The Yankees aren't accepting print-at-home tickets for security concerns
The Yankees cite ticket fraud as the reason, but others point to their feud with StubHub.
By
Matt Snyder
•
1 min read
The Yankees have added a new ticket policy this season, which doesn't allow fans to use print-at-home paper tickets.
To be clear, the old school tickets most of us grew up with will still be accepted. It's the full-page paper tickets that are becoming increasingly more common at every ballpark (I actually can't remember the last time I used anything else when a spectator).
From the Yankees official site (as dug up by Deadspin):
Print-at-home paper tickets (PDFs) are being discontinued so as to further combat fraud and counterfeiting of tickets associated with print-at-home paper tickets (PDFs). In addition to traditional hard stock paper tickets, the Yankees will be offering the opportunity for fans to receive mobile tickets on a fan's Smartphone.
Mobile ticketing is a completely voluntary, opt-in feature. All season ticket licensees and group ticket buyers will automatically receive traditional hard stock paper tickets. For fans purchasing individual game tickets online at yankees.com, Ticketmaster.com, or via Ticketmaster telephone, you will have the option of receiving traditional hard stock paper tickets or mobile tickets at the time of initial purchase. Fans purchasing individual game tickets at the Yankee Stadium Ticket Office or at Yankees Clubhouse Shops will receive only traditional hard stock paper tickets (and will not have an option to receive mobile tickets or the option to convert their tickets to mobile tickets). Print-at-home paper tickets (PDFs) will no longer be available.
It is nice to add the mobile option for sure. As for the eliminating the print-at-home tickets, several blogs have pointed out that this seems aimed at StubHub sales. Though MLB has an affiliation with the online ticket reseller, the Yankees have been complaining about the StubHub effect on their bottom line since 2012 (New York Post).
The problem seems to be that StubHub doesn't place minimum prices on seats and the Yankees want a floor, which they use on yankees.com and throughout Ticketmaster.
So how does the print-at-home issue affect StubHub? It is generally the easiest and most common way fans exchange tickets through that medium.
It remains to be seen if this is actually a specific measure by the Yankees to undercut StubHub or if they're actually this concerned about ticket fraud.
