QuoteBEARS ENHANCING HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE?
A reader has pointed out to us an intriguing provision contained on the Bears web site regarding the sale of playoff tickets.
For the game to be hosted on Sunday against the Seahawks, the Bears refused to accept credit card orders from addresses beyond their home territory.
"Only credit cards which have an Illinois or northwest Indiana billing address will be accepted. Any orders from outside of this area will be cancelled without notice."
We're not sure that the Bears legally are able to place such arbitrary restrictions on the sale of tickets to the general public. Even if it's legal, we don't agree with it. What if someone from California intends to come to town and watch the game, and is a true Bears fan? What if a Chicago resident is buying the tickets for the purposes of reselling them on StubHub?
Bottom line -- we don't like it, and we have a feeling that the Bears will apply the same restriction if they win this weekend and host the NFC Championship Game.
If the Eagles play the Bears in the NFCCG and anyone wants to go - looks like you're SOL.
Combine this with the NFL catering to the poor wittle Bears fans who have to sit out for a night game that means they're Hoydas.
I guess Bears fans living outside the region are farged as well.
Quote from: Jerome99RIP on January 10, 2007, 09:23:05 AM
I guess Bears fans living outside the region are farged as well.
Exactly. It's a stupid arbitrary rule. If they're that worried about fans rfom other teams taking over their stadium during a playoff game they've got big problems.
its an excellent idea and should be applauded...no one is taking over soldier field in the playoffs but anything that limits visiting teams fans in the stadium is a great thing
if you're a real football town, it shouldn't even be an issue
Quote from: ice grillin you on January 10, 2007, 09:33:00 AM
its an excellent idea and should be applauded...no one is taking over soldier field in the playoffs but anything that limits visiting teams fans in the stadium is a great thing
Didn't you go to Eagles games in Washington & New Orleans this year, IGY?
I enjoy having away fans in the Philly crowd because they get the shtein harrassed out of them. It's fun. And I enjoy being an away fan. Trying to eliminate opposing fans in a stadium is idiotic and takes away from the sports-watching experience.
Didn't you go to Eagles games in Washington & New Orleans this year, IGY?
yeah and i will be in chicago if the eagles win saturday....what does that have to do with anything
its not like you cant go on ebay or to a broker and get bears tickets...this is the teams policy and hardly would keep out the visiting fans who really wanna go...its just something that limits the amount that can get tickets
I enjoy having away fans in the Philly crowd because they get the shtein harrassed out of them
go to a division game or a steeler game in philly when the eagles arent very good and tell me then if you like visiting teams fans in your stadium
That's the whole point. Who cares if you agree with them or like them. What fun is being a fan without being able to talk shtein? What fun would sports be without confrontation? Being surrounded by people who agree with you and root for the same things you root for is farging boring. And I KNOW that you agree with that because you're just as abrasive and confrontational as I am if not more. You obviously enjoy butting heads with people who disagree with you so in reality you already know that you're wrong about this.
Glad we sorted that out.
I just found it curious that someone who goes to as many away games as you do would support a policy that would restrict your access to tickets, that's all.
does it make it a little more difficult for me to get tickets - yes
would i support the eagles doing it - yes
i like how its basically giving a big farg you to all visiting fans...it shows that the team actually cares about its own fans...you can argue how well it works...theres a minimal amount of people that its effecting...and again if youre a visiting fans and REALLY wanna go to the game you still can...you can certainly argue that the rules overall effects are minimal....but it says a lot about the bears ownership imo...and sometimes thats more important
i think it says more about Chicago that its even a decision to be made. there would be no need for it in Philly because single tickets are sold out in minutes and season ticket holders have the rest. the chances of an opposing fan getting tickets at face value are slim, so you don't even need this policy.
and if they want ot get them through Ebay and pay what is required, that's fine, but you can do that in Chicago too.
i think it says more about Chicago that its even a decision to be made. there would be no need for it in Philly because single tickets are sold out in minutes and season ticket holders have the rest. the chances of an opposing fan getting tickets at face value are slim, so you don't even need this policy.
its not needed...the bears have a miniscule amount of tickets going on sale and they will sell out just as fast if not faster than eagle tickets...again its more about the bears front office and the statement they are making than it is about any tangible effect on visiting fans for the game sunday
well it makes them look like Hoydas, and if they sell out as fast as Eagels tix, then it's a waste of time nothing move that makes them look like Hoydas
actually its them telling us to farg ourselves...and who wouldnt love their team to do that to opposing fans
me
Quote from: ice grillin you on January 10, 2007, 10:17:22 AM
actually its them telling us to farg ourselves...and who wouldnt love their team to do that to opposing fans
To me, it's the team saying that if you don't live in the immediate area then you aren't wanted in the stadium. And just as the article points out, what about a legit Bears fan living in California who wants to go to the game?
