Back during the 2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis scored some points with the local fan base when he restricted sale of tickets to the team's first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins to local residents of the Washington Metro Area. At the time, plenty of Pens fans, who had gotten used to road-tripping to Washington, cried foul, but it seemed that there was little that they could do.
But now, the skate seems to be on the other foot, and the Penguins organization wants to keep that Detroit-area rabble out of their barn. Here's the disclaimer you'll find at Ticketmaster if you're looking to buy tickets to Games Three, Four or Six in Pittsburgh:
Mellon Arena is located in Pittsburgh, PA. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of PA, OH, WV, MD, NY, NJ, DE, VA and the District of Columbia. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside of PA, OH, WV, MD, NY, NJ, DE, VA and the District of Columbia will be canceled without notice and refunds given.Too funny. But then again, it seems to me that Red Wings fans have another option.
I'm sure some of you might recall that this past January, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were looking to lock New York Giants fans out of a Bucs home game too. They pulled the same trick, but they didn't count on the fact that New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo was ready, wiling and able to use the full power of his office to knock Ticketmaster back into line. When Cuomo called, Ticketmaster caved.
The lesson here? If I were a Wings fan, I guess I'd call up Mike Cox, Attorney General for the State of Michigan. And given how popular the Red Wings are these days, something tells me Cox might be well disposed toward hearing an argument that his constituents are being treated unfairly.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-27-2008 @ 6:00PM
Michael Parks said...
Can Ticket Master be sued for discriminating like this?
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5-27-2008 @ 6:56PM
adri said...
But that still doesn't eliminate the hundreds of Red Wings fans in the metro DC area alone! I live in VA and am making the drive to Pgh for game 4! Go Red Wings!
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5-27-2008 @ 7:14PM
SabrefaninOrlando said...
Carolina tried this same thing during the Hurricanes- Sabres series. It's crap but if it's a privately owned building there's nothing they can do about it.
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5-27-2008 @ 7:16PM
HOCKEYTOWNEAST said...
I am a life long HOCKEY fan. I live in NEW YORK currently. I will purchase as many tickets as required to insure that this kind of immature behavior is thwarted. Discrimination has no place in a man's. If the owners of the Penguins cannot handle this adversity then they should just sell the team now. By the way, that I WILL NOT PAY FOR.
Grow up boys and take it like MAN.
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5-27-2008 @ 7:20PM
Jeff said...
LOL...you can buy a ticket if you live in Toledo. Aparently Pens ownership hasn't considered how the Red Wings are the most popular team in the US, and how their fan base will still manage to infiltrate their little stadium.
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5-27-2008 @ 7:23PM
SabrefaninOrlando said...
Ticketmaster has nothing to do with it. The owners of the arena make that kind of decision. And there's no discrimination because they're not refusing sales to anyone specific enough to make the claim.
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5-27-2008 @ 7:38PM
howman442000 said...
We will watch it on nbc. Keep the tickets. It will not keep you from losing. Throw in the towel.
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5-27-2008 @ 9:43PM
Rach said...
Last year's playoff tickets were offered on Ticketmaster for only the tri-state area (PA, OH, WV). There is only about 1,500 tickets available and they sell out in 10 mins every time so so good luck to anyone who is trying.
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5-27-2008 @ 10:31PM
foottdude said...
What poor sportsmanship.
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5-27-2008 @ 10:56PM
BB said...
Because the Pens have sold out EVERY GAME THIS SEASON it has become necessary for the team to limit ticket sales to those fans within the area so we actually have a chance to buy them. For Games 3 and 4 of this series there were only approx 1000 tickets on sale for each game. Both games sold out in less than 5 minutes. I dont think this is bad sportmanship or worrying that another teams fans will invade the arena - remember, we played the Flyers in the last round and the team did not limit sales to certain parts of PA to avoid Flyers fans from attending. In addition, during Round 1 against the Sens I sat behind an enire row of Sen fans who had somehow found tickets. This is simply a matter of the team trying to help out their fans by giving them a better chance of getting to see the team they have supported all year. I'm willing to bet that if you checked Ticketmaster before any game next year there will be the same disclaimer.
