The Eagles have updated their season-ticket holders on the potential of attending home games at Lincoln Financial Field in 2020, and what attending those games might look like due to COVID-19.
The Eagles' policy, which was sent to season ticket holders Tuesday evening, will allow any fans who do not opt-out of their 2020 season tickets to use the balance they have paid to go towards their new seats this season. The Eagles have been allowing fans who do not feel comfortable potentially going to games this season to opt-out of their 2020 season tickets, but still be season-ticket holders in 2021.
If fans do attend games this season, it seems like they will indeed be doing so at a limited capacity, which as a result will mean season-ticket holders likely won't be sitting in their normal seats. Fans will also be socially distancing in the stands and wearing masks.
A portion of the email:
"Games at Lincoln Financial Field will certainly have a different look and feel this season. NFL guidelines require that we implement certain health and safety measures, including a requirement that all ticketholders and staff wear face masks. In addition, we must follow CDC guidelines, which requires us to implement social distancing within the seating bowl. As a result, we are developing a variety of scenarios for reduced-capacity seating configuration. Futhermore, due to the current state and local government orders, we must also develop a plan under the scenario that does not include any fans
"In order to comply with all of the current government guidelines, we are unable to provide the specific seat location(s) that you use when Lincoln Financial Field is available at full capacity. As such, we have disabled the season tickets on your account, including tickets that have been forwarded or resold, to allow us to create a new seating manifest. Please be assured all monies paid to date will remain as a credit on your account. If tickets are available within a modified seating configuration, you will be able to apply your credit toward any potential purchase of tickets. In the event that games are played without fans, a refund or credit will be provided to you in accordance with our Refund Policy"
Overall, the policy seems to be a very fair one towards fans — if fans are allowed to attend games (and want to), the money they would normally pay for their 2020 season tickets will be used to issue them new tickets in new seats. If there are no fans at the games, or they decide not to go, they will not be charged.
Last week, comments from Philadelphia officials seemed to indicate that there would not be fans in the stands at Lincoln Financial Field this season. Those comments have since been clarified, however, and at this point it is not known whether fans will be able to attend games.
Whether they will be able to remains to be seen, but at the very least, the Eagles are preparing for the possibility.
The Eagles home opener is Sept. 20 against the Los Angeles Rams.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
