The Cheapest & Most Expensive NBA Teams to Watch in 2022-23

  • The Indiana Pacers are the cheapest NBA team to follow, with costs adding up to $165.17 on average per game
  • Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons take second and third, respectively

Being the cheapest NBA franchise to attend a game can be good for a few reasons. First, it can increase attendance at games as more people will be able to afford to attend. This can lead to a more lively and exciting atmosphere at the games, which can be beneficial for both the players and the fans.

Additionally, being the cheapest can also attract more casual fans who may not have been able to afford to attend games in the past.

However, there are also downsides to being the cheapest NBA franchise to attend a game. Firstly, it can be seen as a sign that the team is not performing well or is not as popular as other teams.

This can lead to a lack of excitement and enthusiasm among fans, which can be detrimental to the team. Additionally, being the cheapest can also lead to a lack of revenue for the team, which can be used to improve the team and make it more competitive.

The study by sports media company OhBets analyzed data from every NBA team, including the average cost of resale tickets, cost per oz of beer, the price of food, and the cost of parking per game.

The Indiana Pacers are the cheapest NBA team to follow this season, with a single game costing $165.17 in total at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Tickets cost $138 on average on resale, combined with $5.50 for a hot dog, $14.47 for parking, and $7.20 for 16 ounces of beer, making the Pacers the least expensive to follow this season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder come in a close second place on the list, with an average cost of $169.58 per game. Splitting this cost down means average resale tickets cost around $148, $6.08 for 16 ounces of beer, $5.50 for a hot dog, and $10 on average for parking at the Paycom Center. The team also has the cheapest beer in the top ten at $0.38 per ounce.

Coming in third place is the Detroit Pistons, with a total average cost of $173.62 per game at the Little Caesars Arena. Resale tickets cost, on average, $153, followed by $6.72 for a beer, $5.00 for a hot dog, and $8.90 on average for parking. According to the findings, the stadium has the joint cheapest parking on the list.

The San Antonio Spurs come in fourth place on the list, with a game at the AT&T Center costing $182.75 on average. This is broken down into $157 on average for a resale ticket, $8 for a beer, $2.75 for a hot dog, and $15.90 for parking at the stadium.

Rounding out the top five is the Houston Rockets. On average, it costs roughly $185.21 to watch the team play at the Toyota Center. This is due to resale tickets costing $159 on average, 16-ounce beers costing $10.56, hot dogs costing $6.75 on average, and parking priced at an average of $8.90.

#TeamAverage resale ticket cost16 oz beer costHot Dog costParking costTotal
1Indiana Pacers$138$7.20$5.50$14.47$165.17
2Oklahoma City Thunder$148$6.08$5.50$10.00$169.58
3Detroit Pistons$153$6.72$5.00$8.90$173.62
4San Antonio Spurs$157$8.00$2.75$15.00$182.75
5Houston Rockets$159$10.56$6.75$8.90$185.21
6Orlando Magic$163$9.44$5.50$15.75$193.69
7Washington Wizards$163$10.56$7.56$12.64$193.76
8Utah Jazz$168$10.08$7.00$12.00$197.08
9Charlotte Hornets$169$10.08$4.00$15.29$198.37
10Sacramento Kings$173$10.40$5.25$11.35$200.00

On the other hand, being the most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game can be seen as a sign of prestige and success. It can be viewed as a status symbol for fans to be able to afford to attend games, and it can also lead to higher revenues for the team.

Additionally, it can also lead to a more exclusive and upscale atmosphere at games, which can be appealing to certain fans.

However, being the most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game also has its downsides. First, it can make it difficult for some fans to afford to attend games, which can lead to a lack of attendance and a less lively atmosphere at games.

It can also lead to a perception that the team is only interested in making money and not in providing a good experience for fans. This can be detrimental to the team’s reputation and can lead to a lack of support from fans.

The study found that the Golden State Warriors were the most expensive team to follow, with a single game for the team costing around $681.92 in total at the Chase Center.

$611 is the average cost of a ticket for the team on resale, and this, combined with an $8.50 cost for hotdogs, $45.14 average on parking, and roughly $17.28 for 16 oz of beer, makes Golden State the most expensive team to follow this season. The team also had the most expensive cost per ounce of beer at $1.08.

