MEMPHIS, Tenn. — An event advertised as an “epic showdown of body and basketball” is no longer happening, at least not in Memphis. The event was initially set to happen at the Memphis Sports and Events Center, which is City of Memphis-owned property.

After the facility’s management company said they got a better idea of what the event might look like, the company changed its mind. However, the city refused to answer whether or not it approves events like the Bodi Ball Game that would have taken place in the facility.

Eastern Sports Management handles approving, denying and revoking event permission.

General Manager Antonio Perez sent ABC24 this statement:

“I can confirm plainly that the event is NOT happening as advertised. An operator misrepresented themselves to us while attempting to book the facility and upon learning of their event’s actual intentions, their access to the building was denied as in addition to said misrepresentation, the event falls FAR outside of the venue’s values.”

Organizer of the event, Emmanuel Roper, posted a screenshot on Facebook of the management team’s email revoking permission for the event. It lists “misrepresentation” during the booking process and the advertisement of the event as “adult entertainment” as reasons for revoking the rental agreement.

An organizer of the event, Emmanuel Roper, posted a screenshot on Facebook of the management team’s email revoking permission for the event. 

“I explained the attire of the game, everything that was going on that was going to happen in their facility that day when I was on a tour with the director,” Roper said.

The email from management lists misrepresentation during the booking process and the advertisement of the event as adult entertainment as reasons for revoking the rental agreement.

However, Roper said they were on the same page.

“He was actually excited about the event about the game about everything that was going on,” Roper said.

The event center did tell the organizer that once advertisements mentioning the facility are removed from public platforms, they will fully refund the organizers. 

The City of Memphis also said once it was brought to their attention, the event was cancelled.