Three month season ticket payment holiday for Brighton fans

Brighton and Hove Albion have announced that they are to offer a three month season ticket payment holiday for supporters because of the current coronavirus crisis.

Those fans who pay by direct debit will be offered the option of pausing their May, June and July payments. The Albion will then resume taking money for August, with the three paused payments being spread over the remaining eight that are left for the 2020-21 season.

We wrote only yesterday that the club should consider a pause on season ticket payments. With the 2019-20 season unlikely to resume before September, the 2020-21 campaign could be a long way off yet.

As some people lose their jobs and others don’t know where their next pay cheque is coming from, Albion fans are going to need to scrimp and save every penny that they can to look after themselves and their families.

That leaves supporters with difficult decisions to make about what they spend their hard earned cash on – especially as football isn’t really that important in the grand scheme of things.

Forking out £50 – £80 a month for a Brighton season ticket when nobody knows when we’re going to set foot in the Amex again is therefore an outgoing that many supporters could do without.

The Albion have realised this. The season ticket payment holiday gives breathing space to those who are struggling, allowing them divert money they would otherwise be giving to Brighton to much more pressing matters.

The club have said that the season ticket payment holiday will cost them £3 million in loss revenue – or one fifth of Jurgen Locadia. It’s a drop in the ocean compared to the annual turnover of £143 million in 2018-19 or £113 million that the Albion received in broadcast rights last season.

But while £3 million may be small change to Brighton, it’s a move that will help countless supporters in these unprecedented times of uncertainty.

It’s just the latest measure that the Albion have taken in what has been an exemplary response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Matchday staff are being paid their wages for the final five games of the Premier League season even though they are yet to take place and unused food was donated to the homeless following the late cancellation of the Arsenal fixture.

The Albion have also announced that supporters will be entitled to a refund for the final five home games of 2019-20 should they take place behind closed doors or the season be cancelled completely.

Currently, the season is suspended until April 30th. Given that most scientific experts believe that the crisis is going to worsen over the coming weeks, there seems more chance of Prince Harry becoming King than there is of Brighton’s trip to Southampton on May 2nd going ahead.

Steps five and step six of the Non League pyramid were set to have their remaining fixtures cancelled today by the Football Association.

Whether the professional game follows suit remains to be seen, but it is increasingly unlikely that the 2019-20 Premier League campaign will be completed anytime soon

In the event of the season being declared null and void, the refund will be deducted off monthly payments once they resume in August. The maths get a little complicated here, but essentially it boils down to this:

Further details will be communicated to supporters in the coming days, but Brighton fans will have until April 16th to claim their season ticket payment holiday.

No details have been announced yet about potential refunds for those who have already paid for 2020-21 in one lump sum. The Albion have advised that supporters struggling can contact supporter.services@bhafc.co.uk to discuss their options.

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