Over 30,000 Facebook users RSVPd to an unofficial, giant game of hide-and-seek at an Ikea store in Tempe, Sydney. But Ikea banned people from taking part in the proposed 23 May flash-event as it “raises security issues for both customers and co-workers”.
“At all times Ikea must be able to guarantee a safe environment, therefore we encourage people to play hide-and-seek at other places,” Ikea said in a statement.
Senior police do not expect that many people will turn up at the event, but they will continue to monitor the situation and have conducted a situation analysis of the proposed event.
Newtown duty officer Inspector Aston is under the impression that Ikea is in discussion with Facebook.
“I believe they’re negotiating with Facebook to have that page closed,” he said.
The Facebook event page called for players to meet at the Ikea food court where every player would be given a “paper collar connected to their yellow fluoro hat” to prevent them from cheating.
The event organisers prohibited players from taking cover in toilets or fire escapes, creating a “public nuisance,” breaking or stealing things.
Entrance was set at $1 per player and the people left ‘unfound’ were promised the prize pool money. If everyone was ‘found’ the money would be donated to charity.
Ikea has recently banned hide-and-seek games at several Ikea stores in the Netherlands, after sanctioning the first hugely popular game at an Ikea store in Belgium in July 2014.
It’s all fun and games until somebody gets stuck in a space saving, flat-pack cupboard with an obscure yet funky Scandinavian name.
IMAGE: Ikea. (Tooykrub / Shutterstock.com)