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5-28-2008 @ 12:05AM
biff said...
Now if they could just restrict the Wings from entering the Mellonhead arena...they might score a goal!
Whatever....it's done.
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5-28-2008 @ 3:56AM
Dirac said...
I am sorry that there are only a limited number of tickets available...that is what happens in the playoffs. This is horrible policy and I would hate to see other teams follow suit. I live in Massachusetts and if a policy as stupid as this was in place by the Wings, I would not have been able to go to the first two games. Any restriction such as this should be banned and the only person who could do it is the inept Mr. Gary, the Commish. It really does not matter as to the reasons for all this does is make the team look petty and scared. I know the NFL does this but this is not the NFL, this is the NHL. Two wrongs don't make a right. I know that at this point, it is moot. It is probably not too hard to get tickets on the second hand market right now as the Pen's ship seems to be quickly filling with water but this is simply stupid and makes for a PR disaster. Not only should this not be allowed but I am for a policy akin to that of college football where you MUST set aside 'x' many seats for the opposing team. If they are willing to travel, they have a right to be there and cheer their team. I have nothing against Pittsburgh. I have a classic jersey from the team and believe Staal to be the most under appreciated person on the team.
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5-28-2008 @ 8:43AM
Dave Zimmerman said...
Gee! I wonder how many of the so called devout Penguin fans are offering their tickets for scalping prices on E-Bay?
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5-28-2008 @ 8:55AM
Dave Zimmerman said...
Gee! I checked E-bay and low and behold there are hundreds of tickets available fromm $200 each all the way up to $5000! So my fellow Wings fans, you may have to pay a rip off price from the Pittsburg scalpers but it will get you into the game. Go Wings!!
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5-28-2008 @ 9:59AM
cory said...
There is nothing wrong with what pittsburgh is doing. Why shouldn't pittsburgh fans be first in line to see their team play in pittsburgh??? When its in Detroit then redwings fans should be able to watch their team. Either way I don't care, these are both useless teams, hockey was over long time ago
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5-28-2008 @ 10:38AM
jleedw said...
I can say that if Detroit started a policy like this I would make my voice heard. It only makes you look like petty, immature whiners. Tickets should be first come first serve to anyone willing to pay the price.
Must be Cory is not a Penguins or Red Wings fan if he thinks both teams are useless. Must be HIS team didn't have what it takes to make it. Hey Cory, If hockey is over why are you reading this?
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5-28-2008 @ 11:33AM
Steve said...
Doesn't surprise me one bit. I shelled out big coin to see the Pens in Detroit this pre-season. Not only did they rest all their best players (with the exception of Staal) but the couldn't even stop after the game and sign for the 15 or so kids waiting. My 5 year old son bawled his eyes out. Their marketing people wouldn't even respond to the email I sent them. Totally classless. Wings seats are limited as well but at least we offer them on a first come first serve basis.
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5-28-2008 @ 12:05PM
dave said...
There are plenty of Wings fans that live in Pittsburgh that will get in.
Also, I'm sure fans from Detroit that want to go have friends in at least one of the states listed. The friend could buy the tix for them. Duh.
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5-28-2008 @ 12:18PM
The Dude said...
It doesn't matter, I live in Ohio and I'm buying as many tickets as I can to re-sell to Detroit fans. Screw the Penguins, they are showing no class and that they are just poor LOSERS. But then again, why would you expect anything different from Pittsburgh.
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5-28-2008 @ 1:46PM
Freeptop said...
Before you accuse the Penguins of specifically targeting Red Wings fans, you might be interested to know that this policy has been in place for the entire season. That disclaimer was there back in September when the regular season tickets went on sale.
It's entirely due to the demand for the tickets. Keeping it to locals at least limits the ticket brokers to local ones.
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