Kyle and Jackie O’s $100k tennis ball ‘drop’ stunt angers Brighton locals

A Bayside tennis club has been embroiled in a stoush with furious locals after it signed on to host a Kyle and Jackie O competition where hundreds of tennis balls will be dropped from a helicopter.

A Brighton tennis club has been embroiled in a stoush with furious locals after it signed on to host a competition event for Kyle and Jackie O’s controversial radio show.

Elsternwick Park Tennis Centre is set to invite 100 people on to its tennis court to take part in a KIIS FM challenge dubbed ‘Kyle and Jackie O’s $100K ball drop’.

The competition involves a helicopter dropping 200 tennis balls on a court, with participants expected to run and grab two of them.

The flying balls will be labelled with a winning amount valued up to $100,000.

The competition, advertised heavily on the show in recent weeks, is slated to take place next Friday at the St Kilda St venue.

But it’s unclear whether approval from government peak body Civil Aviation Safety Authority was sought.

Kyle and Jackie O’s show has plummeted in radio ratings in Melbourne for months.

The Herald Sun understands the tennis club has received dozens of complaints from locals with many fearing members of the public could sustain serious injuries from the stunt.

Elsternwick resident Lucy Ellen told the Herald Sun it was a “lawsuit waiting to happen”.

“I am majorly concerned that it might hurt an elderly person,” she said.

“It’s literally a lawsuit waiting to happen … if a person’s property gets damaged by the careless act from a tennis ball. The competition needs to be canned.”

Other angry residents took to social media to slam the competition.

Scott Anderson said: “The participants may have to sign waivers but I’m sure all the people driving to work along Glenhuntly Rd and St Kilda St will not have signed anything.”

“All it will take is one errant tennis ball to go off script and hit a car to cause an accident.”

Elsternwick Park Tennis Centre in Brighton is at the centre of the controversy.

Monique Schwarze said the stunt would end with “black eyes and twisted ankles”.

“Of course it’s not dropping the tennis balls that’s actually going to hurt people,” she said.

“It’s when a hundred of them are suddenly in a giant melee on an astroturf tennis court trying to get hold of the winning one.

“Guaranteed there will be bruises, black eyes, twisted ankles and probably even broken bones. Terrible idea. Terrible publicity too.”

It comes as Kyle and Jackie O’s show, which held a similar competition in Sydney in 2017, has slumped in radio ratings in Melbourne for months.

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesperson said it was seeking further details about the event.

The duo held a similar competition in Sydney in 2017. Picture: Supplied

“There are strict regulations around dropping things from aircraft, particularly in populous areas or over public gatherings,” they said.

“This type of event would require CASA approval and we are seeking further information.”

A spokesperson from ARN, the parent company of KIIS FM, said “robust safety protocols” had been implemented.

“As with all our promotions, comprehensive risk assessments and robust safety protocols have been implemented to ensure the wellbeing of participants and the wider community,” they said.

“This initiative reflects the high standards and careful planning that are hallmarks of our operations at ARN.”

Tennis Australia, who is affiliated with the club, said they were unaware about the event.

Elsternwick Park Tennis Centre was contacted for comment.