“Apologies to You and Your Guests”
Dear Notre Dame family and friends,
In my entire career, I've rarely encountered a situation more challenging than the On to Victory pregame party. You deserve better.
Standing in the endless TSA lines at the Atlanta airport yesterday was especially rough because I knew so many members of our Notre Dame family had endured a similar situation just the day before at an event, our event, that fell so far short of our Notre Dame standard of excellence. I’m embarrassed and heartbroken.
Our organization exists to enrich the connections among the Notre Dame family, a collection of amazing individuals who accomplish so much together. Yet those same family members, you included, were justifiably disappointed in the experience. So many traveled a great distance to cheer on the Irish in Atlanta. You made plans with your friends and family, many of whom also traveled from across the country and world, to connect with each other at our event. You counted on the Notre Dame Alumni Association and our partners to uphold our standard by offering an unforgettable afternoon filled with merriment and celebration. Truth is, it may be unforgettable for the disappointment it became. That truth sits heavy on my heart today.
I have already engaged in multiple conversations with many members of the ND family and I hear you. You deserve better. We deserve better. Notre Dame deserves better.
Please know I am actively working on understanding how this happened and why the experience we contracted for with our onsite partners was not delivered. We will be back in touch with you, as soon as possible, with next steps. Restoring your trust is our top priority and we will not rest until that happens.
In Notre Dame,
Dolly Duffy ’84
Executive Director
Notre Dame Alumni Association
Complete thread:
- “Apologies to You and Your Guests” -
Jay,
2025-01-22, 17:35
- Questions/observations after reading below: -
Grantland,
2025-01-23, 11:55
- 2 will never happen. - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2025-01-23, 12:30
- Does the stadium even count as "downtown"? -
CK08,
2025-01-23, 12:12
- It is the western edge of downtown - Bryan (IrishCavan), 2025-01-23, 12:22
- And therefore we are refunding you 100% of what you paid... - Greg, 2025-01-23, 08:51
- Seemed like a total, city-wide breakdown. -
KGB,
2025-01-23, 08:26
- Not the Alumni event... but - AlDogg, 2025-01-23, 08:50
- ND got totally hosed on this - not oversold -
Dave,
2025-01-23, 06:19
- surprised if true -
Jay,
2025-01-23, 06:58
- Plus, no way that Fire Marshall capacities are a surprise.
- PMan, 2025-01-23, 07:53
- Plus, no way that Fire Marshall capacities are a surprise.
- Maybe -
Domer99,
2025-01-23, 06:37
- People in Atlanta don’t drink like us -
San Pedro,
2025-01-23, 07:14
- They've had Super Bowls, Final Fours, NBA All-Star Games etc
- BillyGoat, 2025-01-23, 07:15
- I’m guessing those parties were planned in advance. -
San Pedro,
2025-01-23, 07:43
- Sure. But it's not like the relevant venues and vendors are -
BillyGoat,
2025-01-23, 08:32
- I bet the strip clubs were ready.
- domer.mq, 2025-01-23, 11:11
- I bet the strip clubs were ready.
- Sure. But it's not like the relevant venues and vendors are -
BillyGoat,
2025-01-23, 08:32
- I’m guessing those parties were planned in advance. -
San Pedro,
2025-01-23, 07:43
- They've had Super Bowls, Final Fours, NBA All-Star Games etc
- Southerners not used to Catholic drinkers? -
bk,
2025-01-23, 07:10
- I now have beer in my nose from your "recognize them" line
- KelleyCook, 2025-01-23, 18:48
- I now have beer in my nose from your "recognize them" line
- People in Atlanta don’t drink like us -
San Pedro,
2025-01-23, 07:14
- surprised if true -
Jay,
2025-01-23, 06:58
- Did you clip out the part about the refund? -
Mr. Natural,
2025-01-22, 20:47
- whole event - Jay, 2025-01-23, 04:31
- Not making an excuse -
Dallasdomer,
2025-01-22, 20:21
- That’s definitely part of the issue….. - bk, 2025-01-23, 02:53
- What the heck was it like? Did Freak Bass play? -
JD in Portland,
2025-01-22, 18:25
- the big problem is that they oversold it -
Jay,
2025-01-22, 18:56
- Anybody go to the Compton event for the IU game? -
HumanRobot,
2025-01-22, 20:01
- I did, to get out of the cold -
Jack,
2025-01-23, 06:06
- Same -
IrishGuard,
2025-01-23, 06:12
- I've come to the conclusion that under normal circumstances -
Jack,
2025-01-23, 09:26
- Yes, they are at best boring as hell - KelleyCook, 2025-01-23, 18:53
- I cringe whenever I see some of those high cost-barrier -
IrishGuard,
2025-01-23, 12:55
- I've attended some sort of ND orthopedics tailgate event - HumanRobot, 2025-01-23, 13:12
- I've come to the conclusion that under normal circumstances -
Jack,
2025-01-23, 09:26
- Same -
IrishGuard,
2025-01-23, 06:12
- Freeman is his name and the boy's comin' straight outta - Chris, 2025-01-23, 05:39
- I did, to get out of the cold -
Jack,
2025-01-23, 06:06
- Have friends who didn't ever get in. - domer.mq, 2025-01-22, 19:56
- I heard Grantland’s party was the place to be -
JD in Portland,
2025-01-22, 19:28
- YES!!!! No Guiness but plenty of IPA's. And my car was - Grantland, 2025-01-23, 08:55
- Anybody go to the Compton event for the IU game? -
HumanRobot,
2025-01-22, 20:01
- the big problem is that they oversold it -
Jay,
2025-01-22, 18:56
- Questions/observations after reading below: -
Grantland,
2025-01-23, 11:55