As the first NBA Finals home game in 27 years approached, New York Knicks fans had to confront two problems: getting inside Madison Square Garden and watching from outside. Prices were prohibitive for most, and President Donald Trump’s attendance prompted enhanced security restrictions.
Those who were able to get into the arena paid a pretty penny. General sales to the public were limited, and even before the Western Conference champion was crowned, Knicks home game tickets for the championship round were costing thousands of dollars.
NBC News spoke with fans heading into Game 3, and all said they spent $1,350 to $20,000 for seats.
“I’ve been a Knicks fan ever since I moved to the U.S. when I was 9 years old,” said business owner Cara Swaby, who had seats near courtside that cost $20,000. “I used to watch Patrick Ewing and John Starks.”
Not everyone had to pay that much, however. Arden, a doctor and Knicks season ticket holder for 23 years, said he paid $1,350 each. The same seats he said were going for $20,000 for Game 3 and $25,000 for Game 4 on the secondary market, but he decided to keep them given the magnitude of the experience.
How much Knicks fans paid for NBA Finals tickets
Some fans were lucky to score free tickets, such as through lotteries or as gifts. A mother and her son, Torra and Raquis Gaddy, got tickets from a friend who wasn’t able to use them. Raquis, 26, hasn’t seen the Knicks reach the finals before, and he was looking forward to sharing the moment with his mom.
Jamie Cavallo was part of a three-person group outside Madison Square Garden that was hoping to score last-minute tickets from a third-party retailer. When she added three of the cheapest tickets to their cart less than an hour from tipoff, the price totaled $25,000 — exceeding what they were willing to spend.
For those priced out of watching the playoffs from the arena, the city has been hosting free watch parties across the city. The most popular was at Plaza 33, right outside Madison Square Garden. Following a brief suspension, the city resumed those watch parties for Games 1 and 2.
However, for Game 3, the permit wasn’t granted, which led to Bryant Park’s being an alternative location for a watch party, several blocks north of the arena.
Free tickets to that event were hard to score, with capacity set at 5,000 people. Still, fans flocked to the region as the streets nearing the Garden were blocked off. People were peering in between the bars of the park gates and the foliage to catch glimpses of the screen. Others were viewing from their tablets and smartphones, getting both up-close looks at the game and the vibe from the crowd.
Every Knicks basket birthed a large roar from the crowd. Any Spurs advantage produced groans and even less friendly chants, such as “f--- Wemby,” directed at 7-foot-4 San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama.
The recent finals run has brought a lot of hope to New York fans, especially after years of poor performance. The rut in the 2000s and the 2010s put a mental strain on the city, said Daquan Tillery, 37, of Brooklyn. He attributed the recent success to the chemistry and collaboration across the whole team.
“Everybody knows what’s on the line,” he said. “Everybody’s playing desperate; everybody’s playing like it’s their last day on Earth.”
The Knicks’ being in the finals have been a unifying moment for many New Yorkers, especially 18-year-old Selma Althaibani. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s and the 1990s from Yemen and have been fans ever since. Althaibani, who was born and raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, is experiencing the city in a different way.
“I’ve met a lot of native New Yorkers that talk to me, that speak to me one-on-one, and I feel like I’ve made connections that I never make, and this is all because of the Knicks,” she said. “This is a sign for the Knicks to keep on f---ing winning, because this is what we need.”
Jeff Manigat, 47, of Brooklyn, has also felt the camaraderie in the city. “Not really fighting, having fun, everybody celebrating, everybody proud of their city. It’s a good sign to see,” Manigat said.
Despite all of the energy going into the game, the Knicks fell to the Spurs 115-111. They still lead the series 2-1 and have another home game Wednesday, though there will be a guaranteed Game 5 in San Antonio.
Even those who came from out of town were impressed with how the city has been showing up for the Knicks.
“I love the New York vibes,” said Lilly Gaitan, a 37-year-old Californian who happened to be visiting a friend this week. “The people are so awesome, like you guys showed out for your team, and I see that. We had our run with the Warriors, but we’ll give it to y’all. This is lit.”
Trevor Canterbury, 51, said he wouldn’t miss this moment in the city for anything. He has been a fan since he immigrated to New York from Guyana in the 1990s. Now living in Atlanta, he flew in Monday to be with the local fans during the first home game.
He also went to San Antonio for the first two games. He said he has been anticipating this moment since he witnessed the highs of the team at the end of the 20th century.
“It was ups and downs and heartbreaks, lots and lots of heartbreaks,” Canterbury said. “So this right here, I’m following them around wherever they go, because I’m so happy for them right now.”
And if the Knicks win the NBA Finals?
“It’ll be the best thing since my babies was born,” Canterbury said.
