Even as the NHL presses forward with hopes of launching the 2020-21 season on New Year’s Day, the Vancouver Canucks — and other NHL teams — are telling fans they can take a wait-and-see approach with their wallets.
During the summer, in recognition of the fact the season’s start date remained uncertain because of the COVID-19 pandemic, season-ticket holders were given several payment options, from paying in full, choosing a multi-month payment plan or even deferring all their payments to a later date.
For fans who elected to pay in instalments, this week marked the fourth monthly payment for their 2020-21 tickets, despite lacking an official start date.
“If you choose to defer this month’s payment, the deferred balance will be spread among the remaining instalments of your payment plan,” the Canucks have noted in their monthly emails.
Hockey fan Kent Anderson, who is president of Northwest Baptist Seminary, has been a Canucks season-ticket holder for 20 years. He opted to pay in instalments and has yet to defer a payment, expressing concern he might lose his priority spot even though the NHL team hasn’t suggested that might happen.
“I’m still making monthly payments on my full season-ticket package. I was offered the chance to defer but I was worried about the potential of losing my priority ranking,” he said. “After 20 years, that’s no small thing. Been assured that they won’t force us back until we believe it’s safe.
“I have season tickets for the Lions and Whitecaps as well. All three teams are saying essentially the same thing. I’ll admit I am a little worried what will happen. My wife works with the elderly, so we can’t come back until everything is truly safe. Hope they all hold to their word.”
But Brad Joseph, who also opted for the instalment plan, decided to take the Canucks up on their offer this week.
“Yup, I did. Wait until they come out with a plan (for fans),” he said. “And schedule. Who knows how many games will be at Rogers Arena even.”
Sean Dyck opted to defer right from the start.
“They originally said they were going to take the money but then gave us the option to hold off and wait,” Dyck said. “They’ve actually been great through this. Brutal impact on them and it would have been easy for them to demand some sort of payment to keep priority.”
Still in a holding pattern
Talks continue between the NHL and the players’ association on how to set up the 2020-21 season. Reports continue to suggest the seven Canadian teams will be grouped in an all-Canadian division.
Most chatter has suggested the schedule would be 60 games per team, meaning each Canadian team would face the other teams 10 times. Games would be played in pairs, with teams skating in their own arenas.
Initially there would be no fans, but the expectation is that as vaccines against COVID-19 are made available fans would slowly return to the stands.
Canucks general manager Jim Benning said he was waiting for news like everyone else — and not just about when he might see his team on the ice again.
“I’m going to watch Bonnie Henry’s 3 p.m. update, just like everyone else,” he said Thursday. “Government regulations are going to dictate what we can do.”
Benning said most of the team’s players aren’t in Vancouver, but many have been calling him looking for information for an ideal time to return to B.C.
“They’re calling, asking ‘what are you hearing?’ just like you. I ask them the same thing,” Benning said with a chuckle. “As far as I know it’s still Jan. 1, until we hear anything else. We have no new news.”
CLICK HERE to report a typo.
Is there more to this story? We’d like to hear from you about this or any other stories you think we should know about. Email [email protected] .
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2020
