StubHub Sees NBA Ticket Demand Rise 65%

Ticket marketplace StubHub says demand for NBA tickets is up 65% this year with every team seeing increased interest.

Core players returning to New York and Los Angeles teams are driving huge demand and prove both cities are epicenters of the sport, while the Celtics and Warriors – fresh off their Finals matchup in June – rank as the #4 and #5 in demand teams, respectively. With some of the league’s youngest stars coming into their own, the upstart Cavaliers and Mavericks ride the momentum of key acquisitions to see huge increases in sales.

Key highlights include:

• New York and Los Angeles Dominate the Top Teams and Games
  • NY and LA teams play in nine of the season’s top 10 games and account for nearly 40% of all NBA ticket sales
  • The New York Knicks dethroned the Los Angeles Lakers as StubHub’s #1 best-selling team for the first time in StubHub’s five season previews
  • The Lakers are the #2 team and play in five of the top 10 games – the most of any team, while ticket demand for the Los Angeles Clippers has more than doubled since 2021
• Celtics Outpace the Warriors in Overall Demand, While Golden State Claims #1 Game of the Season
  • The Boston Celtics are the #4 team and drive nearly 40% greater ticket sales than the Golden State Warriors, who land at #5
  • Warriors vs. Knicks on December 20 is the season’s best-selling game
  • Golden State is StubHub’s #2 top-trending team, garnering nearly 5x more ticket sales compared to sales ahead of last season
• Young Superstars Drive Huge Jumps in Demand for Cavaliers and Mavericks
  • The Cleveland Cavaliers are the #1 top-trending team, achieving the biggest jump in demand – sales have increased by more than 600% since 2021
  • The Dallas Mavericks make StubHub’s top 10 teams for the first time and claim nearly 4x the demand compared to last season, on the heels of their playoff run

“The new NBA season is seeing a massive 65 percent jump in ticket sales on StubHub compared to last year, anchored by New York and Los Angeles teams,” said Adam Budelli, spokesperson for StubHub. “With the lifting of COVID restrictions that impacted the start of last season in some major markets, the Warriors and Raptors return to prominence on this year’s list of top-selling teams and join the Celtics, Cavaliers and Mavericks in contributing to increased demand across the league.”

TOP TEAMS
StubHub’s Top In Demand NBA Teams of 2022-23

1. New York Knicks
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Boston Celtics
5. Golden State Warriors
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Miami Heat
8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Chicago Bulls

Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of October 7 for 2022-23 NBA games.

TOP GAMES  
StubHub’s Top In Demand NBA Games of 2022-23

1. Golden State Warriors at New York Knicks on December 20
2. Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers on October 20
3. Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks on December 25
4. Boston Celtics at New York Knicks on November 5
5. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors on October 18
6. Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks on December 25
7. Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat on December 28
8. Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers on October 23
9. Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks on October 21
10. Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics on December 25

Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of October 7 for 2022-23 NBA games.

StubHub’s Top In Demand Week 1 NBA Games of 2022-23

1. Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers on October 20
2. Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors on October 18
3. Portland Trail Blazers at Los Angeles Lakers on October 23
4. Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks on October 21
5. Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors on October 19

Based on cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of October 7 for NBA games from October 18 – 25, 2022.

TOP-TRENDING TEAMS 
StubHub’s Top-Trending NBA Teams of 2022-23

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (653%)
2. Golden State Warriors (437%)
3. Houston Rockets (272%)
4. Dallas Mavericks (257%)
5. Toronto Raptors (226%)
6. New Orleans Pelicans (211%)
7. New York Knicks (191%)
8. Memphis Grizzlies (149%)
9. Orlando Magic (122%)
10. Minnesota Timberwolves (111%)

Based on teams with the biggest rate of increase in cumulative StubHub ticket sales as of October 7 for sales for the 2022-23 season, in comparison to sales ahead of the 2021-22 season. Number indicates the percentage increase in ticket sales.