Payments that Jets fan have made to date can be applied to their '21 season ticketsGETTY IMAGES
The Jets notified season-ticket holders in an email that they "would be given the opportunity to opt out for the 2020 season and still be able to renew for the 2021 season in the same seat location," according to Roger Rubin of NEWSDAY. The NFL has "not yet rendered a verdict on how many, if any, fans will be admitted to stadiums" this season. The choice the Jets are giving "allows fans who would be uncomfortable in a stadium setting or who are considered members of a vulnerable population to skip 2020 and keep future options open." Any payments made to this point "may be applied to their 2021 purchase or refunded" (NEWSDAY, 6/30). In N.Y., Ryan Dunleavy notes the Jets "deferred the due date for the scheduled July payment, just as they have done since April in response to the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic." The Giants "set up the same options for their season ticket holders last week." It is a "fan-friendly and common-sense approach given it is no guarantee the season will start on time or be played in full" (N.Y. POST, 6/30).
BEARS FOLLOW SUIT: In Chicago, Jason Lieser reports the Bears are now "offering full refunds for the upcoming season." Season-ticket holders "can get their money back and retain the rights to their seats at Soldier Field for the 2021 season." It is a "near certainty the Bears won't be able to hold capacity crowds this season because of the coronavirus pandemic, and it's not even clear if fans will be allowed at all" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/30). Also in Chicago, Brad Biggs notes the Bears are "hopeful to have some fans at Soldier Field for home games this season." Teams with "permission from local officials are expected to be allowed to have some fans at games." Whether fans will be allowed in Soldier Field this season "remains to be seen." However, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on June 25 said the city is "not there yet" in regard to allowing fans in stadiums (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/30).
DEALING WITH THE UNKNOWN: SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL’s Fischer & Dhingra report most NFL teams “expect severe restrictions on stadium capacity as local governments continue to fight COVID-19, and they have no idea what those limits will be by early September.” Teams in the coming weeks “must figure out how many seats they can use and how to fairly distribute them among season-ticket holders -- not to mention what this all means for group sales, suites, sponsor inventory and single-game buyers who already hold tickets.” Fischer & Dhingra note teams theoretically could break season-ticket plans “into multiple packages, and then give each season-ticket holder a portion of the original 10-game set.” However, that only works “if teams get clear, consistent information from their state and local governments about capacity limits.” It is likely that most authorities will “delay those decisions until closer to the fall” or even “impose limits on a week-by-week basis” (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/30 issue).
