Whether it was worth it is a subject for another time.

I agree! This guy is blowing things way out-of-proportion. Yes, maybe a person would be a little hot under the collar, letdown, and disappointed in not being able to see the aquarium, but this guy is going to extra-ordinary lengths to be a little VINDICTIVE–shredding tickets, and donating money to the Chattanooga Aquarium.

If he feels as if he was treated in an unfair manner, don’t go back—PERIOD. Each and everyone of us has had bad service, a bad product, or a bad whatever at some point in our lives. Most generally we then give our business to someone else.

Granted, there aren’t too many aquariums around; so Chattanooga is about his only option. He does have the option of going to an ocean. Seeing a shark in a tank, though, sounds better than seeing a shark up close and personal in the ocean.

If alligators is his thing, a few ponds over the years here in Atlanta have had alligators. For anyone new to Atlanta, we do have alligators.

Of course, southern Georgia is really, really, really alligator territory. I think most of alligators, here in Atlanta, were at one time pets, but the owners seem to have the nasty habit of letting them loose in ponds.

Chad

SCROLL DOWN
SCROLL DOWN

ROBERT,

I had a good laugh. Can you imagine a Fire Marshall declaring that an aquarium is a FIRE HAZARD with 7000 people.

Yeah, I suppose a fire could develop in a few isolated areas, and certainly the roof, but the aquarium tanks have millions, and millions, and millions, and millions, and millions of gallons of water.

I wouldn’t be afraid of a fire, I’d be afraid of the sharks.

SCROLL DOWN
SCROLL DOWN

kATHI,

This couple didn’t arrive at the aquarium at 4:00,but were standing in line 45 minutes later at 4:45.

From what I have read, the early closing time was A ONE DAY THING, AND ONLY A ONE DAY THING.

This couple just happened to be pick the wrong day to visit the aquarium, as it closed before the usual closing time of 6:00. Being in line at 4:45 changes the picture considerably because at 4:00 he was probably still on his way to the aquarium in his MAKO SHARK (?). More likely his, YUGO.

THIS STORY IS BEGININNG TO SOUND MORE, AND MORE, AND MORE FISHY.

Chad

He didn’t get there at 5:59. He got there at 4. And, if they intend to not admit people an hour before closing time, they should not encourage people to wait in line.

I don’t think it’s cause for a riot, but I do think it was a lousy way to treat people who show up to see the new exhibit.

I went on opening day at 5:15, waited about 15 minutes and stayed for an hour. All of the staff I dealt with were top notch. I’ll definitely go back.

I roll my eyes at the people who say the money could have gone to the poor. Marcus has given away billions to various causes, including the poor, and this is his gift to the citizens of Atlanta.

The 6:00 closing time seems a tad early to me. If this time is the closing time on a year round basis, then this is a poor business decision. From my point of view, everyone should be out-the-door at around 9:00.

Apparently, on this particular day the aquarium closed early at 4:45, for whatever reason or reasons. The usual closing time is 6:00, but not on this day. Sometimes things happen in life that are beyond our control. This guy was uspset, but that’s life.

Allowing a little over a hour to view a 200 million dollar aquarium doesn’t make sense. Just because 30 other people were in line, too, doesn’t justify this guy’s reasoning and thinking.

If the aquarium employees were rude and insensitive, then one of the supervisor’s should be alerted and notified.

Bernie Marcus was interviewed by Matt Lauer at the aquarium, and I think he mentioned that the viewing times for some people had been as much as seven hours. Marcus said that the viewing times were much, much, much longer than anyone had initially anticipated.

If the closing time is 6:00, people should be admitted at 5:59, but advised that the closing time is 6:00.

I assume that when the closing time is 6:00, one cannot expect to enter the doors at 5:59, and to view the exhibits until midnight. When a restaurant closes at say– 11:00, one can reasonably expect to be admitted at 10:45 and to be served a meal. However, an aquarium is not a restaurant.

Chad