Michael Phelps’ Meadowbrook Aquatic Center may be a great place for families to cool off and would-be Olympians to train, but the storied north Baltimore pool complex is apparently not so hot a venue for reality tv.
The club management now says the planned filming of a swimming race between Phelps and NBA star Shaquille O’Neal on Sunday would cause too many problems for members and that ABC has decided to move the setting for this episode of Shaq vs. to Loyola College’s pool instead.
So when is the event happening and how do locals who want see this chlorinated showdown pull it off now?
For Meadowbrook members: show up at the club at 4 pm and see if you can get one of the 100 tickets they’re giving to those who belong to the club.
“In meeting with Meadowbrook management, it became clear that the needs of the show would have required too much of Meadowbrook, and become an imposition on our members,” management wrote, in an email to a member. “Since Meadowbrook had been the original site, ABC has set aside 100 tickets for Meadowbrook members on a first come, first served basis available at the front desk at Meadowbrook beginning Saturday afternoon at 4 PM.”
“Seating will begin at Loyola’s Aquatic & Fitness Center on Sunday at 5 PM. The event is scheduled for 6:30 PM. There are several restrictions attendees must be aware of:
No cell phones will be allowed in the natatorium
No camera or video/digital recording devices will be allowed in the natatorium.
No coolers.
Purses and bags will be searched.
During the event, Loyola College’s concessions will be available.”
Who else can get in to see the filming? Current Loyola College students, we’re told. Feel free to post any updates on this, readers. For those who can’t get enough of these guys, there’s also their planned appearance at the Rusty Scupper restaurant at the Inner Harbor today where they’ll be trash-talking a bit (one can only hope) and promoting tomorrow’s event.
