The who’s who of Hollywood took to the court during the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
Actors, musicians and athletes were spotted pitchside throughout the postseason not only to get up close and personal with the action, but also to be seen. Whether it’s Jack Nicholson returning to his courtside seats in Los Angeles for the first time in almost two years, or whether it’s Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny having a date night, celebrity viewers have themselves become an attraction for viewers .
Travis and Jason Kelce. Kim Kardashian. Floyd Mayweather. Russell Wilson. Michael B Jordan. Adele. Rob Lowe. Kevin Hart. The list goes on.
This may lead some to ask: how do stars get front-row seats? We spoke to TicketSmarter CEO Jeff Goodman about pitchside seating and how many celebrities are getting them. Here’s what you need to know:
Celebrity Series: Jack Nicholson returns to the sidelines for the Lakers playoff game
Follow every game: Latest NBA Scores and Schedules
MORE: Sacramento Kings resign rapper E-40 after ‘miscommunication’ led to sacking
How Much Do NBA Playgrounds Cost?
Watching your favorite basketball team play up close gets expensive. There are a number of factors that affect ticket prices, including the level of play, the participating teams and location.
Let’s start with the level of play — sitting on the sidelines at a playoff game will be more expensive than a regular season game, and attending the conference finals is more expensive than a first-round playoff game. The matchup is also important. Games in arenas in major cities, such as Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena and New York’s Madison Square Garden, attract more visitors and tend to increase prizes.
Courtside seats at the NBA Finals are the most expensive. Seats for Game 1 of the NBA Finals at Denver’s Ball Arena are currently priced at $24,605 each on TicketSmarter as of Wednesday night. An average Game 1 ticket costs around $1,500, with upper-level seating priced at just $624.00.
Do Celebrities Pay for NBA Playground Tickets?
Yes and no.
There are a variety of ways in which high profile figures can secure a spot on the sidelines, and some methods don’t require opening their wallets. Goodman explained that celebrities can use their connections to get tickets through team owners. Sometimes they are invited by homeowners’ associations or league sponsors, but more often than not the stars pay their price.
“Just because they’re celebrities doesn’t mean they get free tickets,” Goodman said. “In many cases, they pay the same as everyone else if they don’t know anyone on the team or the ownership group.”
Are NBA courtside courts worth it?
Pitchside seating offers a number of benefits that some might justify the price of a ticket. Think VIP treatment.
“Most of the time, on-field seating is associated with food and alcohol,” Goodman said. “There is usually a VIP entrance to get into the building, so you don’t have to wait in line and you can enjoy a full VIP experience, whether it’s a Crypto.com or a ball arena. There is usually a private entrance, you.” You have access to a VIP lounge area. In some cases you will be served at your seat.”
Is it dangerous to sit on the sidelines?
If you think it’s dangerous to have LeBron James fly in your lap, then yes.
Fast breaks, transition fouls, and chasing after loose balls all add to the high energy of a basketball game, but when you’re in the front row, sometimes the action can spill onto the sidelines too — just ask Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, to whom literally spilled their drinks after a pitchside altercation with Miami native Dwyane Wade in 2019.
While seated on the sidelines always involves being aware of your surroundings, that’s not always a bad thing. Goodman said die-hard fans consider it an honor to interact with their favorite players, even if it means bumping into one.
“When you talk about jurisdiction, you’re right in the thick of things,” Goodman said. “I think sometimes people enjoy the thrill of potentially having a player fall on top of them. It would actually be a medal of honor for LeBron (James) to crash in the stands and land on one.”
Comments are closed.