NBA
$20,000 for a Knicks ticket: “How do I support my team?!
Although the New York Knicks have endured years of subpar performance in the NBA, they remain the most valuable franchise in the league financially.
Over time, the franchise playing in “Madison Square Garden” has established a reputation as an exclusive and esteemed team, with their games attracting a limited and discerning audience. However, this year’s playoffs have taken their status to a new level, with the Knickerbockers facing off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
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The Manhattan-based team emerged victorious as the visiting team in Cleveland with a score of 101-97, generating unprecedented interest in their next game.
Sky-high tickets
According to the “New York Post,” first-row tickets for the upcoming game are being sold for roughly $20,000 on the online platform “StubHub.” Although the cheapest tickets are currently available for “just” $370, prices for seats closer to the floor can reach up to $1,800. A Twitter user expressed frustration over the exorbitant expenses, posting a picture of ticket prices by section at MSG with the caption, “How am I supposed to support my team?!”
“That means a family of four would have to pay nearly $2,000 to cheer the Knicks from the nosebleed sections of The World’s Most Famous Arena — and that’s before buying hot dogs, pretzels, and beer.” says the New York Post article.
The Knicks have commented on the issue, attributing the exorbitant ticket prices to ticket resellers who profit from loyal fans of the franchise, which was established in 1946. The second game of the Knicks-Cavs playoff series is set to take place on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, with the series moving to the largest city in the United States after that.
At the start of the season, StubHub, the leading online secondary ticket marketplace, declared the Knicks as the NBA’s most sought-after ticket, surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers, who had held the top spot for five consecutive seasons.
According to StubHub, the Knicks, and Lakers, representing the country’s two largest markets, they collectively contributed to almost 40% of the league’s ticket sales.