Knicks Fans Surge to San Antonio for NBA Finals Game 5

As the Knicks prepare to face off in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio, the arena will not be hosting Spurs fans alone. A significant number of fans from New York are expected at the Frost Bank Center, possibly outnumbering the Texans in attendance according to several ticket resale companies.

Matt Ferrel, vice president at TickPick, described this trend as unprecedented. With a day to go before tipoff, TickPick reported that 48 percent of tickets for Game 5 had been bought by people from New York and New Jersey, based on the ZIP codes linked to the credit card transactions, according to company spokesman Jonathan Gluskin. In addition, StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats stated that New York-area customers purchased between 36 and 40 percent of the tickets on their platforms.

While New Yorkers may not occupy the majority of the seats, it seems likely that Spurs fans will face a loud opposition at the Frost Bank Center. Less than 20 percent of tickets on TickPick, StubHub, and SeatGeek were bought using Texas-based credit cards, the companies reported. Fans from California and Florida accounted for 15 percent of TickPick’s Game 5 sales.

“It looks like San Antonio might effectively become New York City’s sixth borough on Saturday,” said Jack Sterne, a spokesman for StubHub.

Typically, when fans travel en masse to support their team in an away arena, the game is within driving distance. Margaux Elias, a spokeswoman for SeatGeek, noted that areas like Chicago and Cleveland regularly see fans travel short distances to away games. However, the journey from New York to San Antonio is a 1,800-mile, 27-hour drive. Flying is faster but costly; a Delta flight departing LaGuardia early morning on game day could cost around $703, according to Flights.com.

For Knicks fans, this might be a worthwhile venture. Tickets for Knicks games at Madison Square Garden have been selling for $8,000 each during the Finals. In comparison, the average Game 5 ticket price in San Antonio was $2,372 as of Friday, according to Vivid Seats spokeswoman Julia Young.

The possibility of a Game 6 back at Madison Square Garden means Knicks fans could be looking at even higher ticket prices, making the San Antonio game an attractive option. Matt Ferrel concluded that this represents a relative bargain for the fans.

This influx illustrates the dedication of Knicks’ supporters despite the distance, showcasing how far fans will go to back their team during crucial games.