BOSTON (AP) – A judge ruled that the New England Patriots have the right to revoke seats from a corporate season ticket holder after one of its guests used a women’s bathroom at Gillette Stadium because the men’s room was overcrowded.
The season ticket holder, Yarde Metals of Bristol, Conn., sued to regain its six seats, but Suffolk Superior Court Judge Thomas Connolly ruled Tuesday that the team was not out of bounds. Still, the judge called the team’s decision “Draconian.”
The tickets were revoked after one of Yarde’s guests used a women’s restroom during an Oct. 13, 2002, game against the Green Bay Packers.
“The Patriots feel very strongly that they have improved the fan experience at Gillette Stadium by very vigorously enforcing the fan behavior code,” team attorney Daniel Goldberg said.
told the Boston Herald.
Goldberg called the judge’s opinion about the harshness of the team’s decision “an editorial comment.”
The Patriots have been strict with their season ticket holders in the past.
In August of 2002, the Patriots revoked the season tickets of John Reis, 47, of Warwick, R.I., after his wife tried to auction off the seats for the Oct. 13 Green Bay game on eBay, the Internet auction site.
Reis, an 18-year season ticket holder, sued the team, seeking the return of his tickets and damages. Last October, U.S. District Court Judge Mary Lisi dismissed two counts claiming Reis was entitled to the season tickets.
AP-ES-12-31-03 0837EST
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