Toronto Raptors fans will have to shell out big bucks to see their NBA team in the playoffs – a feat that’s happening this year for the first time in six seasons.
The average ticket price on the secondary market for first-round Raptors tickets is the highest in the league at $370.62, according to Forbes.com.
That price represents a 242.5 per cent increase over the average home game ticket price this season. Fans normally pay about $108 per ticket to watch a game at the Air Canada Centre.
The majority of tickets to the first three play-off games were sold out in minutes when they went on sale last Friday. That means fans are being pushed to secondary market websites such as StubHub, where tickets are starting at $193 for the first home game as of Tuesday afternoon.
But some fans aren’t particularly happy about the price of secondary market tickets and want someone to explain why they’re so expensive.
Why are playoff tickets so expensive can MLSE explain that ?
— Kevern (@Kev_Antonio)
Don't get me wrong, I love the Toronto Raptors but come on, first time in 6 years you're in a playoffs & you have themost expensive tickets?
— J Singh ☬ (@singhsaab_)
Should have bought the tickets when I could afford them.
— Subhraj Riar (@sriarski)
I think it's ridiculous how overpriced playoff tickets are. Fans of this city are loyal to a franchise that has been mediocre...
— Anthony Marino (@AmMarino10)
I'd LOVE to support BUT why do we have the most exspensive playoff tickets in the #242%markup
— Joanne (@4everArjoon)
The Raptors also have the third-lowest quantity of first-round tickets on the secondary market: only 2,261. By contrast, there are 17,455 tickets available on the secondary market for the Brooklyn Nets.
On Monday night the Raptors secured a 48th win, a record in 19 seasons, against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The playoffs start this weekend, when the Raptors will play the Brooklyn Nets, the Charlotte Bobcats or the Washington Wizards, depending on the results of the final regular season games on Wednesday.
The most expensive average playoff tickets in the NBA are as follows:
- Raptors - $370.62
- Clippers - $317.17
- Warriors - $270.31
- Bobcats - $248.15
- Thunder - $244.64
- Hawks - $240.96
- Pacers - $237.31
- Heat - $225.11
- Mavericks - $220.58
- Nets - $218.91
- Rockets - $207.73
- Bulls - $206.35
- Blazers - $168.12
- Spurs - $148.81
- Wizards - $141.11
- Grizzlies - $129.20