Ten police officers were required to restore order at the premises, which also boast a library, squash courts, guest rooms, an aquatic centre and cabinets full of memorabilia from hundreds of past and present members who have won Olympic medals.
"It's tough to elaborate on its epicness but I'll do my best," said the eyewitness report of the punch-up, which eventually involved about a dozen combatants. "No one could leave unless you wanted to go through the lion's pit so we all just stood ... and watched it all unfold. It came in HOT."
Among the unfortunate victims was a bartender, Luis, who apparently tried to intervene to stop two brawling women from causing each other serious injury. "BIG MISTAKE," said the witness. "Luis fell like a bag of sand after a fairly aggressive push and he started screaming 'call 911!'."
Police confirmed that three men were arrested in the early hours of April 13. Peter Doran, 28, and Matthew O'Grady, 31, were charged with assaulting a 48-year-old man, and Colin Drowica, 30, was charged with attempted menacing.
The incident is deeply troubling to the stuffed shirts who preside over the club, which has a joining fee of $8500 and annual membership charges of $3000. Particularly upsetting, it seems, is the fact that details have been made public.
"I cannot state forcefully enough how abhorrent this event is to me, personally, and how contrary it is to the standards of decorum we expect from our members and their guests," wrote the president, S. Colin Neill, in a letter to members, which was leaked yesterday. "Appropriate action is being taken against all of those involved."
In a futile effort to prevent further details being made public, Mr Neill added: "Distribution via the various social media of photographs and letters detrimental to the club and its reputation will not be tolerated.
"It is the responsibility of each and every member to protect and embellish the standing of the NYAC."
- Independent
