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PSU's E-mail to ticket holders regarding options for 2020

Nitwit

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Jul 18, 2001
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The following is an excerpt from an email received from Sandy Barbour regarding ticket options for football in 2020.


1. Convert Your 2020 Football Season Ticket Purchase into a Tax-Deductible Donation

• Season ticket holders can opt to turn their entire 2020 football season ticket (ticket and seat contribution) and parking cost into a tax-deductible donation to the Levi Lamb Fund.
• Season ticket holders who are paid in full will be guaranteed a price freeze for their 2021 football season ticket(s). A seat contribution will still be required in 2021, but will also be frozen at the 2020 contribution levels.
• Additional benefits for choosing this option include:
• In the event the Governor’s orders regarding large group gatherings changes, you will get priority access to seats based on NLC Priority Points.
• 100 NLC Priority Points (equivalent to a $5,000 donation).
• Extended payment plan for 2021 football season tickets.
• Exclusive Enter to Win opportunities throughout the year.


2. Rollover to 2021 Football Season Tickets

• Season ticket holders can opt to roll over their 2020 football season ticket (ticket price only) and parking payment to their 2021 football season tickets and parking.
• The 2020 football seat contributions will be converted to a tax-deductible donation to the Levi Lamb Fund.
• Season ticket holders who are paid in full will be guaranteed a price freeze for their 2021 football season ticket(s). A seat contribution will still be required in 2021, but will also be frozen at the 2020 contribution levels.
• Additional benefits to choosing this option include:
• In the event the Governor’s orders regarding large group gatherings changes, you will get priority access to seats based on NLC Priority Points.
• 50 NLC Priority Points (equivalent to a $2,500 donation).
• Extended payment plan for 2021 football season tickets.
• Exclusive Enter to Win opportunities throughout the year.


3. Request a Full Refund

• Season ticket holders can opt to request a full refund of their 2020 football season ticket (ticket price only) and parking payment.
• The 2020 football seat contributions will be converted to a tax-deductible donation to the Nittany Lion Club’s Levi Lamb Fund.
• Season ticket holders who request a refund will retain their season ticket holder status in the renewal process for 2021, but will not be guaranteed their 2020 seat locations and parking for the 2021 football season.


Season ticket holders can make their choice by submitting this online selection form or by calling 1-800-NITTANY. If we have not heard from you by Friday, August 21, a member of our athletic ticket staff will be in contact.
 
As you may have seen, the Big Ten announced the 2020 football schedule and medical protocolsyesterday and we expect additional fall sport schedules to be announced in the coming days and weeks.



We continue to plan for a safe return to campus and to sports and remain hopeful our student-athletes will be back in action this fall. We have been in communication with the Governor’s office throughout this process and have worked actively with University leadership, Big Ten, NCAA and State and County public health officials.



As of today, the current large group gatherings guidance from the Governor’s office limits capacity to 250 people for outside events and 25 people for insideevents. Therefore, under the current conditions and current state orders, our fall sports events would be conducted without fans in the general seating areas of our facilities. We continue to work with the Governor’s office to discuss, and possibly be prepared for the opportunity to have spectators at our fall Penn State sporting events.



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. 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.



Penn State Athletics has always and will always put the health, safety and education of our students as our top priority. The current COVID-19 environment is no exception. Your support and generosity have always been the cornerstone of our ability to provide our coaches, staff and students with the resources necessary to meet our students’ needs in those areas. You have ALWAYS supported our students at our times of the most acute need. This is one of those moments.



Regardless of whether we play or don’t play, our revenue losses will be in the high eight figures, reaching nine figures in the case of no competition. We cannot let this pandemic stall or wipe out all of the incredible work and progress that, with your help, our students and our programs have been able to achieve in the classroom, in our community and, of course, in our competitive venues. On March 12, 2020, when the NCAA Winter Championships were cancelled and our spring sports were halted, your Nittany Lions were in position to complete one of the best years in our history. All this with record-setting academics as the backdrop. We need to be in position to come out of the pandemic with a running start, and we need your support to do that.



