Leinster Rugby cancel season tickets sale for 2020/21 campaign

The Blues have confirmed that current season ticket holders will retain the right to buy their current seat through to the 2021-22 season instead

Leinster Rugby chief executive Mick Dawson has explained why the province has taken unprecedented action to cancel season tickets for next season.

The Blues have confirmed that current season ticket holders will retain the right to buy their current seat through to the 2021-22 season instead - on top of receiving credit for the three remaining games of this current campaign on a pro-rata basis.

Those season tickets were due to go on sale in March but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the renewal window was postponed.

And, with social distancing predicted to affect sporting events into the foreseeable future, Leinster have taken the decision to cancel season tickets for next term as it won't be possible to accommodate over 12,800 season ticket holders for next season in the RDS.

"Cancelling our season ticket offering is an unprecedented step," explained Dawson.  "And one that will have a significant financial impact on our organisation but we feel it is the right decision to make.

"It has been a very difficult time for everyone and nobody knows what the future will look like but as a business, we have to make decisions now based on the best information available to us.

"The priority now is to finish the 2019-20 season, look after those that have tickets outstanding and then hopefully start the 2020-21 season.

"Our supporters have been a crucial part of our success over the years and it is also vital that when we all come back from this, and we will come back, that we have a vibrant supporter base to welcome to the RDS Arena. 

"We feel that by securing their right to purchase their seat for 2021-22, that our supporters will take some comfort from the steps we have taken."

The outstanding end of 2019-20 season games poised to go ahead behind closed doors - starting, the province hopes, with an interpro fixture at the Aviva Stadium on the weekend of August 22/23.

Supporters who bought single home match tickets for the Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens or the regular home PRO14 fixtures against Munster, Zebre or Cardiff Blues will be automatically refunded through Ticketmaster or at the point of purchase. 

Credit for the remaining three games of the 2019-20 season will be applied to season ticket accounts in the coming weeks.

Leinster are launching an official membership offering 2020-21 - initially just for current season ticket holders - on Monday, June 8. Those ticket holders will be contacted by email in the coming days.

"The consequences of the pandemic and implications for Leinster Rugby and our loyal supporters are significant," commented Dawson. 

"Our public health obligations to all of our stakeholders are key as we seek to plot the return of Leinster Rugby. 

"Season ticket holders are and will continue to be the foundation stone of our province. Social distancing is imperative as we consider the 2020/21 season. 

"As a consequence, we have tried to develop a solution which we believe is fair and balanced. 

"The new official membership offering attempts to maintain critical financial support while protecting season ticket holders’ future rights."