ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — One local family is pretty upset they won’t be going to a Buffalo Bills game this year all because of the COVID-19 policy. You have to be vaccinated to get in the stadium. Guess what? If you bought single-game tickets, you can’t get a refund. Is that legal? News10NBC’s Nikki Rudd is checking the facts.
It’s a big change from last year. Fans are in the stands at Highmark Stadium! But with that come restrictions.
Check out the Bills’ website. It says, “No exceptions” to the vaccine policy. You’ll also see that season ticket holders could get refunds before Sept.17. However, there is no refund for people who bought single-game tickets.
News10NBC asked Leslie Silva, a partner at the law firm Tully Rinckey if that’s legal.
“Yes. It is legal. They can do that,” Silva said. “And over the years they’ve had a number of disclaimers always on the back of the tickets what you can and cannot do.”
Silva says private businesses, like the Buffalo Bills, can impose these restrictions and not offer refunds.
“They’re perfectly within their rights to do that,” Silva added.
Take a look at the NFL’s ticket policy. It clearly says:
“Due to the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, your Event tickets and admission are subject to all stadium and Event Provider safety and health policies, which include the Fan Health Promise set forth below. You acknowledge that due to the evolving nature of the pandemic, the Event Provider may continue to develop and update these policies in the intervening time between your purchase and the Event date. By using Event tickets, you acknowledge and agree that you will comply with such policies and your attendance at the Event is conditioned on such compliance. If your admission to the Event is denied or revoked because you have willfully failed or refused to comply with any such safety and health policies of the stadium or Event Provider, you will not be eligible for a credit or a refund from the Ticketing Company.”
“They are giving people some options,” Silva explained. “Not refunds through them, but you can always resell your ticket if you don’t want to get vaccinated. And of course, you could always get vaccinated, and then be able to go to the game.”
The local family who contacted us is out more than $1,000. Besides reselling the tickets or getting vaccinated, the Buffalo Bills suggest you can also transfer the tickets or donate them.
Of the roughly 60,000 Buffalo Bills season ticket holders, fewer than 800 requested a refund for the season by the Sept. 17 deadline.