It's been over 10 years since I lived in Philly. Do you really think it'd be a fair rule if the Eagles said that I can't buy a ticket directly from the ticketing office because my credit card doesn't have a local zip code? I know I can always go through Ebay or hubstub or whatever but why should I automatically be subject to paying over face value for a ticket? Why should a fan of an opposing team be eligible to purchase a ticket if he/she happens to live locally?
I've got a really good friend who lives in KC but is a die heard Bears fan. Why doesn't he have an opportunity to call the Bears ticket office and buy a ticket for the game?
Luckily for me, it's not really an issue I'd have to contend with since I have a credit card that still has a local zip code attached to it. So if the Eagles did anything stupid like that, it wouldn't apply to me. But I'd bet that close to 50% of the regulars on this board alone live outside of Philly and probably don't have a local credit card and I think it'd be really farged up if the only option they had to get a ticket to the game was to go through a "ticket broker."
if the eagles did this, ice grillin you would not be allowed to attend eagles games.
Quote from: Wingspan on January 10, 2007, 11:51:22 AM
if the eagles did this, ice grillin you would not be allowed to attend eagles games.
No biggie. Then he'd finally have enough time to get to all the taterskins games anyway. ;)
if the eagles did this, ice grillin you would not be allowed to attend eagles games.
negative on that chief
and i dont give a rats ass if it effects a few out of town bears fans...its a middle finger to all the opposing fans and i love it....again if you wanna go that bad youll be there
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on January 10, 2007, 09:19:43 AM
If the Eagles play the Bears in the NFCCG and anyone wants to go - looks like you're SOL.
Good thing my credit cards billing address is in Chicago.
Quote from: Mad-Lad on January 10, 2007, 12:14:47 PM
Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on January 10, 2007, 09:19:43 AM
If the Eagles play the Bears in the NFCCG and anyone wants to go - looks like you're SOL.
Good thing my credit cards billing address is in Chicago.
Madlad's buying for all of us! :D
postgame pic i took in chicago 2004
(http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6%3DzqH%3AxxqUD7qRUrKxzX7BHpUUKxgXP0o%3F87KR6xqpxQQPPxGaexQolxv8uOc5xQQQoaaPenon0lqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXP0o%7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442)
i was there. i was also floored on how much green was in the crowd. :yay
actually i was surprised how few eagles fans were there...but im comparing that to other eagle road games ive been to not to other chicago home games
It was the only NFL game i have ever attended. I didn't know what to expect.
The only place Ive been to where I was dissapointed w/ the amount of fans was Green Bay back in 03'.
But considering the city owns the team, I guess thats acceptable.
Link (http://www.boston.com/business/globe/artic..._out_pats_fans/)
QuoteChargers shut out Pats fans
Only Southern Calif. residents to get seats
By Bruce Mohl, Globe Staff | January 10, 2007
The San Diego Chargers are trying to solidify their home-field advantage against the New England Patriots Sunday by restricting the sale of tickets to Southern California residents only.
Several Patriots fans who went looking for game tickets on Ticketmaster were stunned to learn that their money was no good.
"The San Diego Chargers have restricted sales to the Divisional Playoff game to residents of Southern California and the surrounding area only," Ticketmaster warned. "Residency will be based on your credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside of southern California will be canceled without notice."
Lynda Frank , a Patriots fan from Tewksbury, thought the sales restriction is unfair, if not outright illegal.
"Who do they think they are?" she asked. "Our reputation must have somehow preceded us and made us part of the fear factor associated with our team at playoff time."
Bill Johnston , a Chargers spokesman, said about 1,000 tickets went on sale Monday and sold within minutes.
"Our goal has always been to fill our stadium with Charger fans and supporters of the team. This also helps give our team the best home-field advantage possible," he said.
Johnston said the same ticket policy will be employed if the Chargers defeat the Patriots and advance to the American Football Conference title game. The hometown-fan-only restriction was not in place for regular season games of the Chargers.
