NEW ORLEANS — The new administration is under intense public scrutiny. SaintsFans can now cancel their season tickets to get their money back by adopting a new policy.
Saints will fill 73,000 Superdome seats this season. But, according to various state and local protocols, fans can only attend if they wear masks or show proof that they are vaccinated.
The team had previously said that those who chose to retain their tickets accounts for this season wouldn’t be eligible for refunds, as in 2020 when restrictions by the government prevented large crowds from entering the dome.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry (a Republican) called for Wednesday’s withholding of funding for the ongoing improvement work at the Superdome, the state-owned Superdome. The request was made by the officials unless the Saints were willing to give refunds.
In turn, The Saints also announced Thursday’s new refund policy. It noted that 120 account holders had asked for refunds. Anybody else wanting a refund must submit a request before Tuesday.
Saints spokesperson Greg Bensel explained that the team made the decision last season to give refunds or rollovers to the following year because they knew the government would prohibit us from fulfilling a full season. This season, however, this is not true. According to current regulations in the state and city, there is no way for us to issue refunds on season tickets. We have always done so as a standard practice.
Bensel said that the Saints received “thousands” of calls from people wanting to buy season tickets. These fans were requesting refunds for current account holders.
Bensel explained that it was preferable to keep these faithful fans in the seats, rather than have other fans who previously sought refunds of their tickets sold to visitors on the secondary market.
Bensel said that Saints tickets will not be required for anyone who shows up at the Superdome with a negative result or proof of vaccination. However, they can receive free vaccines from Ochsner Health System (one of the major sponsors).
To enter, fans aged 12 years and younger will not need to show proof that they have been vaccinated or pass a negative test.
If the infection rates drop, the club suggested that COVID-19 protocol could be relaxed at the Superdome. They have been on the rise in recent years.
Bensel stated, “We believe that the mandate from the city is temporary and that we are optimistic that, as vaccine rates rise, this policy won’t be needed anymore.”
Louisiana was the state with the highest new coronavirus infection rate in America over the week. Its hospitals have broken records every day for COVID-19 cases. The state’s health department said Wednesday that 3,022 patients with COVID-19 were admitted to hospital by the state, and 91% had not received their full vaccination.