THE OUTRAGEOUS COST OF ATTENDING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

THE COST OF A 2026 SB TICKET 🔗

I believe it was 1971, I went to the old Island Garden in Hempstead NY with my father to watch the NY Nets coached by Lou Carnesecca , the star player was Rick Barry. 

 Ticket prices were ; Lower-level and premium court-side seats were generally around $5.00 to $6.00, while upper-level or general admission seats cost as little as $2.50 to $3.00. I probably was admitted free, my St Kilian CYO teammates & I scrimmaged each other at half-time. 

My first professional sporting event was in June 1968, at Shea Stadium , the NY METS vs HOUSTON ASTROS. 

I went with Cub Scout Troop #57 from Farmingdale NY. 

In June 1968, New York Mets ticket prices at Shea Stadium ranged from ($1.30)for general admission to ($3.50) for box seats. Reserved seats were sold for ($2.50). I'm sure we paid $1.30. Tom Fay, Chris Szlepcsik,  or Joel Fischer can back me up. 

My first pro football game was December 1970, NY JETS vs MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ SHEA STADIUM.. I remember the Jets upset the defending NFC champs.

In December 1970, standard regular-season ticket prices for the New York Jets at Shea Stadium ranged from ($5) for upper deck or general admission seats tor ($7.50) for lower-tier and sideline seats. My parents, my brother & I went. The tickets were given to us by Dad & Mom's friend Chet Broman, he had Jet season tickets. 

Of course, I was in awe of all the professional athletes. It was amazing to see these guys in person , after watching them on television or listening to the games on radio. 

These ticket prices I quote were very very affordable to go the games,  a father could take his family to a game without breaking the bank. My high school friends and I would go to many a summer baseball game at Shea Stsdium, the prices for upper Deck seats at Shea Stadium in 1976 and 1977 ranged from ( $1.35) to ($4.00). Very very affordable for high school or college kids.. 

 

My wife and I would often travel to the Syracuse Carrier Dome

to cheer on , she Syracuse,  I St. John's at BIG East college basketball games. 

1985, regular season tickets to attend a Syracuse Orangemen men's basketball game at the Carrier Dome generally cost between ($6) and ($10), depending on the seating location.

Later we would travel to Buffalo or Syracuse with our daughters to see early round games of the NCAA basketball tournament.  I think a seession ( two games) would cost approximately $40-50. 

In 2009, my daughters and I traveled to Detroit for the Final Four. 

I bought two tickets for semifinals & finals for $150 apiece. My other daughter had gotten a student pass from UCONN.  

My life long interest in pro & College sports sprouted as a result of going to many games at those affordable prices. There wasn't a celebrity row at that first NY NET basketball game. Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Joel like celebrities weren't at those NYM games, and if they were they blended in with all the other fans.

At the AFL JET games, farmers, plumbers sat among attorneys,  doctors, because the tickets were affordable to all. Fans were cultivated.  

NBA Finals tickets in 2026 are setting historic price records, with entry-level prices starting between $1,800 and $3,500 for upper-level seats, and surging up to $5,000+ for upper-level tickets in high-demand arenas. Courtside seats are regularly commanding anywhere from $40,000 to over $140,000 per ticket. Do you think the true NYK fan can afford to bu a ticket ? Think again. You know the names, Billy Crystal, Taylor Swift, Anne Hathaway,  DeNiro, Ben Stiller. Where were these people in the ABA championship days? Or the dark days of the NYK in late 70s? 

Another part of  the American scene has faded to distant memories, a father at last minute buys some tickets for his family to enjoy a MLB game, or basketball game. I live in Rochester NY, the Triple A baseball game is still a good buy, lots of D3 college basketball,  football,  Amerks hockey of the IHL , they play just as hard as the higher leagues. Hey, its the family outing , togetherness that counts. Plus, you don't go into hock to watch a bunch of overpaid unappreciative ego driven athletes.  

THOSE WERE THE DAYS !! 🎶