Will the WFT game sell out despite new jab policy?

[benderbender]

Read a few articles about over 700 season ticket holders requesting refund before the deadline. I’m wondering if there’s enough time for the jabbed to fill in the gaps. A quick look on Ticketmaster looks like the resale tickets in particular have come down in price from when I was looking for mine.

 

The Steelers game according to ESPN had 97% attendance and didn’t have the requirement in place. 

[machine gun kelly]

It’s only 700 or so tickets.  They’ll make that up.  We just routed the Fins, the WFT have a fun front four to watch, and there are more than enough vacc. Persons that can make that up.  Besides it’s September is the time of the year where it’s fun with the weather.

[buffaloboyinATL]

27 minutes ago, benderbender said:

 

The Steelers game according to ESPN had 97% attendance and didn’t have the requirement in place. 

No wonder it was so quiet.   

[Boatdrinks]

It’s closer to 800 season tix holders. Most probably have more than one ticket associated with their account, so it’s potentially several thousand seats. Regardless it sounds like many fans decided to just hang on to their seasons and sell them on the secondary market while they wait out Covid restrictions for a year or two. The Bills policy that fans would lose their seniority if a refund was requested was sufficiently punitive to ensure few requests were made. Anyway, sellouts are less relevant since the blackout policy was ended. 

[JohnNord]

Hell no.  There’s at least 58,000 season ticket holders.  700 is nothing and actually I’m surprised the number isn’t higher.  

[Boatdrinks]

Just now, Not at the table Karlos said:

Thought it didn't start until Halloween. 

You’re correct. At least one jab ( over age 12) required for this Sunday. Full vaccination required end of October I believe. 

[Not at the table Karlos]

Just now, Boatdrinks said:

You’re correct. At least one jab ( over age 12) required for this Sunday. Full vaccination required end of October I believe. 

Wow you're quick. I deleted it right after I posted to double check. 

[Boatdrinks]

14 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Hell no.  There’s at least 58,000 season ticket holders.  700 is nothing and actually I’m surprised the number isn’t higher.  

As I mentioned upthread, the Bills policy of refund requesters losing their seniority probably kept numbers low. 

[Son of Original Jill]

1 hour ago, benderbender said:

Read a few articles about over 700 season ticket holders requesting refund before the deadline. I’m wondering if there’s enough time for the jabbed to fill in the gaps. A quick look on Ticketmaster looks like the resale tickets in particular have come down in price from when I was looking for mine.

 

The Steelers game according to ESPN had 97% attendance and didn’t have the requirement in place. 

 

32 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

It’s closer to 800 season tix holders. Most probably have more than one ticket associated with their account, so it’s potentially several thousand seats. Regardless it sounds like many fans decided to just hang on to their seasons and sell them on the secondary market while they wait out Covid restrictions for a year or two. The Bills policy that fans would lose their seniority if a refund was requested was sufficiently punitive to ensure few requests were made. Anyway, sellouts are less relevant since the blackout policy was ended. 

I’ve been on the season ticket wait list in the club seat section and I got a call today and I gladly swooped on two season ticket. Bye bye anti vacc former season ticket holder

[JESSEFEFFER]

Of the 15% of season and single game tickets once held by Canadians who still can't cross the border and the thousands likely held by never vaxxers who will likely lose money to hold onto their seats, the resale market prices have dropped and it has become and will remain a buyer's market.  That's my read of what's been going on over the last month and how it will affect the numbers for resale and their prices going forward.  There is now a big portion of those normally wanting to attend who are now out of the ticket buying market.

[SCBills]

33 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Hell no.  There’s at least 58,000 season ticket holders.  700 is nothing and actually I’m surprised the number isn’t higher.  

Lots of people will likely sell throughout the year on the secondary market so let’s hope the buyers are Bills fans. 

