Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 13
Ticketmaster Restricts NBA Finals Game 5 Sales to 150-Mile Radius as Knicks Fans Bought 54%
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 13

Ticketmaster Restricts NBA Finals Game 5 Sales to 150-Mile Radius as Knicks Fans Bought 54%

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 13

Summary

  • Ticketmaster said Game 5 tickets at San Antonio's Frost Bank Center will be sold only to buyers within 150 miles, with out-of-area orders canceled and refunded.
  • The restriction followed data from Gametime showing 54% of buyers were from New York or New Jersey, threatening to dilute the Spurs' home-court edge as they face elimination.
  • The policy also caps venue transactions at four seats, but it may not fully keep Knicks fans out because third-party resale platforms remain available.
  • San Antonio Current reported New Yorkers had already bought more than one-third of resale tickets, suggesting a visible Knicks presence could remain despite the crackdown.
  • Game 5 comes with the Spurs down 3-1 in the series; FanDuel still lists San Antonio as a 5.5-point favorite at home.

Insights

Can the Spurs' ticket ban stop a Knicks takeover, or will it create a more expensive black market?
As ticket prices soar, is a true home-court advantage only available to the wealthiest cities?
Are fan bans the new normal for high-stakes playoff games in professional sports?