New York Knicks fans face high ticket prices for attending NBA Finals games at Madison Square Garden (MSG). The cheapest tickets for a Knicks home game are nearly $4,000 each. In contrast, fans could save money by traveling to San Antonio for the Finals.
Cost Savings with Travel
Matt Egan, an analyst, pointed out that expenses to travel to San Antonio are cheaper. A round trip flight and hotel for a few nights would cost about $1,300. Ticket prices for Games 1 and 2 in San Antonio are approximately $750 and $1,100, respectively. Overall, fans could attend the Finals for about $3,100, less than the cost of one MSG ticket.
For some fans, this calculation is appealing. Ticket data reveals that 30% of Game 2 purchases in San Antonio are from New York ZIP codes.
High MSG Ticket Prices
Ticket prices at MSG are particularly high. Near-courtside seats by Celebrity Row can reach $220,000 each. Sal Galatioto, president of Galatioto Sports Partners, noted that even wealthy fans are being priced out. He mentioned that he would not spend upwards of $100,000 to see a game.
Even the wealthy fans are getting priced out.
NBA Finals Excitement
The anticipation surrounding the Knicks’ first Finals appearance since 1999 fuels these high prices. The series could become even pricier if it reaches Game 6 at MSG. Despite criticisms of the NBA, enthusiasm for this matchup is strong.
In addition to New York’s comeback, the presence of Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, a leading young player at 22, adds intrigue. The excitement mirrors the Super Bowl, with ticket prices reaching similar levels. Matt Ferrel, TickPick’s head of marketing, described the event as having a ‘Super Bowl moment.’
President Donald Trump plans to attend a game at MSG, reflecting the event’s significant draw. The Knicks are underdogs in the series with odds at +155.
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