The club suspended all one-year season ticket and single match ticket sales for the current season during the summer and provided refunds or account credits to all supporters who were forced to miss the final games of the 2019/20 campaign.
However, supporters on long-term price freeze deals – which secure the lowest possible prices for seats over a nine or ten-year period – have continued to make scheduled payments for the 2020/21 campaign as the club awaits permission to enable them to return to St. James’ Park.
Despite months of work to plan for a safe, socially distanced return of supporters, clubs across the country have not yet been given the go-ahead by authorities and an outline date for the return of spectators has yet to be confirmed by the government.
In an online meeting with supporters and supporter groups to discuss a potential safe return to matches last month, the club made a broad commitment to refunding season ticket holders at designated stages throughout the season.
While the number of matches that will be missed by season ticket holders is still to be determined, the club can confirm details of how payments can be used to pay off 2021/22 season tickets or how to claim a refund.
Take forward or refund?
Season ticket holders on long-term price freeze deals will have two options when it comes to the existing amount they have already paid:
- Take their payments for the current 2020/21 season forward to pay off next season’s 2021/22 season ticket in full, or;
- Claim a refund for the matches they miss; paid pro rata at three stages throughout the season depending on when fans can return. Season ticket holders can opt in or out of refunds at each stage.
Before the process is outlined below, supporters are asked to take note of the following important information in relation to their current payment schedule.
Important information – payments for this season (2020/21)
The club hopes to welcome supporters back safely to St. James’ Park at the earliest opportunity during the current 2020/21 season.
Accordingly, in order to protect season ticket holders’ existing price freeze deals, scheduled Direct Debit payments for the current season will continue to be taken until February 2021.
If a refund is requested (information below), the refund process will run concurrently.
Important information – payments for next season (2021/22)
While some long-term price freeze deals were due to expire at the end of this season, the club can confirm that all deals will be extended to include next season.
Supporters wishing to keep their season ticket under their existing price freeze deal for next season would ordinarily begin payments for 2021/22 in March 2021.
If no 2020/21 refund is requested, the balance will be taken forward to pay the 2021/22 season in full. For individuals taking this option, your existing payments will continue as scheduled until February 2021 and will then cease until March 2022.
If a refund is requested for this season, your monthly or annual Direct Debits taken from March 2021 onwards will be adjusted depending on the amount of 2020/21 matches refunded.
Take balance forward
Season ticket holders on long-term price freeze deals can opt to take their existing payments forward to pay towards next season’s balance.
Any scheduled payments for the current season will continue until February 2021. If the balance is paid in full at this time, the balance will be taken forward for the 2021/22 season and any applicable Direct Debit payments will cease until March 2022.
Supporters wishing to take this option do not need to take any further action.
Refunds
Season ticket holders who select this option will be given a pro rata refund for Premier League matches missed during the current 2020/21 season.
Because the exact number of matches that will be missed is still unknown, refunds will be issued in up to three stages throughout the season to cover any Premier League fixtures as applicable.
The first batch of refunds will be received by mid-December 2020 to cover the first five home matches. Depending on when supporters are able to safely return, there will be two further refund windows to cover any further Premier League fixtures affected, with the second window announced in early 2021.
To request a refund for the first five matches, please click here.
The application deadline is Friday 27th November 2020.
The club will communicate details around the second stage of refunds in early 2021.
Existing account credits
Supporters who requested an account credit for matches missed during the 2019/20 season will be able use their balance for tickets during the 2020/21 season onwards.
Ticket information for single matches and season tickets will be confirmed in due course, pending government approval for the return of spectators to stadiums.
