New York Knicks fans traveled in large numbers to away playoff games this month to support the team and celebrate a series-clinching win.
This surge in travel highlights a growing trend of supporters opting for road games to avoid the prohibitive costs of tickets at Madison Square Garden. By filling opposing arenas, the fan base has created a home-court atmosphere in cities like Atlanta and Philadelphia.
In Atlanta, the celebration peaked during Game 6 [2] of the first-round series, which took place on a Thursday night. The Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 140-89 [1] at State Farm Arena to clinch the series. Fans celebrated the victory both inside the arena and later outside Madison Square Garden.
Similar scenes occurred earlier this month at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The influx of New York supporters was so significant that it prompted reactions from opposing players. Joel Embiid said to 76ers fans, "Don't sell your tickets," in an effort to prevent the arena from being overtaken by the visiting crowd [3].
Supporters said the resale market was a primary motivator for traveling. While home games in New York saw sky-high pricing, fans found it more viable to travel to Georgia and Pennsylvania to secure seats [4, 5]. This migration of the fan base has been noted by observers as a testament to the dedication of the Knicks' following during this postseason run.
The team's dominant performance in the clinching game served as a focal point for the celebrations. The 140-89 [1] victory ensured the Knicks advanced from the first round, sparking further demands from the fan base for a matchup against Boston.
“"Don't sell your tickets."”
The willingness of fans to travel to away games reflects the extreme volatility of the NBA secondary ticket market. When home-court pricing becomes inaccessible to the average supporter, the 'home-court advantage' for the visiting team is diminished as supporters migrate to where tickets are more attainable.
