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Brady Henderson
SEATTLE — In an effort to reestablish what was as soon as one of many NFL’s finest home-field benefits, the Seahawks are attempting to curb the resale of season tickets to followers of their opponents.
In an e-mail to season-ticket holders, a replica of which was obtained by ESPN, the Seahawks wrote that “renewal eligibility could also be impacted whether it is decided that your tickets have been primarily used for resale functions.”
The crackdown comes on the heels of the Seahawks going 3-6 at house final season and two distinguished gamers lamenting the big presence of opposing groups’ followers at Lumen Discipline.
“On the conclusion of every season, accounts that resell a majority of their season tickets might be contacted and given a possibility to reply earlier than any renewal eligibility selections are made,” the staff stated.
The Inexperienced Bay Packers — who, just like the Seahawks, have an extended wait listing for season tickets — are additionally taking measures to maximise the variety of their very own followers at Lambeau Discipline. The staff introduced in February that, in a continuation of an train that has taken place the previous few years, the group declined to resume the season tickets of accounts which have bought 100% of their tickets for regular-season video games for a number of years.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts are additionally among the many groups which have tried to crack down on the follow.
From 2012 to 2019, the Seahawks had the second-best house profitable proportion (.750) within the NFL. Their 7-1 house document in 2020 was tied for finest within the league, although there have been no followers at Lumen Discipline that yr because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However over the previous 4 seasons, Seattle is tied for twentieth (.471) in house profitable proportion.
“We have to get Lumen rocking once more,” basic supervisor John Schneider stated in February, certainly one of two mentions he made then concerning the Seahawks desirous to regain their home-field benefit.
After an October loss to Buffalo, quarterback Geno Smith stated it felt at instances as if the Seahawks have been enjoying a highway recreation due to all of the Payments followers at Lumen Discipline. Packers followers additionally made their presence heard in a December win over Seattle, with chants of “Go Pack Go” audible from the press field, over the tv broadcast and on the sphere.
“I do know the primary quarter, second or third play of the sport, it acquired loopy loud in there, and I appeared round and it was loads of Inexperienced Bay followers,” broad receiver DK Metcalf stated. “In order that they did a fantastic job touring. However simply wishing the 12s did not promote as many tickets as they did to verify we stored the home-field benefit.”
That follow has minimize each methods for the Seahawks, whose followers constantly journey nicely to opposing groups’ stadiums. After beating the Atlanta Falcons in October for certainly one of Seattle’s franchise-record-tying seven highway wins final season, coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged all of the Seahawks followers who had made themselves heard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“It is nice to be 7-1 on the highway, however we have got to make this place a nightmare for groups that are available in to play us and make the most of our followers and the group and the 12s and form of the entire ’12 is 1′ mantra,” Macdonald stated after the season. “We have actually acquired to make that come to life after we’re at Lumen, in order that’s going to be a significant focus for us this offseason.”
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Jenna Laine and Stephen Holder contributed to this report.
