The NFL is looking ahead and being proactive when it comes to the coronavirus, Sports Business Journal reported Monday.
If the pandemic continues and impacts the preseason and/or regular season, the league sent a memo Friday to all 32 teams alerting them to steps they should be prepared to take.
- In the first indication that the coronavirus outbreak could jeopardize part of the NFL’s season, the league distributed talking points to teams about season ticket refunds if games are canceled, SBJ’s Ben Fischer has learned. The memo came to our attention as President Trump gave a revised time frame that would encroach into the NFL preseason.
- The memo was sent to all 32 clubs on Friday, suggesting teams tell fans: “We have every expectation of playing a full schedule in 2020 and look forward to you joining us at [name of stadium] for an exciting season. But we also understand your concerns and want to be clear about our club’s policies, which will apply to season tickets purchased directly from the [club].”
- If games are canceled and not rescheduled, or if games are played under “conditions that prohibit fans from attending (for example, if a public authority restricts gatherings to no more than a small number of people),” season ticket holders would get a prorated refund or credit to future purchases.
SBJ also reported Alex Chang, the CMO of the San Francisco 49ers is working on a latter to fans that all live draft parties in the Bay Area andVegas are off. SBJ said other teams said they were taking similar steps.
The draft will go on as scheduled April 23-25 but without the big fanfare associated with it annually. The 2020 NFL Draft was scheduled to be a huge event in Las Vegas.