Canada’s NHL teams offer various refund options to season-ticket holders

Canada’s NHL teams have offered season-ticket holders refund or rebate options in acknowledgment that no more this regular-season games will be played in front of fans in their buildings.

In a four-day span, all seven teams contacted their season-ticket bases with options and deadlines in some cases to make a decision.

That admission might seem anticlimactic given teams and leagues around the world are either playing in empty stadiums or attempting to find out a way to do that during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

But season-ticket money is foundational to an NHL club’s business. Teams are loathing to part with it.

It is often paid, or partially paid, in advance.

Canadian clubs are offering refunds, but are also pushing some incentives to let them keep the money.

Toronto Maple Leafs season-ticket holders had to declare that they wanted their money back before Victoria Day or credit would be applied to their accounts.

Meanwhile, their Montreal Canadiens counterparts had to make a decision by Friday and the Vancouver Canucks’ deadline is June 3.

The Leafs and Edmonton Oilers had seven left, the Canucks six, the Habs, Ottawa Senators, and Jets four.

Here is a look at what Canada’s NHL teams are offering according to emails sent to season-ticket holders.

Calgary Flames (8 games)

The 2 credit options are: receive a food and beverage voucher worth 5% of the credit, or get 3% interest on the value of the credit starting April 1 till the date the 2020-21 regular season is announced.

Edmonton Oilers (7 games)

If a credit is applied by June 1, there’s a 5% rebate on that money calculated from April 1 to Oct. 1.

Toronto Maple Leafs (7 games)

Those who didn’t request a refund before May 18 had their credit applied to next season. The first installment on 2020-21 season tickets was postponed from April 8 to June 8,

Vancouver Canucks (6 games)

Incentives to not ask for money back are doubling Rogers Arena food and beverage allowance to $400, no increase in price on 2020-21 season tickets, payment flexibility and no payment plan fees.

Montreal Canadiens (4 games)

Taking the credit increases it by half its value and freezes the price on renewing at 2019-20 levels.

Ottawa Senators (4 games)

The Senators are expected to launch their renewal campaign Monday, but provided a season-ticket holder 25% off next season’s package back in March.