[Augie]

1 hour ago, machine gun kelly said:

It’s only 700 or so tickets.  They’ll make that up.  We just routed the Fins, the WFT have a fun front four to watch, and there are more than enough vacc. Persons that can make that up.  Besides it’s September is the time of the year where it’s fun with the weather.

 

It seems as though there are 700 people in any given bathroom at any given moment. They would never be missed!   

[LeGOATski]

Doesn't seem like much of a problem. I imagine it will still be a large majority of Bills fans and loud.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, Boatdrinks said:

It’s closer to 800 season tix holders. Most probably have more than one ticket associated with their account, so it’s potentially several thousand seats. Regardless it sounds like many fans decided to just hang on to their seasons and sell them on the secondary market while they wait out Covid restrictions for a year or two. The Bills policy that fans would lose their seniority if a refund was requested was sufficiently punitive to ensure few requests were made. Anyway, sellouts are less relevant since the blackout policy was ended. 

 

762 is closer to 800, but it says "season tickets" not "holders"

 

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/bills/762-season-ticket-refunds-granted-by-bills?utm_campaign=sharebutton&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=WGRAM

 

Question: what would normally happen if a season ticket holder gives up their seats and requests a refund?  Don't they normally lose their priority?

[GottaRun]

1 hour ago, benderbender said:

Read a few articles about over 700 season ticket holders requesting refund before the deadline. I’m wondering if there’s enough time for the jabbed to fill in the gaps. A quick look on Ticketmaster looks like the resale tickets in particular have come down in price from when I was looking for mine.

 

The Steelers game according to ESPN had 97% attendance and didn’t have the requirement in place. 

It's funny, no one wants to talk about the 6,500 Canadian season ticket holders who can't get over the border cause apparently we don't count, but I keep seeing threads pop up on Bills boards about the whopping 700+ who opted out.  700 will be noticed about as much as you noticed the missing 6,500. 

[aristocrat]

Is there a season ticket waiting list?

[Augie]

1 minute ago, driddles said:

It's funny, no one wants to talk about the 6,500 Canadian season ticket holders who can't get over the border cause apparently we don't count, but I keep seeing threads pop up on Bills boards about the whopping 700+ who opted out.  700 will be noticed about as much as you noticed the missing 6,500. 

 

I absolutely HATE the border thing, and you make a very good point. That would SUCK! 

 

Do those seats not still end up getting filled in some way to a large extent? 

[SCBills]

4 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

762 is closer to 800, but it says "season tickets" not "holders"

 

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/bills/762-season-ticket-refunds-granted-by-bills?utm_campaign=sharebutton&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=WGRAM

 

Question: what would normally happen if a season ticket holder gives up their seats and requests a refund?  Don't they normally lose their priority?

99% of the time, yes, so I’m assuming the same goes for Buffalo.  
 

So someone would have to be really mad to just give up their seasons on a requested refund, unless the Bills are honoring their priority seasons next year. 
 

If it was me, I’d just sell all my remaining home games on the secondary market to make back whatever I can, and hope this is resolved next year.  

[machine gun kelly]

10 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

762 is closer to 800, but it says "season tickets" not "holders"

 

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/bills/762-season-ticket-refunds-granted-by-bills?utm_campaign=sharebutton&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=WGRAM

 

Question: what would normally happen if a season ticket holder gives up their seats and requests a refund?  Don't they normally lose their priority?

And their seats which is why the morning guys mentioned just sell them and keep you’re seats.

[GottaRun]

6 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

I absolutely HATE the border thing, and you make a very good point. That would SUCK! 

 

Do those seats not still end up getting filled in some way to a large extent? 

The opener came close to selling out (97%) so most of them sold.  I'm not sure if the WFT tickets will sell out* because the mandate adds a wrinkle that might stop another 10 - 15% of fans from going.  With 10 - 15% of the seats not being filled by Canadians and 10 - 15% of the seats not being filled by the unvaccinated at some point you're noticeably going to see empty seats.  

