The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. With 30 teams across North America, the NBA attracts millions of passionate fans each season. Many fans dream of attending an NBA game to cheer on their favorite team in person. But before buying tickets, it’s important to understand how much NBA tickets cost on average.
In this article, we’ll break down the average costs of NBA tickets in detail. We’ll look at regular season and playoff ticket prices, how prices vary by team and arena, and tips for getting cheap NBA tickets. Whether you’re a diehard fan or just getting into basketball, read on to learn everything you need to know about the average costs of attending an exciting NBA game live!
Average NBA Ticket Prices by Season
NBA teams play 82 regular season games from October through April each year. The playoffs then run through May and June. Ticket prices are generally highest for playoff games since they feature the most exciting matchups on the way to the NBA Finals.
According to data from TicketIQ, here are the average ticket prices for NBA games by season type:
Season Type | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Regular Season | $89 |
Playoffs – First Round | $163 |
Playoffs – Semifinals | $241 |
NBA Finals | $1,614 |
As you can see, NBA Finals tickets cost nearly 20 times more on average than regular season games. Even just making the playoffs causes a major jump in prices.
Teams that are championship contenders also tend to have pricier tickets. For instance, the average ticket price in the 2021-22 season was $123 for the Golden State Warriors compared to just $63 for the Houston Rockets.
Ticket Prices by Arena
Another major factor in NBA ticket prices is the arena. Newer arenas generally have more premium seating options that drive up average prices. Certain iconic venues like Madison Square Garden in New York also boost prices.
According to data from Statista, here are the 5 NBA arenas with the most expensive average ticket prices for the 2021-22 season:
Arena | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Golden State Warriors – Chase Center | $123 |
New York Knicks – Madison Square Garden | $122 |
Los Angeles Lakers – Crypto.com Arena | $120 |
Boston Celtics – TD Garden | $117 |
Miami Heat – FTX Arena | $116 |
Teams with new arenas like the Warriors tend to have premium seating that drives up prices. The Knicks also play in the famous MSG arena in the major market of New York City.
On the other end of the scale, here are the teams with the cheapest average ticket prices in 2021-22:
Team | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
Houston Rockets | $63 |
Oklahoma City Thunder | $64 |
Detroit Pistons | $66 |
Orlando Magic | $77 |
Indiana Pacers | $80 |
Most of these teams play in smaller markets and have older arenas without extensive luxury seating areas.
Ticket Prices by Seat Location
In addition to different prices between teams and arenas, there are large variations in NBA ticket prices based on seat location. Lower bowl seats closest to the court are most expensive, while upper deck seats in the corners and ends cost much less.
According to TicketIQ data, here are the average prices for different seat locations in NBA arenas:
Seat Location | Average Price |
---|---|
Lower bowl sideline | $246 |
Lower bowl baseline | $186 |
Lower bowl corner | $130 |
Upper deck sideline | $83 |
Upper deck baseline | $63 |
Upper deck corner | $50 |
As you can see, lower bowl seats on the sideline closest to midcourt are over 4 times more expensive on average than upper deck corner seats. Fans looking for cheaper tickets can save a lot of money by sitting higher up and away from midcourt.
How to Get Cheap NBA Tickets
While the average NBA ticket isn’t cheap, there are ways to score deals and sit at an NBA game on a budget:
- Buy upper deck or baseline seats. You’ll have a further view but tickets will cost way less.
- Look for discounted tickets on sites like StubHub close to game time when sellers are trying to offload extra seats.
- Buy single tickets instead of groups to avoid forced quantity discounts driving up per ticket prices.
- Join team ticket packages or mini plans for cheaper per game costs.
- Purchase last minute individual game seats directly from the box office to avoid fees.
- Buy standing room only tickets and hope open seats appear later that you can sneak down to.
Following tips like these, you can often find NBA tickets in the $20-$50 range even for marquee teams and arenas. You’ll have to sacrifice seat location quality but the savings are significant.
Conclusion
While the average cost of an NBA ticket is around $89, prices vary widely based on the team, arena, seat location, and season. Playoff and finals tickets average over $600 more expensive than regular season. Iconic teams like the Warriors and Lakers in state-of-the-art arenas command prices over $100 per seat for even basic games. And lower bowl seats can be up to 5 times pricier than upper deck spots.
But fans on a budget have options like sitting in the corners upper deck or monitoring the secondary market for last minute deals. With preparation and flexibility, you can still experience the electric atmosphere of an NBA game in person for under $50 in many cases. So review ticket buying tips, find a discount seat, and enjoy live NBA action without breaking the bank!