Hull City’s players have flown out to Las Vegas for a trip of a lifetime, paid for by the club’s owner – but only after their play-off celebrations were put on hold by flight issues
The Hull City squad have made it to Las Vegas after their Championship play-off final celebrations were put on hold by aeroplane issues. The Tigers were promised a trip to the party city by club owner Acun Ilicali after beating Middlesbrough at Wembley, but it didn’t initially go to plan.
Oli McBurnie’s injury-time winner on Saturday sent Hull into the Premier League and banked them the estimated £200million promotion is worth. The squad have been celebrating ever since and the highlight was the trip to Vegas.
Ilicali put on a private jet to whisk the players away to the gambling capital of the world, only for something to go wrong. Flying out on Thursday, the squad got stuck at Manchester Airport, forcing them to decamp to a nearby hotel.
A source told The Sun: “They were on the private plane and there was an issue. They were on the tarmac for a few hours. They were saying it was important they did not miss a pre-booked Vegas pool party while others suggested flying to Ibiza instead.
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“They had some beer, pizza and fried chicken while they were discussing what to do with some suggesting trying to fly to Vegas from Liverpool. They were still having a bit of a laugh and smiled when they were posing for photos but were pretty grumpy and unhappy.”
Thankfully, after spending some unwanted time at the DoubleTree by Hilton, the squad didn’t have to change their destination and made it to Vegas. Photos of the players enjoying the luxury of the private jet and a drink in Vegas have been shared on social media.
McBurnie, John Lundstram, Lewie Coyle, Matt Crooks, Joe Gelhardt, Semi Ajayi, Ryan Giles and Charlie Hughes are among the players to have made the trip.
“The players are the heroes. I have never seen so much belief in any team in my life,” Hull owner Acun Ilicali said after the Wembley win. “I’ve just told them, don’t worry, Las Vegas is on! I’m not in the party. I will celebrate with my family, my daughters and my wife.
“This week Oli McBurnie came to me and said, ‘Mr Chairman, don’t worry, I will score and we will win’. Afterwards he said to me, ‘I told you so.’”
But the players have not been joined by their manager Sergej Jakirovic, who has chosen a closer destination for his celebrations. “This is a trip for the players. I will be with my family in Croatia. We have a beautiful coast there,” Jakirovic said on the weekend.
“They go to Vegas. You know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. This is not for me.”
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