We have taken many steps to minimize our potential losses by implementing salary reductions across the department for this fiscal year, restricting travel and reducing operational budgets, and pushing some projects and initiatives to a later date. These steps have allowed us to avoid the tough decisions other schools have already had to make, like eliminating sports or laying off employees. But our financial challenges will be immense, and I know as proud Nittany Lions, you will show your pride and support in as many ways as your individual, family and business situation will allow. We Are…grateful!



Your assistance for Penn State Athletics and our over 800 dedicated student-athletes, starts with selecting an option to address your 2020 football season ticket commitment in light of the current capacity restrictions in Beaver Stadium. We would like nothing more than to have a full 2020 season with 107,000 of the Penn State faithful cheering on the Nittany Lions, but COVID-19 clearly had other plans. There are three options for your 2020 football ticket payment:



1. Convert Your 2020 Football Season Ticket Purchase into a Tax-Deductible Donation

• Season ticket holders can opt to turn their entire 2020 football season ticket (ticket and seat contribution) and parking cost into a tax-deductible donation to the Levi Lamb Fund.
• Season ticket holders who are paid in full will be guaranteed a price freeze for their 2021 football season ticket(s). A seat contribution will still be required in 2021, but will also be frozen at the 2020 contribution levels.
• Additional benefits for choosing this option include:
• In the event the Governor’s orders regarding large group gatherings changes, you will get priority access to seats based on NLC Priority Points.
• 100 NLC Priority Points (equivalent to a $5,000 donation).
• Extended payment plan for 2021 football season tickets.
• Exclusive Enter to Win opportunities throughout the year.


2. Rollover to 2021 Football Season Tickets

• Season ticket holders can opt to roll over their 2020 football season ticket (ticket price only) and parking payment to their 2021 football season tickets and parking.
• The 2020 football seat contributions will be converted to a tax-deductible donation to the Levi Lamb Fund.
• Season ticket holders who are paid in full will be guaranteed a price freeze for their 2021 football season ticket(s). A seat contribution will still be required in 2021, but will also be frozen at the 2020 contribution levels.
• Additional benefits to choosing this option include:
• In the event the Governor’s orders regarding large group gatherings changes, you will get priority access to seats based on NLC Priority Points.
• 50 NLC Priority Points (equivalent to a $2,500 donation).
• Extended payment plan for 2021 football season tickets.
• Exclusive Enter to Win opportunities throughout the year.


3. Request a Full Refund

• Season ticket holders can opt to request a full refund of their 2020 football season ticket (ticket price only) and parking payment.
• The 2020 football seat contributions will be converted to a tax-deductible donation to the Nittany Lion Club’s Levi Lamb Fund.
• Season ticket holders who request a refund will retain their season ticket holder status in the renewal process for 2021, but will not be guaranteed their 2020 seat locations and parking for the 2021 football season.


Season ticket holders can make their choice by submitting this online selection form or by calling 1-800-NITTANY. If we have not heard from you by Friday, August 21, a member of our athletic ticket staff will be in contact.



Charitable donations and non-charitable seat contributions are annually used to provide our student-athletes with scholarship opportunities and cannot be refunded per University policy as those scholarship allocations have been distributed for the upcoming year. We appreciate your understanding that as a Nittany Lion Club member, your annual support for our scholarships for student-athletes is the bedrock of our commitment to them.



As Nittany Lions, we are a gritty, resilient, passionate family who has been through much together. 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.



We Are



Sandy Barbour

Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
 
DISGUSTING SET OF OPTIONS BY PSU TO TICKET HOLDERS

If you agree to let them keep your money if no season is played you "may" get tickets if the season is played. If you want a refund which is your legal right if an event cannot provide thickets you paid for you could lose access to your seats in the future. Once again PSU saying screw you instead of working with fans.
 
If you agree to let them keep your money if no season is played you "may" get tickets if the season is played. If you want a refund which is your legal right if an event cannot provide thickets you paid for you could lose access to your seats in the future. Once again PSU saying screw you instead of working with fans.
I thought we flattened the curve. Guess there's something else at stake this fall.
 
