Let's be clear - If we could give less than one star, we would.
We attended the All Day Sunday Tailgate and Watch Party @ OHM Lounge for Super Bowl this past Sunday and it is was a COMPLETE DISAPPOINTMENT. The TailGreeter site states the event was to start at 2:30 pm and end at 10:30 pm. We purchased 4 VIP Access tickets priced at $375 PP that included the following: guaranteed seat, private section with bar and cocktail waitress, and expanded food options with private menu. The exclusive perks that were promised are full access to the regular menu, espresso martinis & premium cocktails, and table service in VIP area. According to the site, the buffet was supposed to include a taco station, nacho station, chicken bbq empanadas, chicken wings, and spicy Caesar salad.
To start, we arrived at the venue at 2 pm. We stood in a big line and there were no signs telling us which line was for VIP. Since the event said it would start at 2:30, we figured to arrive early in time to check in and get settled. 2:30 comes and we are STILL waiting in line. A hostess came out a few times, said some words that we obviously couldn’t hear, and were left waiting outside the venue until after 2:30. One of the security guards opened a side door and that’s when we figured out that it was the VIP line. Thankfully we were pretty close to that entrance, but for other VIPs it was frustrating. We officially entered the venue 2:40-2:45 pm.
We head into the venue and no one was there to guide the crowd. We were expecting guaranteed seating and table service, we DID NOT get ANY of those things. Because we were one of the first ones in the venue, we managed to get a table for ourselves. The buffet line was not fully prepared when we were let in, so again, we had to wait for that. Once the food was set up we realized that not everything offered was available and we weren’t provided the private menu for expanded food options. We also did not receive any table service. We basically had to get our drinks and food ourselves! At this rate, we were getting upset because there was truly no value in paying for VIP when it was a complete mess!
We then realized that for a Super Bowl watch party there was not one tv in the VIP area where all the tables were. We had to basically track down the staff to ask if there were going to be additional tvs. The general manager of OHM Lounge, who did not provide his name, said his sound guy was stuck in traffic and coming in to get the tv and sound set up. At this point we’re missing the entire pre-game show. Eventually the tv was set up but then they couldn’t get the Super Bowl pre-game to come up so then they had to call the cable company, so he said. We had to watch the kick off from the ONE tv we could see from our table that was behind the bar, what a joke! After talking with some of the other VIPs, we tried to get the game connected to the tv ourselves and got it to work. WE DID THAT!
The game started and we were just trying to enjoy ourselves at that point. THEN there was a fire at the buffet table where the wings were! I guess one of the sternos fell over and burned a hole through the table. Someone eventually came with a fire extinguisher but those fumes are toxic and guests were still able to stay in the venue.
By this time we just wanted to enjoy the game but EVERYTHING that led up to that moment was a complete DISASTER. The General Manager said that they just learned about the event that morning which I find VERY hard to believe. Then he blames the host. We're not interested in who’s fault it was, it was about taking accountability because he was hosting the event at his venue. Whatever it was that lead to such a disappointing event, please get it right for next year! The fact it was a great game was the only highlight of this event.