The Knicks finally have the banner their fans waited 53 years to see. Getting inside Madison Square Garden to watch it go up may cost as much as a vacation.
Early resale listings around $2,200 circulated after the NBA confirmed Philadelphia will visit New York on October 20. Other listings reached roughly $3,100. Those are asking prices from season-ticket holders, not standard box-office prices, and they should drop when more inventory becomes available.
The first wave still tells us what sellers think banner night is worth.
<a href="https://www.nba.com/player/1628973/jalen-brunson" rel="nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Jalen Brunson and the defending champions will receive their rings before facing a 76ers team expected to contend in the East. NBC gets the game nationally. MSG gets the first championship ceremony since 1973.
The Knicks created a new ticket problem
Knicks tickets were already expensive when the team was chasing a playoff spot. A championship removes the last bit of restraint from the market.
Fans are no longer paying only for a basketball game. Opening night includes the rings, the banner and the first home introduction of a champion roster. There is no second chance to attend that ceremony.
That emotional pull is exactly why the early listings look ridiculous. Sellers know some fans have spent their entire lives waiting for this night.
Waiting is the sensible move for most fans
I would not pay an early resale ask before the full ticket release. The supply is thin right now, and thin supply lets sellers try almost any number.
Prices can stay high because the event is unique, but more seats should appear closer to the game. Buyers also need to distinguish a verified marketplace listing from a speculative post that may not represent an available ticket.
The Knicks gave their fans the season they wanted. The first consequence is that every major home game now carries a championship premium, and banner night is the most extreme example.
Mentioned in this article:KnicksKnicks ticketsMadison Square GardenNBA Opening Night
