Ned Flanders Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 Pretty good trick on Leonsis' part. I'm pretty sure he was the first owner to do this. You're right, being in DC, I remember this episode well. Didn't the Canes do something like this in their playoff series with the Sabres last year...or did they just wish they did it?
marauderswr80 Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 Suppose the Bills end up hosting a playoff game one of these years. I'd have no problem with them excluding the other team's fans, if there are enough willing Buffalo fans to buy all the seats. Buffalo has a hard enough time getting local area fans to the game. You do this to out of town fans, mark my words NOONE will be at the game! I have no problem with a fan of a different team coming to watch the game in our house. Im surprised the NFL didnt step in and stop them from doing this.
WWVaBeach Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 This was discussed on Mike & Mike this morning and it's legal. Also the Bolts aren't the only team doing it. The Bears also are restricting ticket sales to zip codes in ILL & IND.
marauderswr80 Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 This was discussed on Mike & Mike this morning and it's legal. Also the Bolts aren't the only team doing it. The Bears also are restricting ticket sales to zip codes in ILL & IND. They are lucky they are in bigger markets. Teams like Buffalo, Cleveland would never be able to do this. I still think its unfair, but I guess when its all said and done you do what you gotta do to help your team win.
aussiew Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 I think this area is so starved to see a home playoff game those tickets would be gone within hours. Maybe, if you expanded the purchase reach to a hundred mile radius to include the Canadians.
The Avenger Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 The only thing this policy will do is ensure ticket agencies in So Cal will corner the market in these tickets. Like it or not, any sporting event, concert, etc. is open to the entire world now that there's ticket scalping (they call them ticket agencies) on the Internet. Back in the day when you wanted to see Springsteen at the Aud you had to compete against fans in WNY who wanted to see that show. Want to see Springsteen in Buffalo now? You are competing against people from all over to get those seats - most of whom aren't in WNY and have no intention of actually going to see the show - they're buying the tickets to feed the ticket agencies. Same holds true for football. The hotter the ticket, the more you'll see this. My guess is that for any online sales of hot tickets most of the buyers aren't fans of that team/group/artist, but ticket agencies or people buying to sell to them. If that's the sace, the SD rule simply means that local ticket agencies will probably get most of the tickets, not agencies in Boston or even St. Louis.
Boatdrinks Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 Did anyone else see the story about the Chargers cancelling any ticket sales to anyone outside of Southern California (i.e. New England) to get "the best home-field advantage possible"? I guess the Bears did it too. Seems a little extreme to me - what right do they have to "discriminate" against Pats fans (not that I don't want to see the Pats lose)? I mean it was only 1,000 tickets, but still, just doesn't seem right. Plus it just seems so pu**y to not let opposing fans in! Come on, it's a playoff football game!! Here's a link: http://www.boston.com/business/globe/artic..._out_pats_fans/ Seems perfectly OK to me. Even the right thing to do. Charger fans (presumed anyway) should have the right to fill up their house and keep out enemy scum like pats fans. They can watch on TV. This is the playoffs, and all and any steps should be taken to ensure Charger fans in the seats. Personally, I HATE going to the Ralph and seeing half the stadium full of Pats fans. This is a total embarrassment and people should be ashamed of selling these tickets to make a few bucks. The Chargers must feel that fans in SoCal would not sell the ducats to enemy fans.
Ned Flanders Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 You do this to out of town fans, mark my words NOONE will be at the game! Peter Noone will be in Buffalo?!?!? Link
marauderswr80 Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 Peter Noone will be in Buffalo?!?!? Link You never had a type? Mr. Perfect.........
eball Posted January 11, 2007 Posted January 11, 2007 It's the same thing the Carolina Hurricanes did during the NHL playoffs last season that was so roundly criticized. They restricted ticket sales to anyone with a North Carolina credit card billing address for the first 24 or 48 hours. It's not as uncommon a practice as you'd think.
Lv-Bills Posted January 12, 2007 Posted January 12, 2007 It's the same thing the Carolina Hurricanes did during the NHL playoffs last season that was so roundly criticized. They restricted ticket sales to anyone with a North Carolina credit card billing address for the first 24 or 48 hours. It's not as uncommon a practice as you'd think. When did this happen? I went to every round and I live in Virginia. Got tickets as soon as they went on sale?
Spun Posted January 12, 2007 Posted January 12, 2007 San Diego has a diverse fan base. There are a lot of fans from every other team. When larger cities play in San Diego it is not uncommon to have a large following of opposing teams fans at both Chargers and Padres games. This is especially true when the opponent is New York, Chicago, New England, Dallas and especially Oakland. Despite the limitations, Patriot fans will be there. There are too many Pats fans in San Diego as it is! That is assuming all those Red Sox fans are also loyal to the Pats. After three Super Bowl wins, I would say that it is the case. The Chargers franchise is in a very delicate phase right now as it is trying to get a stadium deal locally while the City of San Diego straddles bankruptcy. Furthermore, the Chargers have had spotty success over the last decade or so (like someone else I know). The Charger fans have come out and supported the team and the team wishes to reward their support and encourage more of the same. This may be the best Charger team ever assembled so it makes a lot of sense to get as many Charger fans in the stadium as possible. There is a lot at stake for the team and the area. By the way, in reference to the poster who wrote of the Pittsburgh Penguins, I hope somehow you get a new arena and save your team. The Penguins have a who's who of potential future hall of famers. It would be a shame to see a forty year franchise with a history that includes two Stanley Cups, Lemieux and Jagr to just leave to celebrate their success in another city just as Quebec left for Denver. Save your team!
Pete Posted January 12, 2007 Posted January 12, 2007 Suppose the Bills end up hosting a playoff game one of these years. I'd have no problem with them excluding the other team's fans, if there are enough willing Buffalo fans to buy all the seats. Suppose you are a long time(or long suffering) Bills fan living in Connecticut or Alaska and the Bills finally put together a great team and you plan on making the journey. If a Bills fan wishes to travel cross country to see the Bills play- they are a terrific fan! Why shut out those people? Its a free country, right?
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