Lori Ann Loera-Tseng
1/5
This review is for a specific free event held at the Cottonwood Mall:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 40th Anniversary
Sunday, August 6, 2024
3 pm - 6 pm
Mall foyer, lower level
The purpose of the event was to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT).
Per the event description, consumers were promised:
the turtle Michaelangelo and Turtles would be present for a meet and greet, photo op, interactive games, and a special ninja performance.
In reality, consumers got one turtle on a 11x14 stage with a simple backdrop of balloons. No music, no performance, no interactive games or activities and no other turtles.
My family and I showed up at 2:50 pm, and were told by the event organizers that the event would begin at 3:30 pm. Well, there was already a long line of folks waiting in line hoping to get their photo op with the greatest TMNT. The line began at the lower level foyer (near escalators and elevators) and continued through the mall to the Mor Furniture Store. I estimated over 1200 people attended this event. I only identified three security guards, mind you, were inexperienced with handling a large crowd and could not maintain crowd control.
At 3:30 pm, an imposter Donatello shows up and everyone cheers loudly and excitedly thinking the show was finally going to get started. Donatello began taking photos at the floor level with anyone and everyone that approached him. The families at the beginning of the line were confused, mad, and wondering why other people were getting priority when they had waited in line for at least 1.5 hours before showtime. A few minutes later, it became clear the show hadn’t started, and rather, it was just another person wearing a Donatello suit and wanted to compart the joy and smiles throughout the mall with TMNT fans.
At 3:50 pm, Michaelangelo finally jumps on stage. People swarm to the front of the stage for their photo op. At the same time, those in line were finally freed from their chains and let one family at a time to take their photo. Mind you, there was still no music. No other turtles, no other activities happening. Just a lonely Michaelangelo that appeared to have drank 30 Red Bulls taking photos with families one by one.
My family and I got our photo from the front of stage, and left the area to go shopping with the intent of returning to the event in the hopes more of the promised activities and turtles would show. At 4:15 pm, we return but still there is nothing. Just more people moving through the sloth-like line waiting patiently to get their photo.
I felt it necessary to express my extreme disappointment and the failure of the event on the Facebook event page, hosted by Cottonwood Mall in the hopes that the management and/or event coordinator’s would take my feedback as a learned experience. Shortly after I posted my feedback, others followed suit. There were over 130 “reactions” on my post, and over 100 comments on my post. Everyone saying the same thing: poorly planned event; do better; my children left crying because the event ended 10 minutes early and they missed their photo opportunity with their favorite turtle; people reported waiting in line for over three hours!
To say this event was a failure and complete disappointment is an understatement. However, listen to this - Whomever is responsible for Cottonwood Mall’s social media account went to the event page and ERASED ALL the complaints and kept the positive comments!!! So, I am doing my due diligence and posting publicly on platforms that cannot be erased because the event planners and management of Cottonwood Mall need to be held accountable. I’ll say it again as I did in my initial post: “Do better Cottonwood Mall!”
