Consumer Alert: Boston Red Sox Introduce Restrictive Tickets

01/30/2012

Fan Freedom Project Warns Red Sox Fans of Restrictive Ticketing

WASHINGTON – Elizabeth Owen, consumer advocate with the Fan Freedom Project, today issued a consumer alert for Boston Red Sox fans planning to buy upper-bleacher tickets for the 2012 season. According to the Red Sox, upper-bleacher tickets for 30 games, April 13, April 20-22, June 8-10, June 22-24, July 6-8, July 16-19, July 20-22, August 3-5, August 24-26, September 11-13, will be restrictive tickets, which limit ticket buyers’ ability to transfer, resell, or even give away tickets.

“The Red Sox are one of the most popular and iconic American sports teams of all time, but fans need to be aware of this change to their tickets. The devil is in the details, and if you are buying tickets as a gift, or if you find out you can’t attend the game at the last minute, you may be surprised to learn that you are stuck with the ticket.

“Fans should be sure to read the fine print. Upper-bleacher seats are restricted tickets, which require buyers to present their purchasing credit card and photo ID at the venue to gain admittance, instead of receiving a physical ticket ahead of time. If you are buying tickets to go with group of friends or family, you have to wait for your whole party to arrive to enter instead of distributing the tickets in advance and meeting at your seats. And since restrictive tickets are non-transferable, forget about giving them as a gift.

“Massachusetts consumers and Red Sox fans across the country need to be aware that just because you bought the tickets, doesn’t mean you are free to share or give away those tickets however you like.”

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