BGSU will offer refunds, other options, to season-ticket holders
Falcons and rest of MAC will not play this fall, hopeful for spring
By Nicholas Piotrowicz / The Blade
Mon, 10 Aug 2020 18:38:33 GMT
link -- with images
BOWLING GREEN — After the Mid-American Conference elected to postpone all fall sports on Saturday, Bowling Green State University reaffirmed its plan to offer four options, including a full refund, to its football and volleyball season-ticket holders.
According to an email sent by BGSU director of athletics Bob Moosbrugger to the school's ticket base, Bowling Green will allow fans to choose from a wide range of options if they already had purchased or renewed their season tickets for the 2020 season.
MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said Saturday after the conference announced its decision to postpone that the league hopes to move its fall sports — including football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, and field hockey — to spring, though all of its plans are tentative and largely tied to the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Fans at Bowling Green may choose to stick with their original payment and for a planned spring season at the same price, turn it into a flex plan that would allow them to attend additional spring semester events without season tickets in other sports, opt for a refund, or donate their payment to the school's Falcon Club.
Bowling Green, along with nearly all college programs, is expecting massive financial losses due to several factors related to the pandemic.
BGSU projected an enrollment decline earlier this year, which would impact student fees, the department of athletics' biggest revenue source. Further, the state of Ohio decreased funding to colleges, BG will have no gameday-related revenues for the foreseeable future, and the football program lost two lucrative paydays in planned games at Ohio State and Illinois.
Bowling Green said donations would go to the Falcon Club Athletic Scholarship and Success Fund, which offsets grant-in-aid costs for BGSU athletes.
"The impact of losing two Big Ten football games [$2.2 million] and additional budgetary reductions has had a profound impact on our financial future as a department," Moosbrugger wrote in his email. "We know we are not alone and many of you are facing similar challenges, so your continued investment is greatly appreciated."
Bowling Green originally was supposed to play six home football games during the 2020 season. The Falcons had non-conference games against Robert Morris and Liberty, plus their MAC games against Miami, Kent State, Buffalo, and Northern Illinois.
As of Monday, both Robert Morris and Liberty planned to continue with the fall season. Bowling Green was slated to pay a combined $475,000 to the two schools, although the $150,000 paid to Liberty was slated to be paid back with a second game, a 2023 date at Liberty.
The MAC likely will not announce any plans for the 2021 spring season until November at the earliest, although BGSU plans to hold a virtual call between season-ticket holders, Moosbrugger, and others BGSU athletics executives on Aug. 24, after which Bowling Green said it anticipated having additional updates from the MAC, NCAA, and state of Ohio.
"We recognize the challenges that still lie ahead for us, but are proud of this decision and the national leadership it shows by committing to and prioritizing the safety and health of our student-athletes and staff," the email said of the decision to postpone the season.
Bowling Green said fans may also contact the ticket office directly at (419) 372-9085 or at tickets@bgsu.edu.