Similar to the other major sporting events of the past few months, the price of tickets on the secondary market to the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs have seen a decrease from last year. Games start tomorrow, April 18.
According to data from StubHub, ten of the thirteen teams that qualified for the playoffs both in 2008 and 2009 saw a decline in the average selling price for each of their first round home games. The Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat did not make the postseason last year.
The team that saw the steepest drop was the Dallas Mavericks, with an average price this season of $46 compared to the 2008 average of $108. Currently on Ticket Liquidator, tickets for the Mavericks’s first home playoff game are selling for as little as $22.
The Mavericks share the distinction of having the lowest average ticket price with their first round opponent the San Antonio Spurs, both of whom have a $46 selling price. Not surprisingly, the Los Angeles Lakers have the highest average selling price of $187, which is still a more than 17 percent decrease from last year’s average of $226.
One team’s ticket sales that may take dip in the next few weeks is that of the defending champion Boston Celtics, which yesterday announced that star forward Kevin Garnett would not be ready for the post-season. Due to his absence, fan interest may waver, as the team’s shot at a second consecutive championship seems unlikely. Currently, the Celtics average ticket price is down only $5 to $105.
The Houston Rockets hold the distinction of having their average selling price taking a giant leap up, with their first round home games going from $70 last year all the way up to $120 for this year.
With prices being lower than in years past, some fans are jumping at the opportunity to get tickets for the early round games. According to StubHub, fans have purchased 15 percent more tickets this year than last year at this time.
