the George Mason Men’s Basketball program—players, coaches, families, boosters, and supporters—we extend our heartfelt apologies. We understand that this situation has not only disrupted plans but has also tarnished the reputation and trust we have worked hard to build. Rest assured, we are committed to making things right and will be taking immediate steps to address and rectify the issues that led to this outcome.
Our relationship with George Mason University is of paramount importance to us, and we are dedicated to rebuilding the trust that has been compromised. This begins with full transparency, accountability, and a renewed commitment to excellence in all future endeavors.

We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment this has caused. Our immediate focus is on making amends and working diligently to regain the confidence of the George Mason University Men’s Basketball program and its 

WUSA9 reached out to George Mason Athletics. They referred all questions to The VII Group.

McKay says the school did its homework researching The VII Group before coordinating travel with them. She says George Mason reached out to other division one programs like Georgia and Tulane that used the company for international travel without a hitch.

“I feel like either he's gotten himself in a monetary situation where he's robbing from Peter to pay Paul, and I don't know why he picked us for this to happen to," said McKay. "Tony (Skinn) and Marvin (Lewis) both know of the gentleman and it's not like our group didn't do their due diligence.”

McKay says deposits for the trip were put down in May and final payments were made in June. She says she hasn’t gotten any of her money back and hasn’t heard from the company about a refund.