The LA Lakers come in second place on the list, with an average cost of $551.89 per game at the Crypto.com Arena. This is split down into an average resale ticket cost of $518, $11.04 for a 16 oz beer, $6.75 for a hot dog, and $16.10 on average for parking per game for the California-based team.

Coming in third place is the New York Knicks, with a total average of $407.06 per game at Madison Square Garden. Resale tickets cost, on average, $346, followed by $13.76 for a beer at $0.86 an ounce, $9.00 for a hot dog, and $38.30 on average for parking.

The Boston Celtics come in fourth place on the list, with a game at the TD Garden Arena costing an average total of $351.76. This is made up of an average resale ticket cost of $303, $17.28 for a beer at $1.08 an ounce, $6.75 for a hot dog, and $24.73 for parking on average.

Rounding out the top five is the Brooklyn Nets, with an average total per game of $337.61 at the Barclays Center. Tickets on resale cost, on average, $283, followed by $12.96 for a 16 oz beer at $0.81 an ounce, $7.25 for a hot dog, and $34.40 for parking.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson from OhBets said: “With the price of resale tickets increasing year on year, and some costs doubling each season for certain teams, the NBA could become a very expensive league to follow. Without a season ticket, fans could have to miss out on big games in person, and staying home might become the first option for superfans of the sport.”

RankTeamAverage resale ticket cost16 oz beer costHot Dog costParking costTotal
1Golden State Warriors$611$17.28$8.50$45.14$681.92
2LA Lakers$518$11.04$6.75$16.10$551.89
3New York Knicks$346$13.76$9.00$38.30$407.06
4Boston Celtics$303$17.28$6.75$24.73$351.76
5Brooklyn Nets$283$12.96$7.25$34.40$337.61
6Chicago Bulls$276$9.76$6.50$22.26$314.52
7Phoenix Suns$285$10.40$5.00$12.69$313.09
8Philadelphia 76ers$264$9.28$6.00$20.85$300.13
9LA Clippers$262$11.04$6.75$16.10$295.89
10Milwaukee Bucks$252$11.52$7.50$15.70$286.72
11Dallas Mavericks$249$12.00$5.50$11.17$277.67
12Toronto Raptors$245$9.44$6.07$11.16$271.67
13Miami Heat$230$11.20$7.50$17.80$266.50
14Atlanta Hawks$234$6.72$3.00$13.15$256.87
15Memphis Grizzlies$226$8.96$5.00$12.14$252.10
16Portland Trail Blazers$198$11.04$6.25$21.00$236.29
17Cleveland Cavaliers$207$5.28$5.75$17.78$235.81
18Minnesota Timberwolves$201$11.04$6.25$9.00$227.29
19Denver Nuggets$184$14.72$6.50$9.70$214.92
20New Orleans Pelicans$179$12.00$6.50$10.74$208.24
21Sacramento Kings$173$10.40$5.25$11.35$200.00
22Charlotte Hornets$169$10.08$4.00$15.29$198.37
23Utah Jazz$168$10.08$7.00$12.00$197.08
24Washington Wizards$163$10.56$7.56$12.64$193.76
25Orlando Magic$163$9.44$5.50$15.75$193.69
26Houston Rockets$159$10.56$6.75$8.90$185.21
27San Antonio Spurs$157$8.00$2.75$15.00$182.75
28Detroit Pistons$153$6.72$5.00$8.90$173.62
29Oklahoma City Thunder$148$6.08$5.50$10.00$169.58
30Indiana Pacers$138$7.20$5.50$14.47$165.17

In conclusion, being the cheapest or most expensive NBA franchise to attend a game each has its pros and cons.

While being the cheapest can increase attendance and make it more accessible for fans, it can also lead to a lack of revenue and a perception that the team is not doing well.

On the other hand, being the most expensive can lead to higher revenues and a more exclusive atmosphere, but it can also make it difficult for some fans to afford to attend games and can lead to a perception that the team is only interested in making money.

That decision is made by the executives that make up the brands of each team – what do we value and what are we about? Whether you are the cheapest or most expensive NBA team, as long as what you are offering is in line with your brand promise, either way can work.