*sell out isn't really the right term, the seats are sold but will they resell or be empty

Edited September 22, 2021 by driddles

[Boatdrinks]

17 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

762 is closer to 800, but it says "season tickets" not "holders"

 

https://www.audacy.com/wgr550/sports/bills/762-season-ticket-refunds-granted-by-bills?utm_campaign=sharebutton&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_term=WGRAM

 

Question: what would normally happen if a season ticket holder gives up their seats and requests a refund?  Don't they normally lose their priority?

Sorry Hap, but I was going from a radio broadcast where they said 762 season”  ticket holders. “ It may just be 762 tickets , I’m not certain. Yes if someone requested a refund in normal circumstances , I’d guess that they would. In this case, it seems that the conditions for entry have been changed after the sale, and a local lawmaker on the same radio broadcast called this a bait and switch and stated it is illegal in NYS. Anyway, not trying to go off on any tangents here and not injecting any opinion one way or another. Just saying what I heard on the radio show. 

Edited September 22, 2021 by Boatdrinks

[Boatdrinks]

5 minutes ago, driddles said:

The opener came close to selling out (97%) so most of them sold.  I'm not sure if the WFT tickets will sell out* because the mandate adds a wrinkle that might stop another 10 - 15% of fans from going.  With 10 - 15% of the seats not being filled by Canadians and 10 - 15% of the seats not being filled by the unvaccinated at some point you're noticeably going to see empty seats.  

*sell out isn't really the right term, the seats are sold but will they resell or be empty

My guess is that they mostly resell but who knows ? Weather and opponent always matter somewhat. 

19 minutes ago, NJKBillsfan said:

What makes you think the restrictions will only last a year or two?

Not going to get into particulars in this thread, but it’s just a guess. 

[Augie]

24 minutes ago, driddles said:

The opener came close to selling out (97%) so most of them sold.  I'm not sure if the WFT tickets will sell out* because the mandate adds a wrinkle that might stop another 10 - 15% of fans from going.  With 10 - 15% of the seats not being filled by Canadians and 10 - 15% of the seats not being filled by the unvaccinated at some point you're noticeably going to see empty seats.  

*sell out isn't really the right term, the seats are sold but will they resell or be empty

 

My point was kinda that, if we were at 97% capacity without 6,500 Canadians present, those seats find their way back onto the market, just like the Covid Tix will. People will just enjoy some cheaper seats that show up closer to game time.  There were people at the tailgate week 1 waiting to buy their tickets cheaper. 

 

 

.

Edited September 22, 2021 by Augie

[Big Turk]

2 hours ago, benderbender said:

Read a few articles about over 700 season ticket holders requesting refund before the deadline. I’m wondering if there’s enough time for the jabbed to fill in the gaps. A quick look on Ticketmaster looks like the resale tickets in particular have come down in price from when I was looking for mine.

 

The Steelers game according to ESPN had 97% attendance and didn’t have the requirement in place. 

 

There are probably 5K people waiting to take their place or more...

[Hapless Bills Fan]

23 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

Sorry Hap, but I was going from a radio broadcast where they said 762 season”  ticket holders. “ It may just be 762 tickets , I’m not certain. Yes if someone requested a refund in normal circumstances , I’d guess that they would. In this case, it seems that the conditions for entry have been changed after the sale, and a local lawmaker on the same radio broadcast called this a bait and switch and stated it is illegal in NYS. Anyway, not trying to go off on any tangents here and not injecting any opinion one way or another. Just saying what I heard on the radio show. 

 

I'm gonna bet there is a bunch of fine print on those tickets that reserve all sorts of rights to the seller, including the right to impose new restrictions on entry and the right to require compliance with state and local regulations.

 

Sometimes elected public officials don't seem to have a very good understanding of the law.  I'm not saying that's the case here, but it seems possible.

[BillnutinHouston]

In the post blackout era, sellouts don't have much practical meaning or relevance  anyway.

