The Recent York Knicks have discovered a recent solution to squeeze money from fans at Madison Square Garden — though the team has only made the playoffs twice prior to now decade and tickets are already amongst the most costly within the league.
Team owner James Dolan is rolling out a plan for a recent section of ultra-premium courtside seats — expected to sell for as much as $3,000 a ticket — by breaking up the scorer’s table where media and game officials normally sit, The Post has learned.
By opening up the prime real estate, a front row and second row of seats might be added, allowing deep-pocketed fans to practically rub elbows with players getting set to ascertain into the sport.
The Knicks plan to interrupt up the scorer’s table where media and game officials normally sit, The Post has learned.Getty Images
The face value of the brand new seats will likely be as much as $3,000, in line with Knicksseatingchart.com.
“Recent York Knicks courtside seats are positioned right next to the scorer’s table and an arms-length away from the players on the ground. The very best Knicks courtside seats are described as Scorer’s Table Seats and fill out the sideline on either side of the scorer’s table,” the location says.
During an earnings call Thursday, Madison Square Garden Sports confirmed there can be recent courtside and floor seating, but didn’t provide any specifics. The Golden State Warriors and a couple of other teams had previously ditched the nearly full-length court table for a couple of smaller desks.
The Knicks also announced they’d not hike prices on any of their tickets for the upcoming season, as Dolan has a policy of not instituting hikes when the team doesn’t qualify for the postseason. Other than a brief run within the playoffs last 12 months, the franchise hasn’t been to the NBA Finals in greater than 20 years and has not won a title since 1973.
James Dolan has a policy of not instituting hikes when the team doesn’t qualify for the postseason.Getty Images
That hasn’t kept die-hard fans from filling the Garden. Last season, the Knicks averaged $2.99 million in gate receipts per game, third within the league. The NBA champion Golden State Warriors led the league throughout the regular season, averaging $4.2 million per game, in line with confidential NBA documents.
Madison Square Garden Sports on Thursday reported the Knicks and Rangers at the moment are at a 91% season ticket renewal rate and rising.
The Rangers, who fell just wanting playing for the Stanley Cup last season — losing to two-time defending champion Tampa Bay within the semifinals — will raise ticket prices this 12 months, MSGS said.
The team raked in a median of $3.5 million in profit for every of its 10 home playoff games, MSGS said, which is a near record for any team during a playoff run.
MSG’s shares on Thursday rose 5.9% to $170.73.
That was not the one excellent news for Dolan.
Dolan’s individually traded Madison Square Garden Entertainment — which incorporates the cable company, arena and other venues — also got a lift Thursday after announcing it could spin off a few of its assets.
MSGE’s shares popped 6.8% in after-hours trading to $67.
Last season, the Knicks averaged $2.99 million in gate receipts per game, third within the league. NBAE via Getty Images
