Last updated: Monday, 16 March, 12.30pm AEDT
GENERAL ENQUIRIES
The AFL announced that the 2020 AFL Season has been officially put on hold. What does this mean?
The AFL has made the difficult decision to postpone the season until May 31, in line with federal and state government restrictions. An assessment of the situation will be made at the end of April and a further decision will be made on the return of AFL at that time.
How long will the suspension of crowds last? What needs to happen to overturn this?
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is ever-evolving. We are adhering to advice from the State Government, Chief Medical Officers and the AFL. While we all love football and are doing everything we can to continue, our number one priority has always been and will continue to be the health and safety of our players, coaches, staff and fans. There is no current timeline on when this issue will be resolved, however we will share relevant information on saints.com.au as it comes to hand.
What happens if a player/coach/football staff member contracts COVID-19?
Like anyone in the community, should someone at the Saints test positive for COVID-19, they would be placed into isolation. The implications regarding the rest of the group are still being worked through, but the health of all our people will remain the priority.
Can I still come to RSEA Park to watch training or access the shop and/or membership services?
Protecting the health of players, staff and members is at the forefront of all decisions we are making in these unprecedented times and subsequently we have made the difficult choice to close RSEA Park to the public. You can still contact our membership team at membership@saints.com.au or call on 1300 467 246. We are receiving a higher-than-usual volume of calls, so we ask for your patience. The latest Saints merchandise is still available via www.shop.saints.com.au
Moorabbin Social will remain open for the time being, however the Junction Room will not be open to watch the games on the big screen. You can contact them via (03) 8765 4341
What are the impacts of COVID-19 to St Kilda FC?
This issue will have a ripple effect right across our organisation. Obviously, the most pertinent is the health and safety of our people. As such, all non-essential football staff are now working from home, while the RSEA Park precinct (minus Moorabbin Social) has been closed to external visitors. Our players and coaches have been encouraged to limit unnecessary public interactions outside the club and are being constantly monitored by our medical staff.
The impact on the club will be significant and we are still working to understand the size of the challenge we face. Resilience has always been a hallmark of St Kilda and we will need it more than ever this year. The loyalty of our members will be absolutely vital in our ability to overcome several obstacles. As of last week, the club surpassed 43,000 members as we target a record 50,000 this season.
Any additional changes to the structure of the competition made by the AFL will also have an impact on our business, however we are confident in our ability to remain agile and adapt in response to such an unprecedented scenario.
As a Saints supporter, how can I play my part and support the club?
The easiest and best way is to maintain/renew your membership. The support of our members will be crucial, now more than ever. We would also encourage you to keep engaged with the club through our website, app and social media channels. We will endeavour to continue creating inner-sanctum online content to connect you with the players and coaches despite the physical barrier.
TICKET, CORPORATE HOSPITALITY, EXPERIENCE & EVENTS PURCHASES
I purchased tickets to a Saints home game this season, what should I do?
Please see the below information from Ticketmaster.
The AFL has announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, matches up until May 31 (Rounds 2-11) will not be going ahead as scheduled.
All ticket holders will receive a full refund including booking and payment processing fees.
Ticketmaster Refund Process:
Due to the number of cancellations, our refund process is taking slightly longer than usual. You don’t need to do anything; we will issue a refund for your tickets onto the credit card you used to buy your tickets. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding.
Please note, only the original credit card holder will receive a refund via the methods outlined above. If you received your ticket(s) any other way, including via “Ticket Forward”, you will need to contact the original credit card holder for your refund.
If you stopped into one of our Ticketmaster outlets to buy your tickets using cash or EFTPOS, you’ll need to swing by one more time with the tickets, and the EFTPOS card used if applicable, to make the booking. The outlet staff will help you with your refund. Due to current closures following Government instructions, if you are unable to attend an outlet please contact us here so we can arrange an alternative refund method for you. As above, we must be communicating with the original credit card holder.
Please understand that given the extraordinary circumstances, our Fan Support teams are incredibly busy at the moment, so we encourage you not to contact us. Instead, you can find lots of information and answers to your questions in our information portal.
