Knicks-76ers opener at MSG draws reported record-setting ticket prices

Tickets for the New York Knicks’ regular-season opener at Madison Square Garden were reported on Oct. 20 to be approaching or exceeding the record for the highest get-in price to an NBA regular-season game, as the team raises its championship banner and hosts LeBron James’ Philadelphia 76ers debut.

Prices rise ahead of the Knicks opener

TicketData.com reported that the get-in price reached $2,168 by midday on Oct. 20, up from $1,754 at 7:44 a.m. Eastern Time and $1,363 shortly after public sales began in September. The company’s Keith Pagello said the price was on course to finish as the highest for an NBA regular-season game, though final prices could change. A separate report based on Gametime data put the current get-in price at $2,087.

The differing figures came from different ticket-market snapshots, but both placed the game well above the previously reported regular-season record of $806 for Kobe Bryant’s 2016 retirement game. Other reporting cited an average price above $1,000 Tuesday morning and listed resale offers ranging from about $1,010 for standing-room-only admission to more than $20,000 on Ticketmaster, based on listings available before the game.

Banner ceremony and 76ers debut

The Knicks were scheduled to raise a banner for their 2025-26 NBA championship before the 7 p.m. tipoff at Madison Square Garden. The ceremony includes the banner raising and championship rings for the players, while a sixth-floor exhibit was planned to display artifacts from the title run, including game-used items and the net from Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

The matchup also marks James’s first regular-season game with Philadelphia after his offseason move to the 76ers. The team also features Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, according to the reporting. The Knicks are beginning their title defense after sweeping Philadelphia in the June playoffs.

Knicks pricing remains above league averages

TicketData.com reported an average get-in price of $228 for the Knicks’ 41 scheduled regular-season home games, compared with $109 for the Lakers and $92 for the Celtics. Charlotte and Memphis were at the lower end, with averages of $19 each. Those figures reflect the ticket-market provider’s current listings and are not official team prices or final sale totals.

What remains uncertain

The record claim is based on live get-in prices and resale listings before the game, not completed transactions. The reported figures may move before tipoff, and the available coverage does not establish a final average or total resale value for the game.