NBA Finals fever has sent ticket prices through the roof, with fans paying more than $4,000 just to get through the doors of Madison Square Garden for the Knicks’ first Finals game in 27 years. After a brief cooling, prices have surged again as supply dries up. The cheapest ticket for Game 3 is now near $4,000, while a potential Game 6 at MSG could cost over $5,300.
Among those in attendance could be President Donald Trump, a noted Knicks fan, after he claimed team owner James Dolan invited him to a game. Meanwhile, prices in San Antonio have crashed, with tickets for the opening games falling by nearly 50% after an initial frenzy, as high travel costs keep many Knicks fans from making the trip.
If prices hold, Knicks Finals tickets will be more expensive than seats at each of the last two Super Bowls — a staggering benchmark underscoring wild demand. The scarcity is fueled partly by the Knicks’ efforts to keep tickets with real fans rather than resellers. Add the buzz around rising star Victor Wembanyama and the return of an iconic franchise, and the result is a perfect storm of ticket mania.
Outside the World Cup and Stanley Cup Final, no sporting event this year comes close. Even UFC 329, featuring Conor McGregor’s return, has a get-in price of just $1,432 — less than half the cost of a seat at Madison Square Garden.