Anything else you need to know from Ticketmaster?
Our FAQ Page lists most of the common questions and latest event info. Add it to your bookmarks and stay on top of the latest news regarding your event.
I purchased a Corporate Hospitality product through the club, what should I do?
Our corporate hospitality team will be contacting all purchasers directly via email and/or phone and will discuss all options with you, including the possibility to defer or transfer your booking to a round later in the season. As the conditions of future rounds are still unknown, we will be advising of all alternative options directly with each purchaser as soon as that information comes to hand. We thank you for your patience and on-going support.
Will marquee games like Maddie’s Match go ahead?
As always, the club had several themed games planned for this season, with Maddie’s Match scheduled for Round 3. The club is currently working with MRV to determine whether the fundraising activities will go ahead or be postponed to later in the season.
I purchased an MRV membership. What happens to that now that I can’t go to the game?
We greatly appreciate your support of this important cause. $5 from every Maddie’s membership purchased goes directly to MRV to help fund vital research into Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes. Until a decision is made on the nature of this game and whether or not it is to be postponed, we will not be able to provide an answer. As soon a decision is made, we will update all members with an MRV membership.
I purchased a Beyond the Boundary experience or was registered to attend a member event at the club, what’s happening with that?
All club functions and events are currently postponed until further notice. This also extends to school and community visits. We will be in touch to re-schedule these when we resume business as usual.
I recently received an email from the club with free tickets as part of the 'Saintsmas' campaign, but there are no games to attend. What do I do?
We will still honour all Saintsmas gifts of tickets to games if and once we are able to host AFL games with fans in attendance. We will re-communicate to you about choosing a game once this occurs.
MEMBERSHIP & EASY PAY
I’m a Saints member with game access. How can I receive value on my membership if the season is postponed?
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is ever-evolving. We will continue to plan for all outcomes and will share relevant information as it comes to hand. St Kilda members have been the driving force of our ability to make recent changes to our list and football department, and your continued support is absolutely vital if the club hopes to build momentum this year and beyond.
We will do everything we can to ensure our members feel they receive value from their membership. We are working with the AFL and other clubs to determine the best possible way to deliver for members. We will also continue working hard to bring our loyal members exclusive behind-the-scenes content whilst games are played behind closed doors. As soon as we have clarity on the exact number of games to be impacted by COVID-19, we will share more information on what else we can offer our 2020 members to enhance their experience.
While we recognise that this situation has placed a financial burden on many in the community, we would be eternally grateful to those who are in a position to remain committed to the club with their original investment. The support of our members will allow us to overcome the challenges presented by COVID-19.
I’m on EasyPay, which comes out in monthly instalments. Will there be any changes/suspensions to my monthly instalments?
As per the EasyPay terms and conditions, there is a fixed schedule as to when monthly instalments are taken from members. This allows for transparency. Until there is a definitive answer regarding the exact number of games impacted by COVID-19, the instalments will run according to the original schedule as outlined. We will communicate with all members as soon as there is further clarity on the total impact on fans.
I am an AFLW/Non-access member. What are the implications for my membership?
Interactive CREST benefits (meet-and-greets, panels, etc.) will be postponed until further notice. Any additional access to tickets to Saints games will also be suspended for the moment, however, these will become available once the no-crowds policy ends.
I recently signed up but haven’t received my membership pack yet. Is it still coming?
Yes. Membership fulfilment will continue as normal. In some instances, packs may take slightly longer than 14 business days due to our partner businesses adjusting to changing conditions in response to government and expert advice.
Can I speak to someone at the club about my membership, tickets or game access?
We understand our members and fans may have questions regarding the current situation and thank you for your understanding and patience as we aim to share as much information as possible as things progress. We ask that you understand that our staff may not be able to provide all the answers to your questions right now and recommend that you follow our updates via email, club website and the Official Saints App to keep up to date with the latest news. Our Membership team is on hand to assist with further queries the best they can and can be reached at membership@saints.com.au