Knicks Take Action to Keep Playoff Ticket Prices Affordable
The Knicks are making notable efforts to keep playoff ticket prices in check.
They’ve initiated measures to curb the influence of opportunistic ticket brokers, as reported. This year, fans purchasing individual tickets won’t be able to transfer them until just 24 hours before each home game at Madison Square Garden. In the past, these brokers would quickly scoop up vast numbers of tickets when they first became available and then resell them at significantly inflated prices. The Knicks believe that by tightening the transfer timeline, they can limit this practice.
For those holding season tickets, the transfer restriction extends to 72 hours before the game.
A spokesperson from MSG explained, “Once playoff tickets are released, predatory brokers snap up as many as they can and swiftly raise prices on resale platforms. To counteract this, we’re reducing the ticket transfer window and encouraging everyone to join our Fan First program, which ensures tickets go directly to fans at face value.”
The team recognizes that their ticket prices are already elevated due to increasing expenses related to players, staff, and other operational costs. Still, they’re eager to protect fans from facing even higher prices in the resale market.
The Fan First program aims to motivate fans to purchase tickets directly, rather than resorting to secondary sources.
This year’s playoff ticket sales will occur in stages: starting with an exclusive pre-sale for season ticket holders, followed by members of the Fan First program and Chase cardholders, and finally opening to the public on Ticketmaster. Since the program’s inception ahead of the 2023 playoffs, membership has surged to over 165,000.
Earlier this year, a Knicks home game against the Lakers saw tickets averaging $912 on the secondary market—this marked the highest prices since Kobe Bryant’s final game in 2016 and potentially LeBron James’ last game at MSG. With the Knicks becoming playoff regulars, the expectation is that ticket prices will continue to rise.
The hope now is that there will be more chances for fans to buy directly from the team at face value, reducing the impact of the secondary market.
