Word on Astros refund policy expected this week.
The Astros said Tuesday that the team hopes to have guidance by Wednesday regarding ticket refund policies for games that have not been played because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The team did not elaborate on its anticipated policies in the wake of reports that Major League Baseball gave the 30 MLB teams approval in a Tuesday conference call to begin formulating refund or exchange plans.
MLB has thus far postponed one-sixth of its regular-season schedule, including 16 of 81 Astros home games as of Sunday, and as of last week advised fans to retain tickets before it’s determined if or when games would be played.
Tuesday, however, teams received MLB's permission to announce ticket policies and were given leeway to formulate their own plans based on local conditions such as statewide stay-athome orders.
MLB, its 30 teams and four ticket resellers were named last week as defendants in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles on behalf of two fans who said they attempted to obtain ticket refunds and were denied. The lawsuit seeks class action status for all affected MLB ticket holders.
MLB has not failed to play a complete 162-game regular schedule since 1995, but the continuation of stay-at-home orders and business restrictions in most states, plus the need for teams to resume spring training before games could commence, make it unlikely games could be played in May.
In the Astros’ case, that would scratch an additional 17 home games, bringing the total to 33 of 81 scheduled home games.
MLB thus far has listed all games as postponed and has said it is “committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins.”
The Washington Post reported that potential refund offer is expected initially to be limited to games that were scheduled in March and April. MLB has discussed playing games at spring training locations in Arizona and Florida, initially without fans in attendance, or in domed or retractable-roof stadiums in Phoenix,
Arlington and Fla.
The Wall Street Journal published the initial report that MLB was preparing to offer ticket refund guidance to teams this week.
Meanwhile, USA Today reported
St. Petersburg, Tuesday that MLB is considering a three-league plan, based on geography and grouped without consideration to American or National league membership, under which teams could begin a schedule of at least 100 games in late June or early July.
Games would be played in local ballparks but initially without fans, according to three executives interviewed by USA Today. Fans could return in time for lateseason games or the playoffs.
Projected divisions, the newspaper said, would be:
West: Astros, Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Athletics, Padres, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Rangers and Mariners.
East: Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Nationals, Orioles, Phillies, Pirates, Blue Jays, Rays and Marlins.
Central: Cubs, White Sox, Brewers, Cardinals, Royals, Reds, Indians, Twins, Braves and Tigers.