MSG Pauses Knicks Sales After Pricing Spike
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Madison Square Garden Sports is refunding fans and resetting ticket costs after a 'mistake' sent season opener get-in prices above $1,000.
Madison Square Garden Sports has halted individual ticket sales for the New York Knicks following a pricing error that drove costs for the season opener to excessive levels, according to reporting from The Guardian.
When single-game tickets first became available to Knicks Fan First Chase cardholders on Monday, the get-in price for the October 20 game against the Philadelphia 76ers spiked to $1,408. By Wednesday, when sales opened to the general public, TicketData.com reported the get-in price was $1,363.
In a statement, MSG Sports characterized the surge as a "mistake in our pricing" and noted that the organization never intended to overcharge fans. The company announced it will restart sales using last year's prices plus an average increase of 12%. MSG Sports also committed to refunding the difference to fans who had already purchased tickets at the inflated rates.
Price hikes were anticipated after the Knicks won their first NBA championship in 53 years. Owner James Dolan typically avoids price increases in seasons where the team misses the postseason. The season opener is expected to be a marquee event, as the Philadelphia 76ers recently acquired Jaylen Brown and signed LeBron James to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
According to TicketData.com, the average get-in price for the Knicks' 45 scheduled home games is $262, more than double the average for the Los Angeles Lakers ($130) and the Boston Celtics ($99). This follows a June NBA finals run where secondary-market prices for the worst seats at Madison Square Garden approached $9,000.