The team spent months fundraising to play a game in London, only to have the company fold two months before departure — and take the money with it, the coach says.

IRVING, Texas — The University of Dallas men’s basketball team said they are out $60,000 after the travel company they paid for an upcoming trip to London folded — canceling the booking and their hopes of the trip scheduled for next month.

Coach Matt Grahn said the team worked for months to raise the money — playing “guarantee games” against division one opponents, selling concessions at other university sporting events and holding a raffle. The goal was for senior Michael Kennedy to play a “home game” in his native England, continuing a team tradition of playing bringing players home to play in their college uniforms for their friends and family who might not otherwise be able to see them play.  



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Instead, days before a final $4,800 payment was due, Grahn said travel company GoPlay Sports sent an email informing him it was ceasing operations and unable to honor future bookings. 

“They robbed not only our program of $60,000, but they robbed us of an unbelievable (opportunity) for a young man and our team who worked their tails off to make this happen,” Grahn said. 

In the April 6 email provided by Grahn, GoPlay wrote that “a combination of reduced bookings and increased cancellations due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East has rendered it impossible for GoPlay to continue operations.” 

It said it tried to avoid this, including refinancing, raising new money and potentially selling the business, according to the email. Instead, it plans to now file for bankruptcy, the email said. 

 “It was a complete punch to the gut,” Grahn said. “Just devastation.”

GoPlay did not respond to a request for comment. Its website, Facebook page and phone number all appear to have been taken offline Thursday. 

Kennedy said he didn’t believe it at first — thinking it was perhaps a late April Fools joke. 

“I feel like everyone on the team has had a different reaction,” he said. “Some are upset. Some are angry. Some are still kind of in shock.”

Grahn said he hasn’t given up hope the team will still make the trip across the pond. He’s looking for donations — or even sponsorships — to try to make it happen. 

“I’ve been telling people I don’t mind looking like a NASCAR crew more than a basketball team,” he said. 

Kennedy said he hopes it’ll still happen somehow. 

“I’d love to show the guys here how it is back home. I’d love to show my friends back home my friends here,” he said.Â