If you agree to let them keep your money if no season is played you "may" get tickets if the season is played. If you want a refund which is your legal right if an event cannot provide thickets you paid for you could lose access to your seats in the future. Once again PSU saying screw you instead of working with fans.
Scare tactic. They'll be begging you to renew tickets next year.
 
If I roll over my paid season tickets to the 2021 season, why would I need a price freeze? :confused:

2. Rollover to 2021 Football Season Tickets


• Season ticket holders can opt to roll over their 2020 football season ticket (ticket price only) and parking payment to their 2021 football season tickets and parking.
• The 2020 football seat contributions will be converted to a tax-deductible donation to the Levi Lamb Fund.
Season ticket holders who are paid in full will be guaranteed a price freeze for their 2021 football season ticket(s). A seat contribution will still be required in 2021, but will also be frozen at the 2020 contribution levels.
• Additional benefits to choosing this option include:
• In the event the Governor’s orders regarding large group gatherings changes, you will get priority access to seats based on NLC Priority Points.
• 50 NLC Priority Points (equivalent to a $2,500 donation).
• Extended payment plan for 2021 football season tickets.
• Exclusive Enter to Win opportunities throughout the year.
 
If you agree to let them keep your money if no season is played you "may" get tickets if the season is played. If you want a refund which is your legal right if an event cannot provide thickets you paid for you could lose access to your seats in the future. Once again PSU saying screw you instead of working with fans.
 
If you agree to let them keep your money if no season is played you "may" get tickets if the season is played. If you want a refund which is your legal right if an event cannot provide thickets you paid for you could lose access to your seats in the future. Once again PSU saying screw you instead of working with fans.
Which option do you think they should have proposed, but did not? Of course they're not going to guarantee that you'll be allowed in the stadium even if games are played - it's looking more likely that there are no fans at all than any fans, and if there are fans in the stadium, it will be far fewer than the number of season ticket holders. It is what it is on that front.

Sure, they could have guaranteed your seats and parking for next year even if you get a refund...but the reality of the situation is that they very much want you to either write off your 2020 season tickets as a donation, or carry the amount you've already paid over into next year. You can absolutely request a refund - which is your right to do - but you aren't necessarily entitled to get refunded without potential consequences. I would suspect that the number of people who (a) are refunded, and (b) have their seats and parking swiped out from under them for 2021 will be pretty small.
 
I was expecting options similar to those. For #1, I thought they'd offer more than 100 NLC points which aren't as big of a deal as they used to be. It doesn't cost ICA anything to give them away. I felt they'd offer more of an incentive to make someone willing to give up the entire cost of tickets.

#3 seems a bit harsh. If you want a refund, well, it sucks to be you.
 
she also tweeted that the loss to PSU will be in the high seven-figure range ($x,xxx,xxx) even if the season is played. Eight if it is unplayed. gonna have to be some hard decisions made.

She's actually predicting nine figures if there's no season played. As in $100,000,000+. Ouch.....
 
Which option do you think they should have proposed, but did not? Of course they're not going to guarantee that you'll be allowed in the stadium even if games are played - it's looking more likely that there are no fans at all than any fans, and if there are fans in the stadium, it will be far fewer than the number of season ticket holders. It is what it is on that front.

Sure, they could have guaranteed your seats and parking for next year even if you get a refund...but the reality of the situation is that they very much want you to either write off your 2020 season tickets as a donation, or carry the amount you've already paid over into next year. You can absolutely request a refund - which is your right to do - but you aren't necessarily entitled to get refunded without potential consequences. I would suspect that the number of people who (a) are refunded, and (b) have their seats and parking swiped out from under them for 2021 will be pretty small.

They should have guaranteed the seats for next year if we made the required donation--instead they stupidly pissed off a lot of people. And if someone challenges them in court I am sure the result will be that you cannot refuse to grant a refund without consequences.
The way to get people to feel good and continue to donate is not to threaten them if they don't.
 
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she also tweeted that the loss to PSU will be in the high seven-figure range ($x,xxx,xxx) even if the season is played. Eight if it is unplayed. gonna have to be some hard decisions made.
Cry me a river.
 
