Sports leagues in limbo, fans’ money in the bank
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/04/2020 (1703 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A pile of dough paid out by Winnipeg sports fans is sitting in the collective coffers of the city’s four pro sports organizations and, for the most part, isn’t being returned — at least for the time being.
The Winnipeg Jets, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Goldeyes and Valour FC remain in a holding pattern this spring owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the teams aren’t automatically issuing refunds or credit toward next year’s games.
The Jets still have four crucial home-ice tests from the 2019-20 NHL regular season hanging in the balance; that’s left season-ticket holders and fans who purchased single-game tickets in limbo.
Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister’s assertion Wednesday that there will be no large gatherings or events in the province until September at the earliest hasn’t altered those business plans. Neither has the current chatter surrounding a potential resumption this summer in a handful of hockey cities — Winnipeg excluded.
The NHL continues to classify those late-March and early April regular-season contests as “postponed.”
“At this point, we’re waiting until we have a final call from the league,” True North Sports & Entertainment spokesman Rob Wozny said Wednesday.
“At this point, we’re waiting until we have a final call from the league.”
– True North Sports & Entertainment spokesman Rob Wozny
Meanwhile, the starts to the Bombers, Goldeyes and Valour seasons are all delayed, and no one knows if some, all or no games will be played.
Public-health experts say if and when sports resume, fans will likely be viewing games on TV and not from the stands, meaning tickets for scrapped games at Bell MTS Place, IG Field and Shaw Park are destined to be refunded, although exactly when is anyone’s guess.
The disruption caused by the coronavirus has already created a financial crisis for many Canadian households, which have faced wage rollbacks, reduced hours or worse, unemployment. People who purchased tickets are now in a far more difficult position financially and need money back now, not later.
The local pro teams have indicated they’re being responsive to hardship situations.
“We are continuing to emphasize flexibility with all of our ticket holders and corporate sponsors. With the delayed start date, we’re doing everything we can to accommodate those who had tickets and/or sponsorship items for games originally scheduled for May/June,” said Goldeyes spokesman Steve Schuster.
“We’ve been in constant communication with our ticket holders and will explore all possibilities to make our relationships work, not just in 2020, but for future years as well.”
The Bombers have made similar overtures.
jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca
Jason Bell
Sports editor
Jason Bell wanted to be a lawyer when he was a kid. The movie The Paper Chase got him hooked on the idea of law school and, possibly, falling in love with someone exactly like Lindsay Wagner (before she went all bionic).
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