Bruins finally blink after media pressure from the Boston Globe
Bruins, after queries, won’t collect December season ticket payments - The Boston Globe
Early Friday evening, the Bruins sent a message to season ticket holders on monthly payment plans, saying they were canceling the upcoming December installment.Bruins, after queries, won’t collect December season ticket payments - The Boston Globe
“We realize there is uncertainty regarding whether fans will be allowed to attend all home games, what the return to play will be like for TD Garden and how these changes may impact your 2020-21 Season Tickets and payments, including total cost,” the e-mail read in part.
“While we await further details from the NHL regarding the 2020-21 Season, the Bruins have made the decision to cancel any scheduled payments for our Season Ticket Holders. This means that you will not be charged in December.”
As soon as the 2020-21 schedule is settled, the e-mail read, the club will relay options for season ticket holders regarding refunds, “as well options for Season Ticket Holders to accrue interest on money which they leave in their account,” and any options for fans should games be impacted by local or NHL restrictions that limit attendance due to COVID-19.
In an e-mail response Friday afternoon, Bruins chief revenue officer Glen Thornborough said the team would not be charging for December.
“Payments continued as we hoped to have plans for the season announced,” he wrote, “but we recognize with the uncertainty we cannot continue with the December payment.”
Bob Foote, a 25-year season ticket-holder from Rowley, committed in February to buying 2020 playoff tickets under the “pay as we play” option. To get that installment plan, he had to purchase season tickets for 2020-21 (with a 5 percent hike, following the 2019 run to the Stanley Cup Final).
“They have nothing yet to sell me for the money collected,” Foote wrote in an e-mail to the Globe last week, noting that “a large amount of interest-free money” had been flowing into the Delaware North coffers.
Jaci Donahe of Cambridge, a Loge 19 denizen since 2009, said a lack of transparency from the club during the pause “left a bad taste.” Even fan-exclusive Zoom calls with players and management were communicated on short notice.
“If and when the season does start, we haven’t been given any options about where our money goes and if we will get anything back,” she said. “Seems like a lot of money to have tied up with no promises of a product, or even any real benefits to them keeping our money.”