StubHub NBA Hot Tickets: Lakers, Knicks, Spurs, Play-In Tournament, Lillard, Wemby
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 05:13PM By Barry Janoff
October 17, 2023: The NBA last played an official game on June 12 when the Denver Nuggets won Game Five of the Finals against the Miami Heat to claim the championship.
That has been too long for many people.
NBA sales on StubHub are up nearly 60%, compared to last year, with people attracted to a new in-season tournament and the second annual NBA Rivals Week, highlighting numerous marquee match-ups.
The Los Angeles Lakers' sales are more than double last year's season start, reclaiming the No. 1 position as the top in-demand team for the first time in four years.
The New York Knicks follow closely behind at No. 2, outpacing their sales at the start of last season by 80%.
Ticket sales for the San Antonio Spurs and rookie Victor Wembanyama are up 200% over last season
Figures are based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of Oct. 17, 2023, for the 2023-2024 season.
"At No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, the Lakers and Knicks are neck-and-neck in terms of the demand we're seeing for the two teams on StubHub this season,” Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub, said via the ticket marketplace.
“The Lakers host the season's highest-selling game in Denver, against the reigning NBA champions, and the Knicks host five of the Top Ten games of the season, more than any other team.”
According to Budelli, key additions have led to surges in demand across the league.
“The Milwaukee Bucks are seeing more than two-times increase in tickets sold for their season, after securing Damian Lillard on Sept. 27.”
The Boston Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday on Sept. 27, moving the team to potential NBA Finals status against the Nuggets, according to the just-released NBA GM Survey, also making the team one of most in-demand for the season.
The Nuggets are the No. 2 trending team of the upcoming season, “surpassing last year's season start sales by more than three times, following their championship win.”
The Celtics have been picked by 33% of NBA GMs to reach the league finals and face the defending champion Denver Nuggets, which also received 33%, in the 22nd annual NBA GM Survey.
The Bucks, who will team Lillard with Giannis Antetokounmpo, were selected by 23% of NBA GMs to win the title, third among all league teams.
Between them, Lillard and Holiday received 60% of the votes for off-season acquisitions that would make the biggest impact.
The Golden State Warriors are the hottest ticket for away games.
"The opportunity to see a multi-time MVP player like Steph Curry drives demand when the Warriors are on the road, making them the top traveling team this season on StubHub," said Budelli.
Also boosting the increase in league sales is a rise in international interest, according to StubHub.
Sales for the upcoming 2023-2024 season North America games are being driven by buyers across 92 countries, 24 more countries than last year at this same time.
Sales from buyers in countries outside of the U.S. and Canada are up over 120% compared to this same time last year.
The Top Ten countries with people attending NBA games also includes Australia, U.K., Brazil, France, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico and Spain (based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of Oct. 17, 2023, for the North America games of the 2023-2024 season).
"Internationally, sales from countries outside of the U.S. and Canada have increased over two-times compared to last year, showing rising interest from international fans prioritizing NBA games when abroad, said Budelli.
The 2023-24 NBA regular season begins Oct. 24 with a doubleheader on TNT as the defending NBA champion Nuggets host the Lakers, followed by the Phoenix Suns visiting the Warriors.
ESPN coverage begins Oct. 25 with the Knicks hosting the Celtics, followed by the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Spurs in what is expected to be the first regular season game for Spurts overall No. 1 draft pick Wembanyama.
The first five days of the season (Oct. 24-28) will feature ten national television games as part of Kia NBA Tip-Off 2023.
StubHub's Ten Most In-Demand NBA Teams
1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. New York Knicks
3. Boston Celtics
4. Toronto Raptors
5. Golden State Warriors
6. Milwaukee Bucks
7. Miami Heat
8. Phoenix Suns
9. Los Angeles Clippers
10. Chicago Bulls
Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of Oct. 17, 2023, for the 2023-2024 season.
StubHub's Ten Most In-Demand NBA Games
1. Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers Feb. 8
2. Boston Celtics at New York Knicks Oct. 25
3. Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Dec. 25
4. Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers Oct.26
5. Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks Dec. 25
6. Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks Nov. 1
7. Miami Heat at Boston Celtics Oct. 27
8. In-Season Tournament: Miami Heat at New York Knicks Nov. 24
9. Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks Dec. 23
10. Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics Nov. 22
Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of Oct. 17, 2023, for the 2023-2024 season.
Top 5 In-Demand NBA In-Season Tournament Games
1. Miami Heat at New York Knicks Nov. 24
2. Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns Nov. 10
3. Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors Nov. 17
4. Golden State Warriors at Oklahoma City Thunder Nov. 3
5. Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics Nov. 10
Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of Oct. 17, 2023 for the NBA In-Season Tournament games of the 2023-2024 season.
StubHub's Top Trending NBA Teams
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (+240%)
2. Denver Nuggets (+230%)
3. San Antonio Spurs (+200%)
4. Orlando Magic (+150%)
5. Phoenix Suns (+145%)
6. Sacramento Kings (+140%)
7. Milwaukee Bucks (+130%)
8. Utah Jazz (+120%)
9. Houston Rockets (+120%)
10. Portland Trail Blazers (+115%)
Based on teams with the highest rate of increase in cumulative StubHub ticket sales for the 2023-2024 season, as of Oct. 17, 2023, in comparison to sales ahead of the 2022-2023 season. Number indicates the percentage increase in ticket sales.
StubHub's Top Ten NBA Travel Teams
1. Golden State Warriors
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Boston Celtics
4. Phoenix Suns
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. San Antonio Spurs
7. Miami Heat
8. New York Knicks
9. Sacramento Kings
10. Dallas Mavericks
Based on the highest average price of a ticket sold on StubHub for teams cumulative away schedules for the 2023-2024 season, as of Oct. 17, 2023.
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