Following Kobe Bryant’s sudden and tragic death over the weekend, ticket prices to see his former team play at the Staples Center rose dramatically.
Darren Rovell of The Action Network noted in a tweet that ticket prices for upcoming Lakers-Clippers games rose five times since Bryant’s passing, as many fans are hoping to see the franchise pay tribute to Bryant in-person. Amid the tragedy, secondary ticketing site StubHub announced that the company will pay their respects by donating all of the money it makes from two upcoming Lakers games to the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation. While the Lakers were originally supposed to play the Clippers on Tuesday, the NBA postponed the game out of respect for the Lakers.
“In honor of Kobe and Gigi Bryant, all fees for the January 31st Lakers versus Portland Trailblazers game and the Lakers versus Clippers game – for whenever it is rescheduled – will be donated to the Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation,” Akshay Khanna, the general manager of sports for StubHub, told USA Today Sports in a statement.
The foundation works to improve the lives of youth and families in need, its website notes, by “providing financial resources and developing unique programs” and “strives to strengthen communities through educational and cultural enrichment opportunities.”
Over the weekend, the world was shocked to hear that Bryant, along with his daughter and seven others, were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas. The 41-year-old NBA star was heading to his 13-year-old daughter Gianna’s basketball tournament when the helicopter abruptly landed and burst into flames. Bryant, Gianna, and seven others were killed in the crash, including John and Keri Altobelli and their daughter Alyssa, Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton, an assistant coach for the team Bryant coached, Christina Mauer, and pilot Ara Zobayan.
The “high energy” crash is still being investigated, the Washington Post reports, though its been reported that the nine people were traveling in foggy conditions.