Refunds would best serve UH

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

Let's see if we have this straight.

Some University of Hawai'i football season-ticket holders are demanding refunds for the Oct. 26 game with Fresno State that was moved to accommodate ESPN. But, UH said it is willing to give them their money back only if customers surrender their entire season-ticket package, eight games in all, and risk losing their place on the seniority list.

This is what is known as taking a bad situation and begging to make it worse.

Reading between the lines here, it sure looks like UH's intent is to make the process as unappealing as possible for fans to ask for refunds. Better, the thinking seems to be, to have them throw up their hands in frustration than call 944-BOWS.

Not only is this potentially penny wise and pound foolish, it is too bad because season-ticket holders, many of whom have been with the team through thick and thin, have been the foundation of support for the Warriors.

Moving what had been the Oct. 27 night homecoming game to Friday the 26th and a 3 p.m. start isn't something UH wanted to do. But as a senior member of the Western Athletic Conference, one that would have stood in the way of the conference signing a badly needed three-year agreement with ESPN, there really weren't a lot of options in the matter.

Small wonder a lot of people were upset when the switch in dates — and times — was announced. Most UH fans have been understanding of the situation and, with four months lead time, are willing to make an effort to go or give the tickets to someone else. But with 25,000 season-ticket holders, you have to expect some won't be willing or able to make the adjustment.

The prudent move on UH's part would have been to accommodate them as graciously as possible. Give fans some time to try and work around the situation and, for those who can't, thank them for their interest in the program and cheerfully make the individual game refund. Honor their decision and patronage by making the refund as smooth as possible. Not to mention, keep as much of the money for the rest of the season-ticket package as possible.

Instead, if UH holds firm, fans will be forced to choose between that one game and their season tickets. Take the refund and not only do the fans give up the Fresno State game, but the seven other games this season and potentially a place in line for the same seats next year.

The reason, we are told, is that policy has been established.

According to UH officials the precedent was determined (in stone, it seems) sometime back. In 1998, the same policy was applied when UH moved its season opener with Arizona to Thursday for ESPN.

What UH should have learned since that 0-12 season of '98, is that once season-ticket holders are lost, it can be a while to either get them back or find somebody else to take their place.