DALLAS — After restraining themselves the past six seasons, Madison Square Garden management will announce today a substantial rise in Knicks season-ticket prices for next season, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The combination of the Knicks being on the verge of qualifying for the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2003-04, the ongoing $700 million to $1 billion transformation of the Garden, and the latest blockbuster addition of superstar Carmelo Anthony to play alongside Amar’e Stoudemire has prompted owner James Dolan to raise the roof on ticket prices.
MSG sports president Scott O’Neil is scheduled to meet with a raft of season-ticket holders today for a presentation on the new benefits that come with the significantly higher new prices.
As it is, the Knicks are ranked second in average ticket price at $88. That figure is second to the Lakers, whose average price is $113, according to Forbes.
Since the Anthony trade, according to SeatGeek.com, the prices for some Garden games on the secondary market rose as much as 113 percent from the season average. (SeatGeek.com is a ticket search engine that allows fans to find the top secondary markets for the best prices.)
Dolan had not raised season-ticket prices the prior six seasons, sticking by a policy not to go there when the club fails to make the playoffs.
Before the season, the Knicks sold out of season tickets and created a wait list for the first time since 2001-02. More than 4,000 new season tickets were purchased for the season.
The Knicks have sold out all but two games this season (29 of 31) and expect to sell out the remaining 10 home games despite the ongoing construction inside the arena. They are playing to over 99 percent capacity.
Barring a complete collapse, the Knicks will qualify for the playoffs in mid-April, because they are eight games ahead of ninth-place Charlotte. The top eight teams make the playoffs.