By Lauren DiSpirito

DENVER (CBS4) – Hundreds of Denver Broncos season ticket holders will not be able to renew their license to hold tickets for the upcoming season.

On Friday, the Broncos organization emailed season ticket holders telling them they will not be eligible for renewal during the 2017-2018 season because they “did not personally use their tickets to attend a single game in 2016.”

The team has the right to revoke ticket holders’ licenses and says it excluded only fans who sold all of their tickets on a secondary market. But CBS4 heard from fans who say that was not the case, including one man who says as work and then knee surgery kept him from attending games, he gave his tickets to friends and family.

“The wins, the Super Bowls, endured long losing seasons in the stands in blizzards and stuff and then that was taken away from me in a flash of a moment, in an email,” he said.

The season ticket holder asked we not use his name, as he asks the Broncos club to reverse its decision. He says his family first obtained the tickets in 1968.

“We just lost something that we prided ourselves on — being a season ticket holder,” he said. “My father probably turned over in his grave.”

He says the notification came without warning.

“I was shocked” he said. “There was nothing coming through that said if I don’t go to a game, I’m going to lose my tickets.”

The club is now reviewing a “number of concerns” raised by affected ticket holders, adding in a statement — “We understand there also may be special circumstances, such as military deployment and personal health reasons, that would prevent an account holder from being able to attend a game.”

The text of the email reads:

Re: Account #######

Thank you for your support of the Denver Broncos and your interest in renewing season tickets. As you are aware and as stated in our season ticket agreement, Broncos season tickets are revocable licenses granted on a yearly basis at the sole discretion of the club. Therefore, the purchase of previous season tickets does not guarantee the ability to secure future season tickets.

After careful review and consideration of your account activity, we have determined that you did not personally use your tickets for even a single game in 2016. As a result, we regretfully inform you that your season ticket license will not be renewed.

Thank you again for your support of the Denver Broncos.

Sincerely,

Denver Broncos Football Club

The club encourages affected account holders with any questions to direct inquiries to the Broncos’ ticket office at tickets@broncos.nfl.net or (720) 258-3000.

According to Broncos spokesman Patrick Smyth, the decision was made to reward loyal season ticket holders and fans on a season ticket waiting list of nearly 75,000 people. Tickets not renewed will first be used to offer upgrades to other current season ticket holders, and then, potentially to move people off that waiting list.

Lauren DiSpirito reports for CBS4 News at 10 p.m. She covers breaking news and feature stories along Colorado’s Front Range. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.