[Solomon Grundy]

30 minutes ago, BillnutinHouston said:

In the post blackout era, sellouts don't have much practical meaning or relevance  anyway.

More empty seats to bang on. Remember last year’s playoff game

[r00tabaga]

1 hour ago, Boatdrinks said:

As I mentioned upthread, the Bills policy of refund requesters losing their seniority probably kept numbers low. 

Exactly.... That's why I said there's going to be a lot of visiting fans this year and I got trolled for it. I hate to say I was right but I was right!

No season ticket holder in his/her right mind is going to give up his spot that he's earned since 1982 or 1999 or whatever. They'll just dump and make some money & retain the same seats for next year.

[Boatdrinks]

35 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Unfortunately not all lawmakers seem to know the law - not kidding, wish I were.

 

I'm gonna bet there is a bunch of fine print on those tickets that reserve all sorts of rights to the seller, including the right to impose new restrictions on entry and the right to require compliance with state and local regulations.

Id have to agree, especially with your first statement. I didn’t listen to the entire segment, but it sounded like he was angling to get refunds for all fans including single game ticket holders. 

[Augie]

7 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

More empty seats to bang on. Remember last year’s playoff game

 

If the seat in front of you is occupied, I think you are allowed to bang on the occupant until they stand up. Check local statutes to confirm this. 

[Solomon Grundy]

3 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

If the seat in front of you is occupied, I think you are allowed to bang on the occupant until they stand up. Check local statutes to confirm this. 

Wouldn’t recommend this Augie. The Pittsburgh reference comes to mind

[Figster]

2 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

If the seat in front of you is occupied, I think you are allowed to bang on the occupant until they stand up. Check local statutes to confirm this. 

If its a fan from the opposing team I think you are allowed to pour drinks on them also,

 

Per Mahomies bro...

[Dablitzkrieg]

Every game will sell out.   

[r00tabaga]

27 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

If the seat in front of you is occupied, I think you are allowed to bang on the occupant until they stand up. Check local statutes to confirm this. 

This is correct.

[Cheektowaga Chad]

Early season games will be full for sure, late season poor weather/cold you might see empty seats even if the bills are really good

 

But thats usually how it goes anyways

 

 

[Einstein]

I wonder how they’re going to prove someone is not 11 or under.

 

I foresee some teenagers donning Spongebob Squarepants t-shirts and changing the pitch of their voice to get into the game. 😁

[Doc Brown]

1 hour ago, driddles said:

It's funny, no one wants to talk about the 6,500 Canadian season ticket holders who can't get over the border cause apparently we don't count, but I keep seeing threads pop up on Bills boards about the whopping 700+ who opted out.  700 will be noticed about as much as you noticed the missing 6,500. 

Aren't you used to being ignored by now?

14 minutes ago, Cheektowaga Chad said:

Early season games will be full for sure, late season poor weather/cold you might see empty seats even if the bills are really good

 

But thats usually how it goes anyways

 

 

A new open air stadium will fix that.

[Punching Bag]

2 hours ago, Boatdrinks said:

Id have to agree, especially with your first statement. I didn’t listen to the entire segment, but it sounded like he was angling to get refunds for all fans including single game ticket holders. 

 

Sounds like a political ploy.  Fans do not get refunds when games are repeatedly rescheduled.

[BuffaloBillyG]

10 hours ago, r00tabaga said:

Exactly.... That's why I said there's going to be a lot of visiting fans this year and I got trolled for it. I hate to say I was right but I was right!

No season ticket holder in his/her right mind is going to give up his spot that he's earned since 1982 or 1999 or whatever. They'll just dump and make some money & retain the same seats for next year.

Then next year they will do the same. It's not like the need to be vaccinated is going to just go away.

[May Day 10]

10 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

There are probably 5K people waiting to take their place or more...

 

Pretty much this.  There is an established waiting list.  Those 750 tickets are probably gone already.