John E. Williams III says he’s been a San Francisco 49ers fan since the 1970’s. Williams III is feeling some type of way about the fact that the Seahawks were allowed to limit who could purchase tickets to the NFC Championship game based off regional location.
Now the disgruntled Williams III is suing the NFL for $50 million in a suit that accuses the league of engaging in “economic discrimination” with an illegal ticket policy limiting credit-card sales to selected pro-Seattle markets. The lawsuit claims that the NFL allowed the Seahawks an unfair home field advantage.
“They’re always boasting up there about their 12th player and everything else,” Williams told The Associated Press on Friday. “But by allowing the NFL to decide who can or cannot attend the games, you make it an unfair game. Seattle fixed it.”
Williams, who works as a promoter in the entertainment industry, said that because the NFL relies heavily on public subsidies and money from taxpayers to build stadiums. it should not be allowed to deny ticket sales to individuals on the basis they are “not from an area determined by the team — or the NFL — to be fan of that team.”
“The practice of withholding the sale of tickets from the public at large and allowing only credit card holders limited to certain areas is a violation of the Federal Consumer Fraud Act and/or common law,” according to the lawsuit filed April 15.
“This selected process is contrary to the spirit of the NFL and contrary to public accommodation,” said Williams, who is seeking $10 million in punitive damages on top of $40 million in real damages.