What about club seats? I paid over $7200 for the license fee for four tickets. They are just keeping it?!??
 
They should have guaranteed the seats for next year if we made the required donation--instead they stupidly pissed off a lot of people. And if someone challenges them in court I am sure the result will be that you cannot refuse to grant a refund without consequences.
The way to get people to feel good and continue to donate is not to threaten them if they don't.
Exactly. Penn State can't get out of their own way.
 
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I think they should not expect us to pay seat licenses again next year if we roll over our seats to 2021. I'm not using the seats in 2020 but I paid the license fee to use them. I get they want/need our money, but we would not have paid the seat license money without the expectation of attending games.

If money is an issue, how about going to the B1G and demand the money for the bowl game shares from the early 2010's that was wrongly confiscated.
 
What about club seats? I paid over $7200 for the license fee for four tickets. They are just keeping it?!??
I would have thought they would have contacted the Seat Club members directly to address this, but that would assume PSU is competent at communicating with their fanbase.
 
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While wearing loose shorts and looking at your sig pics? Wait. That’s me. :(
ThisAmazingCrab-small.gif
 
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The threat of loosing your seat if you ask for a refund is total BS considering no fans in the stands... "who the F#@K is taking your seats this year" ???????

I would get that threat if they announced a "decreased" attendance. For example, if they announced capacity of 25,000/home game. And if you asked for a refund.... then "technically" ... "technically" .... "logic" could apply that some of those 25,000 were placed in your old seats. Since someone else was placed in your old seats in 2020.... then you lost those seats in 2021.

That example would be extreme. And it would still be totally bogus. But at least it could be "Technically" possible.

But how is it technically possible, or even theoretically possible, for someone to take your seats in 2020... if NO ONE is in the freaking stands ?!?!?!?!?!?!
 
I think they are going to upset a lot of people by not giving season ticket holders the option to refund or rollover the donation. As we all know, it's not a donation. The IRS does not consider it a donation. It is a requirement to purchase season tickets.
 
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I think they should not expect us to pay seat licenses again next year if we roll over our seats to 2021. I'm not using the seats in 2020 but I paid the license fee to use them. I get they want/need our money, but we would not have paid the seat license money without the expectation of attending games.

If money is an issue, how about going to the B1G and demand the money for the bowl game shares from the early 2010's that was wrongly confiscated.

and the 60 Mil. the B1G stole from us. MF'ers.:mad:
 
They should have guaranteed the seats for next year if we made the required donation--instead they stupidly pissed off a lot of people. And if someone challenges them in court I am sure the result will be that you cannot refuse to grant a refund without consequences.
The way to get people to feel good and continue to donate is not to threaten them if they don't.
It would be quickly dismissed from court. Where do you have a contract guaranteeing you the same seats year after year? Just because they have done that in the past doesn't obligate them to continue to do so. STEP actually is precedence of this where they moved seats. Remember the courts don't rule based on feelings but law. What contract do you have with the athletic department do you have stating those seats are yours annually.

Secondly they have always said donations are no refundable and are not seat licenses. People had no problem with it when they were written that way for tax purposes.

They probably should have given you the option to get your donation back but I understand why they aren't.
 
I agree--how hard would it have been to guarantee seats at this point? I doubt there's going to be a huge rush to buy them next year--so why tick off a bunch of people--unless they r stupid

I slogged through the dark years, every game, I put up with STEP, I continued to support the team through the illegal sanctions and JS shitshow. If my seats aren't in the same exact Place, row and seat number as they were from 2001-20018 they, Sandy and all, can kiss my ass. I'll watch PSU from the comfort of my sofa, if I even care at that point.
 
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I slogged through the dark years, every game, I put up with STEP, I continued to support the team through the illegal sanctions and JS shitshow. If my seats aren't in the same exact location as they were from 2001-20018 they, Sandy and all, can kiss my ass. I'll watch PSU from the comfort of my sofa, if I even care at that point.

Be careful to whom you are extending invitations.

images
 
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