Yankees’ ticket policy draws criticism

Boston Red Sox

Despite the furor, a Yankees spokesperson pointed out that the policy has been in place since 2018.

Red Sox fans hoping for a chance to travel to New York to movie the new postseason chapter in the rivalry with the Yankees were greeted to a discouraging “Important Event Policy” on Ticketmaster.

“Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania,” read the policy. “Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania will be canceled without notice and refunds given.”

According to Ticketmaster, the restriction came from the Yankees.

The story of fans being barred from buying tickets at Yankee Stadium due to their geographic location — a perceived attempt to limit the presence of away fans — gained traction on social media.

Even longtime New York sports radio host Mike Francesa took to social media to condemn the Yankees’ policy:

“Yankees blocking Red Sox fans from buying tickets,” wrote Francesa. “That is what second-rate franchises do. The once-proud [Bronx] Bombers have become a sad joke!”

Of course, there’s additional context to the team’s policy. For starters, it’s not a new one.

A Yankees spokesperson explained on Tuesday the team has had the policy since 2018, adding that the included states represent a majority of the average attendance (and that the goal is to give that audience the best chance to be at playoff games).

The policy was also cited as a means of curtailing — though by no means entirely negating — the usage of bots, a growing problem in the ticket sale industry.

In response to the question of how Massachusetts-based fans (a demographic that also includes some Yankees fans) can still grab tickets, the Yankees’ spokesperson pointed to StubHub and other similar secondary-market ticket sites.

And despite the protestations of Canadian baseball fans against the Yankees’ policy — the Blue Jays won the American League East, and await the winner of the wild-card series — Toronto is another team that utilizes a region restriction.

“The Blue Jays have also restricted ticket sales during the regular season and will continue the policy in the playoffs,” noted a Canadian Press report. “The team has exclusive purchases to Canadian billing addresses to keep tickets in the hands of fans across the country.”

The Red Sox, in contrast, “do not limit purchase eligibility at Fenway Park,” per a team spokesperson.

Beyond the A.L. East, the policy has gained traction (and coverage) across sports in recent years. Toronto Maple Leafs fans faced a 24-hour restriction on buying tickets in Florida during a 2023 playoff series against the Panthers. The San Diego Padres also used a region restriction to the 2024 MLB postseason during a series against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.