NO REFUNDS for Saints Ticket Holders- UPDATED 3 PM

[Sean in New Orleans]

My gut feeling is that Paul Tagliabue (NFL Commissioner for all you non-football fans) will not let this happen. Tags is a great commissioner and too smart to let this happen (besides the fact that it is an outright horrible thing to do, it would be a PR nightmare for the league as a whole).

This has been my belief all along. In fact, this hurricane virtually ensures a new stadium for the Saints, IMO.

[wolfmmiii]

My gut feeling is that Paul Tagliabue (NFL Commissioner for all you non-football fans) will not let this happen. Tags is a great commissioner and too smart to let this happen (besides the fact that it is an outright horrible thing to do, it would be a PR nightmare for the league as a whole).

This has been my belief all along. In fact, this hurricane virtually ensures a new stadium for the Saints, IMO.

It's not in Tagliabue's hands. Can he STRONGLY recommend what actions to take? Yes. Will he? Probably. Should he? Probably. It comes down to whether or not the Saints believe the PR hit they will take is worth whatever the value of the un-refunded tickets are. That will ultimately determine their course of action.

[blueeyes_austin]

I don't see how this will hold up. It is not analagous to buying a car; the ticket is to provide a service in the future. If the service is not provided, a refund is in order. For example, when a concert is cancelled (or even rescheduled), the ticket holderis due a refund less service charges.

And, I suspect, any jury in Louisiana will see it the same way.

If there is wording in the contract (a ticket includes a contract) that prohibits refunds due to acts of God, there is no recourse. Again, I don't like the idea but I'd think that's the way it is.

Not true. Juries have the right to set aside onerous contract provisions. For instance, there are many contracts that claim one party is not responsible even in the case of negligence. These provisions are routinely thrown out in court.

[blueeyes_austin]

http://www.urmia.org/docs/cotten.htm

The above is information relating to waivers of responsibility in sports contracts, but many of the basic concepts would hold here as well.

[Downdraft]

This should put the networks in a heck of a spot. What t.v. network wants to cover a team whose owner would pull a stunt like this in the middle of a natural disaster? I say pull all the t.v. coverage of the Saints games or have the other teams refuse to play them on television. Of course my ideas won't fly but I'd never watch another Saints game no matter where they played or who they played. The man is vermin and if San Antonio goes after them now despite the wonderful work they've done for the refugees they belong swimming with Benson in the same sludge he lives in.

[jopatura]

I bet Taglibue won't let this happen. I'm sure there's some buyout clause in all contracts letting the NFL buy back a team from an owner, in cases of "corruption" (can't think of a better word) that would demonize the NFL as a whole.

If the NFL can't do that, they could "disown" a team per se. It would be a football team alright, but it wouldn't be a sport sanctioned one, so what would be the use of it. There's many ways an owner can be forced out, which I'm sure we'll see in the coming months if they can't control his ticket sales.

[wolfmmiii]

I bet Taglibue won't let this happen. I'm sure there's some buyout clause in all contracts letting the NFL buy back a team from an owner, in cases of "corruption" (can't think of a better word) that would demonize the NFL as a whole.

If the NFL can't do that, they could "disown" a team per se. It would be a football team alright, but it wouldn't be a sport sanctioned one, so what would be the use of it. There's many ways an owner can be forced out, which I'm sure we'll see in the coming months if they can't control his ticket sales.

It's not corruption and the NFL would lose too much money by "disowning" the team. Look, I disagree with him but we need to also look at it from the team's financial perspective, not just a humanitarian one.

[crazycajuncane]

I will believe it when I heard from Benson's mouth.

I doubt he'd do what you guys are saying. He is a business man. He knows business. As a PR major myself, I can tell you that Benson would not benefit in any way for the actions of not refunding those poor people.

They were forced to leave their homes from an act of nature. Benson should also find a place closer to New Orleans to play football. San Antonio is too far away from the "Real" Saints fans... even if some fled the state.

Baton Rouge would be my pick, make it work.... they have to make it work.

[Rob Beaux]

Since yall seem to never correct yourselves much like Fox and CNN. States where he wants to play and that refudns will be given... Like I said, stop spreading rumors there is enough out there already. How do you guys like your crow?

here is the email sent to season tickets holders:

"The entire New Orleans Saints organization would like to extend its prayers and best wishes to all of our fans throughout Louisiana and the ulf South region. We are currently working with the NFL and expect to be in a position shortly to announce the sites for our remaining 2005 thome schedule. I have expressed my desire to the NFL to play games in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to the extent circumstances allow.

"Saints ticket holders unable to attend home games, wherever played, should also be assured that they will be permitted to request refunds. Specifics of the refund policy will be publicized in the upcoming days.

"The New Orleans Saints look forward to the start of the NFL regular season this Sunday and to having the Club be a source of pride and joy in these difficult days. As we move forward together, the Saints look forward to serving as a leader in the rebuilding and revitalization of our great community. Towards this effort, the Saints have established t he 'New Orleans Saints Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.' Further information for those individuals/companies interested in contributing will be announced shortly."

[LSU2001]

THat e-mail was not sent until late yesterday afternoon 9/6. I heard the wwl radio guys talking about the no refunds and how benson was wanting to be in san antonio. about 2 hours later the e-mail came out and the wwl radio guys read it on the air. By the way this "rumor" was reported in reputable (WDSU) sports outlets so I would say spreading rumors is not what was happening. I truly think that the PR machine in the saints organization is working overtime.
TIm

[Persepone]

I'll bet that other teams might honor the tickets for fans who are in different parts of the country! That would serve the owner of The Saints right...

Actually, I think that other posters are right and that the NFL will take some sort of stand...

[aumoore]

Big businesses will "leak" info and sit back to see how customers react to it. Maybe they at first felt they had legal reasons for not issuing refunds. They then judged public outcry from a leak to a radio station and determined the PR cost was too much.

[alicia-w]

From the Saints Tickets website:

Delays and Cancellations

•Delay or Cancellation of Event
In the case of an event being cancelled and not rescheduled, the ticket cost, not including any fees for shipping and handling will be refunded. This does not apply to cancellations due to an act of God (weather, earthquake, etc.), venue structure issues, war, fire, civil disobedience, any acts of government, customer inability to obtain transportation, terrorism, strike, lockout or other labor disputes. There are no cancellations, refunds or exchanges for delayed events. We are not responsible for time changes or the rescheduling of an event. If an event is postponed, the original tickets will generally be honored for the new date and time of the event.

http://www.saints-tickets.com/ticket_policies.htm