We are moving closer to 'ghost' games in German soccer.....meaning that the players and referees are on the field, but no one in the stands....to prevent the Coronavirus spread.
There's a good piece up on ARD (public TV) this morning, to discuss the full picture. I would suggest three essential take-aways from the piece:
1. A 'ghost' game situation can only be declared by local authorities. The Berlin leadership has no authority. I know....that's a shocker. So you could have eight games schedule on Saturday, and half of them are set to be 'ghost' games, with no fans.
2. The arena has to refund your ticket (by law), if this goes to a 'ghost' game.
3. If you spent money to get up to the game (say six hours by car) and find out just two hours prior to the game that it's 'ghosted'? There is no law to cover this, and the hotel costs are probably going to be your problem. People buying travel insurance for things like this? Not for a one-night hotel deal.
If you look at what the clubs are saying.....they'd rather not go to the 'ghost' gimmick. It's a money-loser for them.
We have roughly eight weekends left in the season. Lot of folks shaking their heads over this chatter. Those who hold season tickets....are lucky enough to be in the situation to also get their money allocated back (might take a month or two).
What happens in the fall when the new season starts? Well....no one is talking much over that. The vaccine chatter is still forecasting it to be spring of 2021.
The Euro Cup games in July? That's not openly discussed, but they may also be 'ghost' games.
I will predict this....without the arena profits, some clubs are going to be financially in trouble if the rest of this season is all 'ghosted'.
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