Get All Access for $5/mo

Seahawks Ban California Residents From Buying NFC Tickets The Seattle Seahawks' policy limits ticket sales to six U.S. states; California, home of the San Francisco 49ers, didn't make the list.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

AP Photo/John Froschauer
Kam Chancellor

Tickets for the National Football League's NFC championship game went on sale this Monday, but not in California. The Seattle Seahawks - who host the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday - are limiting ticket sales to credit cards with addresses from six U.S. states (Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii) and parts of Canada.

Restricting ticket sales to certain states is a policy all sports teams have the right to exercise. Over in Denver, the Broncos are also limiting ticket sales for Sunday's AFC championship game against the New England Patriots to valid billing addresses in a select group of states that, naturally, excludes all of New England.

Of course, this just makes things slightly more inconvenient for Californians looking to get to the game; it certainly won't stop hardcore 49er fans from buying tickets either on secondary markets like StubHub, where prices are higher, or through friends with accepted zip codes.

Related: The Kickoff: Three Startups Born From the NFL

The Seahawks-49er rivalry is notorious, stemming from a deep mutual dislike between coaches Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll. Fans have more than adopted the sentiment; earlier this season Seattle used undercover cops dressed as 49ers fans to patrol CenturyLink stadium in an attempt to root out overly aggressive Seahawk fans.

And the Seahawks have an additional reason for limiting the number of opposing fans at the game. CentureLink Field provides one of the most noticeable home advantage of any team in the league; it's incredibly loud (fans generated so much noise during Saturday's defeat of the New Orleans Saints that it caused a minor earthquake), making communication among players on the opposing teams virtually impossible.

Related: What Entrepreneurs Can Learn From NFL Innovator Steve Sabol

Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Franchise

From Boxing to Pilates to Personal Training — Explore the Top 15 Fitness Franchises of 2024

Flex your franchise muscle and discover today's powerhouse fitness franchises, where sweat meets success in every rep.

Business News

Looking for a Remote Job? Here Are the Most In-Demand Skills to Have on Your Resume, According to Employers.

Employers are looking for interpersonal skills like teamwork as well as specific coding skills.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Starting a Business

After Curing Her Debilitating Pain With Traditional Chinese Medicine, She Started a Business to Deliver Ancient Treatments With Modern Tech: 'You Saved My Life.'

Founder and CEO Camilla Sievers shares the inspiration and growth story of Qi Health, a digital health platform focused on providing women access to TCM treatments.

Money & Finance

5 Links You Need to Be Successful As a Day Trader

Mastering drive, computer skills, emotional regulation, situational awareness and discipline are essential for day trading success.