The San Antonio Spurs are trying to protect home court in every way possible before Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Down 3-1 to the New York Knicks after blowing a 29-point lead in Game 4, the Spurs need more than a clean tactical response. They also need Frost Bank Center to feel like a true home arena.
That is where the latest ticket restriction comes in.
Spurs make Game 5 ticket restriction
According to TMZ, the Ticketmaster page for Game 5 carried a clear local-sales warning.
“Frost Bank Center is located in San Antonio, Texas. Sales to this event will be restricted to customers residing within a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center. Residency will be based on the credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside of a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center will be canceled without notice and refunds given. Please note there is a 4-seat ticket limit for transactions through the venue.”
The message is simple. San Antonio does not want Knicks fans turning a potential road title clincher into another Madison Square Garden.
Spurs need more than a ticket wall
The Spurs can try to limit blue and orange in the seats, but the harder task is on the floor.
New York lead 3-1 after completing the largest comeback in NBA Finals history, winning Game 4 107-106 behind OG Anunoby’s late block and tip-in.
Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and San Antonio now have to begin one of the hardest climbs in basketball. Only one team has ever come back from 3-1 down in the Finals.
A louder home crowd would help. But if the Knicks start fast, even a 150-mile ticket wall may not be enough to keep their travelling fans quiet.
Knicks’ travelling army has beaten limits before
The concern is not imagined. Knicks fans have travelled relentlessly through this postseason, and similar attempts in Philadelphia and Cleveland did not stop them from making noise on the road.
The 76ers restricted playoff ticket sales and even donated 500 tickets per remaining home game to local groups. Cleveland also tried to protect Rocket Arena, but reports still pointed to a major New York presence.
Knicks fans were also well represented in San Antonio during Games 1 and 2. With Game 5 offering the chance to see New York win its first championship since 1973, demand has only grown.
TMZ reported upper-level seats were going for at least $1,500, with some floor seats around $10,000. Other resale data had get-in prices closer to $1,200, while premium seats climbed much higher.
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