Fans of the New England Patriots, who belong to the COVID-19 virus risk group and therefore want to stay away from home games, would not lose their entitlement to the season ticket. The Patriots have now announced this. It’s the fairest regulation of its kind in the NFL so far.

The New England Patriots are known for their close ties to their fans. This solidarity will continue throughout the Corona crisis.

Special offer for those affected
“If season ticket holders are classified as risk patients by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) because of their advanced age or health problems,” the Patriots’ homepage states, a special clause applies: The affected fans are allowed to skip the matches of the 2020 season without losing money and can still keep their season ticket for the 2021 season: “If they agree to this, their seat will be reserved for the 2021 season. Normally many NFL teams have long waiting lists for season tickets.

If you give your season ticket back, it usually takes many years before you get another chance to get a ticket. According to “ESPN”, the list of Patriots is several tens of thousands of seats long. Many names on the list have been waiting for a season ticket for more than a decade.

Patriots lead by example
So far, the Patriots are the first franchise to present such a generous program. Many franchises have so far offered to help out fans in financial difficulties.

The Patriots did not want to comment further on the circular letter at the request of “ESPN”. Everything would happen as described in the email. Although it is uncertain if fans will be admitted to home games at all, the Patriots are still optimistic.

“We remain confident that football will come back this season and plan every home game with the presence of our season ticket holders,” a statement said. “In consultation with the authorities, we will ensure that safety for players, staff and fans is paramount”.