PROVO — Fans who bought tickets to BYU athletic events that have been canceled due to the outbreak of a novel coronavirus will be able to get their money back, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said Tuesday in a video address posted on social media sites and the school’s BYUCougars.com website.
“BYU Athletics is prepared to make good on the tickets that were purchased to home events that have been canceled,” Holmoe said in the five-minute video presentation. “If you’ve purchased tickets for canceled events you will be receiving additional information directly.”
Reading from a prepared statement that is also posted at BYUCougars.com, Holmoe said BYU’s student-athletes who had their seasons canceled are mostly in good spirits and handling the shutdown well.
“The past few days I have had the incredible experience of communicating with BYU’s coaches and athletic staff and many of our amazing student-athletes. The vast majority of them are well. They are resilient and able to adapt to the changes around them. They are already looking ahead to resuming where they left off on the road to achieving their longtime goals and dreams,” Holmoe said.
Canceled events within the next few weeks include a match pitting BYU’s No. 1-ranked men’s volleyball team against Grand Canyon on April 2 and a baseball game against the University of Utah on March 24.
BYU’s baseball team was scheduled to host Loyola Marymount last Thursday but coach Mike Littlewood said he received news of the cancellation just three hours before the scheduled first pitch.
“I think the guys kinda knew what was happening,” Littlewood said Monday, describing the jolting day. “But until we got the final word we still had a little bit of hope.”
Holmoe signed off with a promise that BYU’s sports teams would be ready when the games and events begin again.
“There will be a day in the future when the games will start up again,” Holmoe said. “Between now and then — peace be with you. When the games do resume, we will do all we can to have our teams ready to give their all for BYU. During this unprecedented break, I will miss seeing many of you at the games cheering on the Cougs. As I told our athletes, coaches and staff, take care of yourself. Take care of your family. Take care of your neighbors. Be loyal, strong and true. That’s what you are.”
Classes were canceled on Monday and Tuesday at BYU; School resumes online on Wednesday, but students have been encouraged to “consider returning” to their homes “as a precaution” to stop the spread of the virus at the campus in Provo.