The Chicago Bears also restricted sales to the team's game this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks to fans from Illinois and northwest Indiana.
Greg Aiello , a National Football League spokesman, said he is not aware of how many teams restrict ticket sales to local fans. "There is no league policy that would prohibit it," he said.
Ticket industry officials said tickets are revocable
licenses issued at the discretion of a team or venue.
Lawyers consulted by the Globe said such sales would be legal unless specifically prohibited . Excluding minorities or women from ticket purchases, for example, would raise legal problems because there are laws against discrimination of such groups.
Officials with the Patriots said they received a handful of complaints from fans about the Chargers' ticket restriction. Stacey James , the team spokesman, said the Patriots have never restricted ticket sales to their games.
"There's certainly logic to it," he said. "No team wants to fill their stadium with fans from the other team."
The only other option for Patriots fans wanting to see the game in San Diego is to buy tickets from a ticket reseller, but the prices are steep. Ace Ticket of Boston yesterday was selling $95 upper-level seats for $285. StubHub Inc. of San Francisco yesterday listed $95 end-zone upper-level seats for prices ranging from $214 to $295.
"Tickets are available. We have been getting lots of calls, and it seems to be a fair amount of Patriots fans are going to the game," said Jim Holzman , president of Ace.
Frank, the Patriots fan, said she doesn't think the hometown ticket restriction will do the Chargers any good because the Patriots play so well on the road. The team this season is 7-1 away from home.
Frank's prediction for Sunday? Patriots 35, Chargers 21.
There are so many Boston transplants in that city that they're stupid if they think this is gonna do any good.
The teams have discretion to limit the offer to purchase tickets to anyone they want. They don't have to offer to the public-at-large if they don't want to.
It does suck for true fans of either the Bears or Chargers who live outside those area codes, however. They don't have the option to purchase tickets at face value as other true Bear fans do. So essentially, a diehard fan, like Sarge said, will be out of luck in purchasing tickets at face value, but a so-so fan or maybe someone who doesn't care one way or another but is going to the game because they thought it would be cool to attend a playoff game will have the opportunity to purchase at face value because they are within those specific zip codes.
It could easily backfire. I know if the Steelers implemented such a policy they would get hell for it. A lot of Steelers fans are dispersed around the country after a large percentage of steel mills closed and Pittsburgh went into a downward spiral economically. Not allowing those fans to purchase tickets, because they aren't in the specified zip code, and considering that those fans are willing to also incur substantial travel expenses in order to watch the game, is a stupid policy.
i hope everyone knows we are talking about a couple hundred tickets here....so at most it might effect a few dozen people
its the intention and spirit of the rule that is important...not its results
It's retarded either way.
Quote from: ice grillin you on January 11, 2007, 11:31:08 AM
i hope everyone knows we are talking about a couple hundred tickets here....so at most it might effect a few dozen people
its the intention and spirit of the rule that is important...not its results
I most definately agree that we're talking about a very small percentage of people here. If I were a Bears fan, the odds of me even getting through on the phone or online to buy a ticket are slim to none to begin with. So I agree that the chances of me even getting in position to purchase a face value ticket are slim to none, but I still don't think it's right for a business to take that possibility away from me simply because of where I live, or in this case, don't live.
Quote from: Eaglez on January 10, 2007, 10:42:58 PM
The teams have discretion to limit the offer to purchase tickets to anyone they want. They don't have to offer to the public-at-large if they don't want to.
They already have set a precedent for offering tickets to the public-at-large though. And that's kind of the issue behind the issue I have with them doing this. They didn't care during the regular season where people were from when they were selling tickets so why should they care now? This wasn't a full time policy that they had in the past that they have decided to go back to. It's something they just decided to start doing for the playoffs. That's the big problem as far as I'm concerned. If this was a policy that they had implemented during the regular season as well and had it in place for a few years or even longer then I'd be fine with that. I'd still think it was stupid but at least it's a common business practice for them.
just get them on eStubhubBay
Quote from: rjs246 on January 11, 2007, 11:37:26 AM
It's retarded either way.
It's a public relations move meant to reassure skeered wittle Hoydacat Bears fans that the tickets they're selling are for Bears fans only.
If that's the case, the Bears should rescind the season ticket rights of anyone outside the Chicago area. You know, to be fair, and all.