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