Subscribe to Outbreak, a daily roundup of stories on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on global business, delivered free to your inbox.
The coronavirus pandemic has devastated the live-events business. Concerts, ball games, and large social gatherings of any sort are being canceled and postponed at a rapid pace.
That’s more than a disruption of our social lives. For a lot of people, that’s hundreds of dollars spent that could be very useful now, especially as unemployment spikes. But getting that money back may not be as easy as you expect, depending on where you bought your ticket.
The refund and return policies of different businesses vary widely. Here’s a look at how several companies are handling things:
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster, the nation’s largest ticket seller, is keeping a running list of canceled and rescheduled events in your area on its home page. Should the event be canceled, the company will automatically refund your money. In cases where a concert or event is postponed or rescheduled, and it doesn’t work with your schedule, some organizers are offering refunds via Ticketmaster. That will appear via a refund link on your Ticketmaster account.
Eventbrite
If you bought tickets on Eventbrite, you’ll need to proactively request the refund to any event canceled between March 15 and May 15. That process is a bit more arduous, forcing you to first contact the event organizer, then (if they decline the refund) filling out a separate form on Eventbrite. The company says you could then wait up to eight weeks to hear if your refund was approved. If so, you’ll see the funds in your account within five to seven days.
StubHub
At StubHub, people who purchased tickets for canceled events will receive a coupon worth 120% of their original order to their StubHub account. Ticket holders to postponed events are in more of a limbo state and are encouraged to hang on to their tickets. If an event is rescheduled, and you can’t attend the new date, you’re largely stuck—short of reselling your tickets through the service—which may or may not fetch what you paid for them pre-pandemic.
If you sold tickets to a canceled event on StubHub, the company will charge your credit card to reverse the transaction and have you contact the original ticket company for a refund.
TickPick
TickPick, like StubHub, is offering credits of 110% of order prices for cancelled events. (Refunds are also available.) It is not, however, offering refunds on rescheduled or postponed events.
SeatGeek
SeatGeek has a Buyer’s Guarantee policy, which will refund customers (though they also have the option of receiving a promo code, which is good for 12 months). Holders of tickets to postponed events will be contacted when a new date is set. In either case, the company says, the response will be automatic, and customers shouldn’t have to initiate any action.
TicketIQ
TicketIQ is also offering refunds for canceled events, processing and crediting those within a week or two of the cancellation date. It’s offering to work with people if a rescheduled date does not fit their plans.
Professional Sports
The four major sports leagues, so far, are not issuing refunds to any games, even though those have been postponed indefinitely.
NFL
While it’s too early to say if the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the 2020–21 NFL season, the league is already taking steps to keep fans happy. Many teams are already postponing current installment payment dates for season tickets. And in a memo to team owners, the league said if games are canceled, played without fans, or played with a smaller number of fans in attendance, season ticket holders would get a prorated refund or credit for future purchases.
NBA
The NBA says “all tickets purchased for a postponed game will be honored when the game is rescheduled.” And fans will have the option to receive a credit for an alternate game or a game next season.
MLB
The league has avoided talking about refunds, only saying it will “keep fans updated on decisions regarding plans for the 2020 schedule,” and adds it remains committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins.
NHL
After extending self-quarantine guidelines for players until April 14, the league says it is “exploring all options” for a resumption of the season, including playing games without fans or at neutral sites. The NHL, however, did not address how it would compensate fans should it take those steps.
More personal finance coverage from Coins2Day:
—What to do if you can’t pay your bills this month
—When will stimulus checks be direct deposited or mailed? Ensure yours isn’t delayed
—What you should know about mortgage forbearance and skipping payments
—Everything you need to know about furloughs—and what they mean for workers
—Freelancers and independent contractors can now apply for SBA Paycheck Protection Program loans. What you need to know
—The IRS has launched a portal to get your stimulus check if you don’t file taxes
—Listen to Leadership Next, a Coins2Day podcast examining the evolving role of CEOs
—VIDEO: 401(k) withdrawal penalties waived for anyone hurt by COVID-19
Subscribe to Coins2Day’s Bull Sheet for no-nonsense finance news and analysis daily.
