Penn State Athletics Provides Football Season Ticket Update
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Penn State Athletics provided a few updates for football season ticket holders Thursday, including information for refunding tickets and potentially bringing fans to Beaver Stadium this fall.
Through an email to season ticket holders, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sandy Barbour noted Pennsylvania currently limits “large outdoor gatherings” to 250 people and 25 people for indoor events. Under current guidance, Penn State’s fall sports events “would be conducted without fans in the general seating areas” of its facilities.
Currently, it’s unclear if box seating areas, for example, would fall outside the scope of “general seating areas.”
However, Barbour noted the university is prepared for that guidance to change, potentially allowing fans to attend events this fall.
“Despite the current state orders, we continue to refine our plans to welcome Nittany Lion fans, should the conditions and orders be revised to accommodate spectators at events,” Barbour wrote. “These plans will have the safety and wellbeing of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, fans and community at the forefront. Let me be clear; we will only enact these plans should the orders currently in place by the Governor and the PA Department of Health accommodate such activity based on conditions and public health advice.”
She estimated Penn State’s revenue losses will be “in the high eight figures” and could reach nine figures if sports fall through entirely. Earlier this summer, Athletics announced it would implement department-wide pay cuts to address expected revenue shortfalls.
While the season remains up in the air, Penn State gave football season ticket holders a few options to address their 2020 ticket payments.
First, season ticket holders can turn their ticket purchase (both tickets and seat contribution) into a tax-deductible donationto the Levi Lamb Fund, which provides financial aid to student-athletes in 31 sports. A seat contribution would still be required in 2021 but would be frozen at 2020 contribution levels.
Additionally, season ticket holders may roll over their season tickets (ticket price only) as well as parking payment to 2021. The 2020 seat contributions would still be rolled into a tax-deductible donation to the Levi Lamb Fund.
Last, season ticket holders may request a full refund for the 2020 football season tickets and parking payment. Those who opt into this option would retain their season ticket holder status in the renewal process for 2021 but wouldn’t be guaranteed their 2020 seat locations and parking in 2021.
“As Nittany Lions, we are a gritty, resilient, passionate family who has been through much together,” Barbour wrote. “We have always stuck together and persevered through whatever the challenge. I know first-hand this crisis has impacted each of you in a variety of ways and I pray that you and your families are healthy and safe. Thank you for whatever support you are able to provide for Penn State Athletics at this time. For now, it is from afar, but we look forward to a time when we can bring our Penn State family back together again.”
On Wednesday, the Big Ten released its updated 2020 football schedules. Penn State’s season is slated to begin on Saturday, September 5 with a home matchup against Northwestern.
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