But regional fandom still matters a whole lot, of course, especially when it comes to bringing fans into home games to create a homecourt advantage. A new report indicates just how much that experience can cost. From the Associated Press:
The average price of an NBA ticket increased 3.4 percent this season to $53.98.
According to Team Marketing Report on Friday, the New York Knicks have the highest average at $129.38, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers at $102.25, the Chicago Bulls at $82.33 and the Miami Heat at $78.30. Among those four teams, only the Bulls raised prices.
New Orleans ($30.20) and Charlotte ($30.60) had the lowest averages. The Los Angeles Clippers had the steepest increase, 24.3 percent to $78.43. Detroit dropped its average 3.2 percent to $38.80. [...]
TMR also calculated a Fan Cost Index - four average-price tickets, two small draft beers, four small soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking, two programs and two adult-size caps. The index rose 2.6 percent to $333.58 for the NBA. The Knicks were the high team at $676.42 and Charlotte the low at $212.40.
These prices are dependent on several factors, including a team's quality and/or popularity, the standard of living in each city, and the owner's desire to recoup his purchase price (we're looking at you, Steve Ballmer). Whether that price is worth it is largely up to the individual fans, from the most committed season-ticket holders to casually interested bystanders looking for a new experience on a Saturday night. Our Kelly Dwyer took his family of four to an Indiana Pacers game in March 2013 and found it well worth the cash, but your mileage may vary.
The AP story also includes information on the cost of an NBA ticket relative to the other three major American sports leagues, with the NFL coming in as the most expensive (not surprising) and MLB serving as the cheapest (also not a shock). What is somewhat notable is that an NBA ticket is cheaper than one for the NHL, which also has an 82-game schedule and theoretically caters to smaller markets and fewer fans. Yet the NHL is very popular locally and boasts an in-arena experience that is decidedly different than anything you can find on TV. As ever, the organization's particular approach to winning over fans matters.
What we all can agree on, I hope, is that the Fan Cost Index needs some work, and not just because no self-respecting Knicks fan will pay for parking at Madison Square Garden. Anyone who buys two programs at an NBA game deserves to have their money taken away.
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Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at efreeman_ysports@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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