The San Antonio Spurs are putting a tight ring around Frost Bank Center for the playoffs, limiting most online ticket sales for home games to buyers whose billing address is within roughly 150 miles of the arena. Orders from outside that circle can be canceled and refunded, with team officials saying the goal is to keep seats in the hands of longtime local fans and curb bulk buys from out-of-market brokers. The rule has already been used on recent on-sales and sits alongside the usual postseason caps on how many tickets a single order can include.
Ticketmaster, the Spurs' official marketplace, will flag the restriction at checkout, and residency is verified using the billing address attached to the buyer's credit card, according to Axios. The platform's account terms also say it may limit availability to particular people or geographic areas, which gives teams legal cover to put these blocks in place, per Ticketmaster. Fans whose billing address lands outside the radius should be ready for their purchases to be canceled and refunded.
How the cutoff works
The 150-mile rule applies to playoff home games and is paired with a four-ticket-per-order limit for many events, the San Antonio Express‑News reports. In a statement to the paper, the team said the policy is meant to "prioritize local fans across San Antonio, Austin and surrounding areas" as the Spurs return to postseason play. In practice, that means buyers from out of the area who cannot supply a qualifying billing address risk having their orders automatically canceled.
Resale platforms complicate the picture
The restriction is enforced on official team channels, but secondary resale sites do not always apply the same checks. That can open the door to more buyers and also raise the odds of shady listings or last-minute transfer problems, Axios notes. Even when resales are legitimate, fans can face hefty fees and uncertain timing on ticket delivery. The advice from local outlets is to be wary of resale prices that seem too good to be true and stick with verified transfers through official ticket partners whenever possible.
Out-of-town fans' options
Out-of-town supporters have been trading strategies online. Some Reddit users say they would consider entering a local hotel or a friend's address when buying, while others report seeing warnings that out-of-area billing ZIP codes could still trigger cancellations. Local coverage also stresses that general-public playoff sales have been handled online only and that the 150-mile rule was in effect from the initial on-sale, Reddit and KSAT report. Travelers who insist on making the trip are being urged to buy through the Spurs' official channels and to accept that a refund is possible if their billing address falls outside the cutoff.
Bottom line
Sticking with the Spurs' official ticket portal and Ticketmaster remains the safest play to avoid scams and awkward scenes at the gate. The team's own guidance steers fans toward official marketplaces for verified inventory. Before you hit purchase, read the checkout notice closely, use the billing address that matches your card, and if you are planning a long-distance trip, consider contacting Spurs fan services or relying on verified Ticketmaster resale listings to reduce the risk of any last-minute surprises, according to the Spurs.
