“The show goes on…” has been the NFL’s mantra throughout the offseason.
Because even in a pandemic, the league has operated as if it were business-as-usual for as long as they possibly could. And so far, the NFL offseason has taken place as scheduled (save for some minor tweaks and adjustments). However, the challenges will become greater from here on out, as the regular football calendar comes into focus.
For example, the NFL’s schedule release is slated to come Thursday evening (as in tomorrow!). And with the NFL operating as normal, the league is operating with the belief that games will go on as scheduled without a hitch. With that, comes news from Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, who tweets that Bears single-game tickets for the upcoming season will go on sale after the schedule is released (just as it would in normal circumstances).
Check out the thread here:
In a letter to season-ticket holders, #Bears announced single-game tickets for 2020 season will go on sale at 8 pm Thursday.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) May 6, 2020
"If a game is canceled and cannot be rescheduled, or is played under conditions that prohibit fans from attending you will receive a full refund (including associated fees) of your tickets purchased directly from the Bears or Ticketmaster, our official ticketing partner."
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) May 6, 2020
I can’t stop myself from reading (and re-reading) the refund policy shared by The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain:
Bears single game tickets will go on sale at 8 p.m. Thursday night, 90 minutes after the 2020 schedule is released, per an email to season ticket holders.
Here is the refund policy: pic.twitter.com/rhfAl9xfac
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) May 6, 2020
The Bears aren’t alone in this, as it crossed my wires yesterday that Chiefs tickets were set to go on sale Friday.
In any case, this is equal parts bold and presumptive, as far as I am concerned. The NBA, NHL, and MLB don’t seem to be preparing with the idea of having fans in stands at the moment, so why would the NFL take that leap of faith? Don’t get me wrong. I want to see games with fans in the stands. Heck, I want to BE a fan in the stands. It just doesn’t seem reasonable to expect that right now, and buying a single-game ticket would be an investment in hope that games with fans can happen starting in September.
But at least the NFL has ample time to adjust its plans should the league be unable to have butts in seats by the time kick-off comes around.