81yo Dodgers fan can no longer get tickets because he doesn't have a smartphone

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

An 81‑year‑old Los Angeles Dodgers season ticket holder can no longer access his seats because the team now requires a smartphone app for all season tickets, with no paper or simple ID-based alternative. Commenters debate whether this kind of “digital‑only” access is a reasonable anti-scalping and cost-saving measure or an exclusionary practice that marginalizes elderly and non‑technical people, forces dependence on Apple/Google, and increases surveillance and data harvesting. Many argue for legal or policy safeguards to ensure analog fallbacks—such as printed tickets or ID checks—so that participation in cultural and civic life does not require owning and managing a modern smartphone.

Access & smartphone-only ticketing

  • Season tickets now require use of the MLB/Dodgers app; previously the team reportedly printed season tickets for this fan for an extra fee but stopped doing so.
  • Single-game paper tickets are still possible at some stadiums, but not for season passes.
  • Several note this is becoming common for major sports, concerts, and even amusement parks.

Justifications vs. skepticism

  • Pro-app arguments: combats scalping/forgery, allows tracking of excessive resales, reduces printing costs, aligns with how “almost everyone” already buys and transfers tickets.
  • Skeptical view: for a known season ticket holder, fraud could be solved by ID + whitelist; digital-only mainly facilitates data collection, tracking, marketing, and resale control, not customer benefit.
  • Some argue “moving barcodes” and phone-based identity were built specifically to prevent easy screenshot resale; others argue paper with server-side validation, RFIDs, or ID-checked badges would suffice.

Age, ability, and responsibility

  • One camp: at 81, he’s had years to learn; choosing not to adopt smartphones is opting out of modern society, and vendors aren’t obliged to maintain legacy flows.
  • Opposing camp: this is ageist and ignores cognitive decline, low literacy, motor issues, and the genuine difficulty of modern UX for seniors; dignity means not discarding those who can’t keep up.

Privacy, lock-in, and surveillance

  • Strong concern about being forced into Apple/Google ecosystems as a condition of everyday life.
  • The MLB Ballpark app is cited as having multiple trackers and extensive permissions; many see the requirement as surveillance- and monetization-driven.
  • Users object to tying access to cultural events to proprietary spyware-like apps and to risk of account lockouts.

Broader trend: smartphone as gatekeeper

  • Examples: parking that can only be paid by app, Brazilian municipal services, banks and credit lines requiring app/SMS verification, digital-only public transit and tickets.
  • Some already forgo concerts, games, and services rather than accept smartphone mandates.

UX & accessibility

  • Many anecdotes of elderly relatives struggling with phones, 2FA, gesture UIs, and constantly changing flows.
  • Touchscreens can fail for older users (dry skin, damaged fingertips); accessibility settings and “simplified launchers” help but don’t fix complex app flows.

Legal, policy, and alternatives

  • Debate over using/expanding ADA: some say tech-illiteracy or unwillingness is not a disability; others argue age-related impairments and tech barriers merit accommodation.
  • Proposals: grandfather existing season ticket holders with ID-based entry; will-call printing for a small fee; physical RFID tokens or badges; regulated requirement for non-smartphone options, priced only at true marginal cost.
  • Many emphasize the Dodgers missed an easy PR win by not making a humane exception for a 50‑year fan.