http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/11/05/tyson-show-descends-into-farce/
Tyson show descends into farce




Mike Tyson’s appearance in Wolverhampton descended into a farce last night – with fans storming out demanding refunds after a shambolic evening that saw the boxer arrive on stage nearly three hours late.
See also: Photos: Mike Tyson and fans at Wolverhampton Civic
The legend finally appeared on stage at the Civic Hall at 11.04pm. A three-course VIP dinner arranged for die-hard fans who had paid up to £300 a ticket was not served until midnight, leading to many to abandon their tables and walk out.
Scores of the 1,300 fans who turned out for the ‘Audience With Mike Tyson’ event, some from as far as Scotland and Portsmouth, walked out in disgust just minutes into his appearance complaining of being cheated.


Others were forced to leave early amid fears their cars would get locked inside the Civic Centre car park, which stayed open late. The eagerly-awaited event saw 43-year-old Tyson jet in from Las Vegas for the first night of his UK theatre tour.
Fuming Tracey Astley, from Birmingham New Road, in Dudley, who bought tickets for the show as a birthday gift for her boyfriend was among the many fans who today pledged to put in an official complaint to the Civic Hall about the evening.
The 37-year-old secretary, who walked out just minutes after Tyson finally walked on stage, said: “It was a total waste of money. I’m so annoyed.”
Superfan Jansen Harris, of Stevenson Drive, Perton, Wolverhampton, named his son Tye after the boxer, but said the event had descended into “meltdown”.
Anne O’Rourke, of Quinton, who won her VIP tickets in a competition reckoned the appearance was “shambolic.”
She said: “We got back to Quinton after 1am, having had to leave a three-course meal that was part of our VIP package, because the food still hadn’t been served by the time the event was over.”
Doors opened at 6pm for VIP guests, who had expected a dinner and personal greeting and photograph with Mike Tyson before the rest of the audience arrived.
But, after turning up at the venue at around 7.30pm, the star only spoke to a handful of the fans and had to be brought back by his minders to have his photograph taken with the rest.
The VIP guests spent hours in the bar before the entertainment, including a Pink tribute act, got under way at around 8.30pm without the lights in the venue ever being dimmed.
Boxing legends Ken Buchanan and Alan Minter hosted question and answer sessions, before a lengthy auction for memorabilia including a framed belt that sold for £4,000.
The auction was described in promotional material as a charity sale although no details were given last night of the beneficiaries.
The restless crowd heckled and jeered before Tyson eventually walked on stage at 11.04pm, and answered questions until 11.50pm. Fans who waited in the rain at the stage door to see the former world champion leave were rewarded with hastily-scribbled autographs.
A beaming Tyson, oblivious to the anger of some of his fans, spoke to the Express & Star as the fighter jumped into a waiting people carrier.
He said: “Wolverhampton was fantastic. I had a great time here.”
Clutching his chest, he added: “The people really took me to their hearts, they are the best.”
Tyson’s promoter Jimmy Clyne was today unavailable for comment and fans wanting to complain by phone were told by a recorded answering service at the Civic Hall that the message box was full.
Rupert Knowlden, commercial manager at Wolverhampton Civic Hall, said: “Mike Tyson was late coming to the venue which caused some disruption to the running of the show. But he came on stage and went down an absolute storm with the audience.
“One man, who has seen him five times, believed it was the longest he had ever seen him stay on stage.”