Thousands of Red Sox fans invaded the citadel of New York baseball last night, but not by storming the ramparts or charging through the gates. They did it casually, strolling inside with tickets purchased legally online, despite concerns that they would be denied entry to Yankee Stadium based on their residency and allegiance.
Before Game 1 of the American League Wild Card series on Tuesday, rumor circulated that the mighty Yankees would refuse access to Red Sox fans for their big playoff matchup. If so much as a whiff of Dunkin’ coffee was detected on their breath while pronouncing the word “Sawx,” they would be barred from entering.
The truth was less conspiratorial. Ticketmaster, the Yankees-sanctioned ticket seller, allowed sales only to credit cards with billing addresses in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut or Pennsylvania. There was no box to tick regarding which team buyers rooted for, but the implication seemed clear to some. Red Sox fans were not welcome.
“They’re scared,” said Will Ross, 22, a casino worker from Worcester, Mass., outside Yankee Stadium before the game. He had driven from Massachusetts with his buddy Ian Inangelo, 24, also from Worcester. “It’s a weak move,” Mr. Inangelo added. “They don’t want the smoke in their ballpark.”
But they got it, anyway, as Red Sox fans made their presence felt. Yankees fans dominated the crowd of 47,027, but a noticeable minority cheered for Boston in full voice, as they usually do in the Bronx. Shouts of “Let’s go Red Sox” were drowned out by “Let’s go Yankees” until the end, when Boston won, 3-1, and only the visitors cheered. Game 2 is tonight.
“Our fans travel really well,” said Trevor Story, the Red Sox shortstop. “I heard some Red Sox chants busting out. It’s cool to hear.”
None of the Boston fans who flooded the Bronx were deterred when they heard about the restrictions, because they could still buy tickets on several resale sites, some for as little as $75, others for $200 or more.
For many years, teams in various sports have sought to restrict fans from opposing cities from getting inside their stadiums during big games. They hope to have only their loyal fans in attendance, to ramp up home-field advantage. But the Yankees said that was not the case on Tuesday.
Jason Zillo, the Yankees’ vice president of communications and media relations, said the policy has been in place for postseason games since 2018, but that it has nothing to do with ensuring home-field advantage. Rather, he said, it is intended to stymie automated purchasing bots and mass resale at jacked-up prices.
“We are one of dozens and dozens of professional sports teams that do this,” Mr. Zillo said. “If the ZIP code is in Wyoming, chances are higher they won’t be attending the game.”
Both teams know from more than a century of antagonism that there is little chance of keeping Red Sox fans out of Yankee Stadium — or Yankees fans out of Boston’s Fenway Park.
Evan Patterson, Jacob Gilman and Nolan Pepe, three friends in their early 20s, had driven down from Burlington, Vt., and dismissed fears that they would be turned away at the gates.
“It’s ridiculous,” Mr. Patterson said.
What’s more, legions of Red Sox fans live within the permissible four-state boundary.
Mark Friedman, originally from the Boston area, lives in Syosset, N.Y. He came with his childhood buddy, John Katz, who now lives in Westport, Conn.
“If any of my friends or family had any trouble, I would have bought tickets for them,” Mr. Friedman said. “I’d buy 20 tickets and hand them out.”
Even some Yankees fans were sympathetic. Jennifer Nieves, from Whitestone, Queens, wondered, “What if Boston did the same to us?” Phil Buldo, from River Vale, N.J., brought his family to the game, including his daughter’s boyfriend, a Red Sox fan from Wilmington, Mass.
“I don’t think it’s right,” Mr. Buldo said of the restrictions. “Everyone should be able to see a game.”
There was a group of Red Sox fans who was denied entry, but they said it was because they were the victims of a ticket scam, not because of their Boston regalia.
“Someone stole our tickets,” explained Cody Heuschkel, from Toms River, N.J. The game was supposed to be a celebration for their friend’s 51st birthday. “We’re out $2,400,” Mr. Heuschkel said.
A Yankees fan in their group came to their rescue. Zac W., who did not want to use his full name because he had helped five Red Sox fans, quickly bought six more tickets from another website. The group also said that when they had sought help after the theft, they had met the father of Red Sox second baseman Nick Sogard, who told them he was also a victim.
After the game, Nick Sogard, who grew up a Red Sox fan in California and had two big hits in the game, said his dad did make it inside. He also said that when he was young, his father brought him to Yankee Stadium. They cheered for the Red Sox.