The British Basketball League (BBL) have announced today that the remainder of the current season will be cancelled following the continued impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a statement published on its website, the BBL said its member clubs, including the Newcastle Eagles, have unanimously agreed that there is “no viable option to allow for the season to be completed in a safe and meaningful manner” following the 2019-20 season’s postponement.

Based on multiple teams mathematically capable of winning the league in the wake of this cancellation the independent directors of the BBL management board decided that there will be no winner of the Championship title this year. Worcester Wolves’ winning the Cup and our Eagles lifting the Trophy will stand as the only silverware wins of 2020.

Our fans make the Eagles and we don’t want any of them to worry about their tickets in the light of today’s announcement, so we are now able to confirm what the cancellation news means in keeping with what we set out in our open letter and FAQs back in March.

We can confirm that individual home game ticket holders will receive box office gift certificates to the value of their cancelled tickets. This credit can be used on the box office against ticket purchases in the 2020-21 season.

As our remaining BBL Championship schedule has now been cancelled, season ticket holders for those fixtures will be given free entry to all 2020-21 pre-season games.

These gift certificates and pre-season game tickets will be issued automatically when the new season fixtures are announced.

At this difficult time we hugely appreciate all our supporters for staying behind us, as they always have done, and continuing to be the best fans in British basketball.

Looking ahead to the 2020-21 season, the BBL hope to have start date news soon as they work together with our national governing bodies of Basketball England and Basketball Scotland alongside the British Basketball Federation as well as following advice from FIBA and the UK Government.

Plans for the format of the next series of BBL competitions will be fully announced by the league over the summer, but we are pleased to assure all our new and renewing season ticket holders that they will get access to even more games in 2020-21 with a change to the Championship seeing teams face each other three times over the course of the competition.

Our new and renewal season ticket discount offers have been extended until 3 July and 12 June respectively to support our fans and anyone interested in finding out more can see this and start their purchase on our box office.

VISIT OUR BOX OFFICE TO FIND OUT MORE

We have pulled together answers to some frequently asked questions below and any individual game or season ticket holder with further queries or any issues is asked to email us on [email protected] and we will aim to respond as soon as possible.

We would like to thank all of our Eagles family for their patience, understanding and all the support in these unprecedented circumstances.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens to my individual home game tickets?

Now that these fixtures are cancelled all individual game ticket holders will receive box office gift certificates to the value of their tickets. This credit can be used on the box office against ticket purchases in the 2020-21 season.

These gift certificates will be issued automatically when the new season fixtures are announced.

Any individual game ticket holder with further questions or any issues is asked to email us on [email protected] and we will aim to respond as soon as possible.

What happens to my 2019-20 season ticket?

As our remaining BBL Championship schedule has now been cancelled, season ticket holders for those fixtures will be given free entry to all 2020-21 pre-season games.

These pre-season game tickets will be issued automatically when the new season fixtures are announced.

Any 2019-20 season ticket holder with further questions or any issues is asked to email us on [email protected] and we will aim to respond as soon as possible.

What about group bookings and party packages?

Customers with group bookings or any of our party packages for the cancelled fixtures will be contacted by the club office with details about rearranging them for next season when the new fixtures are announced.

Which team wins the 2020 BBL Championship and Play-Offs?

Based on multiple teams mathematically capable of winning the league in the wake of this cancellation the independent directors of the BBL management board decided that there will be no winner of the Championship title this year. The Play-Offs will not go ahead.

How can I get my 2019-20 kit sponsorship item(s)?

As a thank you to all of our fans who have already supported us with kit sponsorship items we will be shipping their items(s) free of charge in June.

Any fans still wanting to get their hands on a piece of history can purchase some of our 2019-20 team’s kit from the club shop online.

Will there be an end of season sale on the club shop?

Yes, a 25% off sale on many items in our club shop starts today.

When will the 2020-21 season start?

The BBL are working towards starting the 2020-212 season in the autumn as it normally would, however they will only set our launch date when they have information from the UK Government that it is safe to do so. The league are working towards this together with our national governing bodies of Basketball England and Basketball Scotland alongside the British Basketball Federation as well as following advice from FIBA.

Will there be more home games next season?

Yes. Plans for the format of the next series of BBL competitions are still set to be fully announced by the league over the summer, but we are pleased to assure all our new and renewing season ticket holders that they will get access to even more games in 2020-21.

The structure of the BBL Cup and Trophy will return as last season however a change to the Championship will see an increase in fixtures from each team facing each other twice in 2019-20 to three times over the course of the next competition.

This means our new and renewing season ticket holders for 2020-21 will be able to watch all these home games as part of their package and the current discount offers remain

If you have any further questions please email us on [email protected] and we will aim to respond as soon as possible.