Hall of Fame refunding ticket, hotel costs for canceled game

The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Thursday it will refund fans for tickets and hotel stays after canceling its annual preseason game this month because of poor field conditions.

Fans will be reimbursed for the face value of its tickets, associated fees and one-night hotel accommodations, the hall said.

At least four fans have filed a lawsuit against the NFL and the hall over the canceled game, saying an initial offer to refund only ticket prices was too little.

Organizers called off the Aug. 7 game between Green Bay and Indianapolis after paint congealed and hardened on parts of the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Hall president David Baker said canceling the game was the right thing to do because of player safety, but he said they regretted disappointing the fans.

"We take full responsibility for what occurred at the game," he said in a statement. "We are doing what is right for our fans. We will learn from this experience so something like this never happens again."

The NFL and NFL Players Association said the field had been too dangerous for players.

In addition to the refunds, the hall also will offer affected fans four tickets to its museum, a souvenir yearbook and photo, and the first chance to buy tickets for future hall of fame games and enshrinement ceremonies.

Fans must contact the hall of fame for details about the refunds .

Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represented ticket holders for the 2011 Super Bowl who wound up without seats in Dallas, filed a class-action lawsuit last week in federal court in northern Ohio on behalf of all the ticket holders to the hall of fame game.

He said his clients came from a variety of states, including Wisconsin and Indiana, who came to see the Packers play the Colts.