Red Sox Fans Blocked From Yankees Playoff Tickets

UPDATE: Ticketmaster informed WBSM that this policy is set by the teams, not Ticketmaster. This article has been updated to reflect that information.

Boston Red Sox fans who thought they might grab some tickets to see the Sox take on the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card series that begins tonight may be shocked to find their purchase denied.

The Yankees have put a qualification that those purchasing tickets to any of the three games at Yankee Stadium must be a resident of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania.

That means Sox fans – or even Yankee fans – who live in Massachusetts, Rhode Island or anywhere else won’t be able to buy tickets to the games. If they try, their order will be canceled and their money refunded.

“Yankee Stadium is located in Bronx, New York. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania,” according to Ticketmaster.com. “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.”

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Why the Yankees Are Blocking Red Sox Fans

While the suggestion is this practice is designed to ensure hometown fans get access to their favorite team’s tickets, it also shuts out fans of the opposing team who are willing to travel to the games, or fans of the team who live elsewhere and want to attend.

How Resellers Are Still Cashing In

You know who can get tickets? Resellers such as SeatGeek, StubHub and Vivid Seats, so long as they have a credit card that has an address in one of the valid zip codes. That means they can buy up the tickets – although limits can be placed on how many anyone can buy at once, in order to curb scalping – and then re-sell them to Red Sox fans at a higher price.

This Has Happened Before

This is not a new practice, though; it has happened with MLB, NHL and NBA games going back the past few years. However, it is important to note that the Sox-Yankees series is the only Wild Card matchup with this restriction in place in the 2025 MLB postseason, although it’s hard to imagine a more sought-after ticket than Boston and New York at Yankee Stadium.