Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent about $1,000 on a standing-room-only ticket to attend Game 3 of the NBA finals. He used access to house tickets, which are not available to regular fans.
The mayor chose not to join the celebrity section or be near President Trump, who stayed in a bulletproof box at Madison Square Garden. His ticket placed him in a standing area above the nosebleed seats.
Mr. Mamdani purchased his ticket from a reserved pool for VIPs and well-connected individuals. This practice is common at sports and cultural events nationwide. By buying his ticket, he complied with city regulations that ban gifts for elected officials.
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