The NFL is taking a hard stance against players and team employees attempting to profit from Super Bowl tickets.
According to a league source, the league has fined more than 100 players and roughly two dozen club employees for reselling Super Bowl 59 tickets above face value — a direct violation of league policy. The crackdown follows an internal investigation that revealed widespread abuse of the ticket distribution system.
In a memo sent to all clubs on Friday, NFL head of compliance Sabrina Perel outlined the findings and reminded teams of the league’s strict rules that tickets cannot be sold for more than their face value or above the price originally paid by the employee.
The investigation also found that several individuals sold their tickets to a small group of third-party “bundlers,” who then flipped them for profit. Those who participated in such arrangements face further discipline.
Players who resold their tickets for profit in violation of the policy will be fined 1.5 times the amount they paid for the tickets and will lose their right to purchase Super Bowl tickets for the next two seasons — unless they are playing in the game — per the Associated Press, while club employees face fines up to double the ticket’s face value.
In the memo, Perel also noted that stricter measures are on the way to prevent future violations.
“In advance of Super Bowl LX, we will be enhancing the mandatory compliance training regarding the Policy for all League personnel, which will emphasize the specific requirements of the Policy and the broader principle that no one should profit personally from their NFL affiliation at the expense of our fans,” Perel said. “We will also increase the penalties for future violations of this Policy. All clubs must ensure their personnel understand and comply with this policy. Additional details regarding the enhanced compliance measures will be provided in early fall.”
Players on all 32 teams can purchase two tickets for the Super Bowl, per the collective bargaining agreement.
The league’s investigation is ongoing, and no one who is accused of selling their tickets has been identified.
(Photo: Aaron M. Sprecher / Getty Images)
