Sixers’ plan to keep Knicks fans out fails epically

The Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks face off in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs this week, and Sixers’ star Joel Embiid asked fans not to sell their tickets to Knicks fans. Then, the team went as far as to implement restrictions that limited primary ticket sales to residents in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Despite those restrictions, early resale data suggests Knicks fans are still finding their way into the building in large numbers ahead of Game 3.

According to ticket marketplace data from TickPick, more than half of resale tickets for Game 3 (56.11%) were purchased using New York and New Jersey ZIP codes, a striking number that undercuts the Sixers’ strategy.

The plan: block Knicks fans at the source

Following Embiid’s and others’ concerns about Knicks fans taking over home games, something that happened during the 2024 playoffs, the organization restricted ticket sales to local buyers. Purchases were limited based on credit card billing addresses tied to the Philadelphia region, with out-of-area orders subject to cancellation.

Embiid even made a direct appeal to fans not to sell their tickets, emphasizing how important a true home-court atmosphere would be in the series. It was a clear attempt to avoid another “road game” environment.

The problem: the secondary market exists

But the modern ticket ecosystem doesn’t stop at the box office. Once tickets are sold, they often flow immediately into the secondary market, a multibillion-dollar industry where prices are dictated by demand, not geography.

And demand for Knicks playoff games is extremely high. With ticket prices at Madison Square Garden soaring, often into the hundreds of dollars even for upper-level seats, many New York fans have increasingly turned to road games as a more affordable option.

That dynamic appears to be playing out again in Philadelphia. Even if the Sixers controlled initial sales, they had little ability to prevent those tickets from being resold, and ultimately landing in the hands of traveling Knicks fans.

A rivalry that travels

The short distance between New York and Philadelphia, combined with the Knicks’ large and mobile fanbase, makes this matchup particularly vulnerable to crowd takeovers. Players besides Embiid have acknowledged it too.

Knicks guard Josh Hart recently expressed skepticism that any restriction would actually work, noting that fans often prioritize resale profits over team loyalty. And history supports that concern.

During the teams’ 2024 playoff series, Knicks fans were loud enough in Philadelphia to noticeably shift the atmosphere, something Embiid openly referenced when urging fans not to sell this time around.

There is, however, some nuance in the data. Supporters of the Sixers have pointed out that many New Jersey ZIP codes, which show up in the resale data, include areas that are actually part of the broader Philadelphia fanbase, particularly in South Jersey.

In other words, not every “out-of-market” purchase necessarily represents a Knicks fan. Still, even with that caveat, the overall trend is hard to ignore. A significant portion of resale demand is coming from outside Pennsylvania.

What it means for Game 3

All of this sets the stage for a potentially volatile atmosphere when the series shifts to Philadelphia. The Sixers did what they could on the front end to protect home court. But in today’s resale-driven market, control only goes so far.

If early data holds, Game 3 could once again feature a heavy Knicks presence, raising questions about whether teams can realistically prevent opposing fans from taking over in high-demand playoff matchups.

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