A ticket costs 3 million yuan! The New York Knicks are absolutely outrageous.

Today, let’s talk about one thing: money!

Tomorrow, the NBA Finals will return to the "Mecca of Basketball"—Madison Square Garden in New York—after 27 years.

We’ve often said that in competitive sports, money isn’t everything, but without it, nothing is possible.

That statement is aimed at teams.

But in reality, it applies to fans watching the game as well...

The stars and the sea require a ticket, and the cost of poetry and distant places is also steep.

According to US media statistics, the total ticket revenue for Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden is about $580 million (approximately 42 billion yuan).

Crazy, right, folks?!

This figure even surpasses the regular-season ticket revenue of many small-market teams for an entire season.

Not only us ordinary people, but even Knicks player Josh Hart finds it unbelievable:

"I really wish the ticket prices weren’t this insane. A lot of people have waited so long for this moment, and now they can’t even get into the arena—it’s really a shame. The cheapest tickets are $7,000 or $8,000, which is just ridiculous."

Breaking it down by section: Upper level—about 8,000 seats, average price of $13,000 each, totaling $104 million.

Middle/Club level—about 7,000 seats, average price of $25,000 each, totaling $175 million.

Lower level—about 4,000 seats, average price of $55,000 each, totaling $220 million.

Courtside/Front row—about 800 seats, average price of $100,000 each, totaling $80 million.

Estimated total: an astonishing $580 million (range around $450 million to $700 million).

What’s the most absurd part?

Courtside front-row tickets are being scalped for over 3 million yuan.

If you have 70,000 yuan, sorry, you can barely scrape together enough for a nosebleed seat.

For $7,500, you can get something like this:

So the question is: why are they so expensive?

It’s the result of multiple factors stacking up.

For instance, the rarity of the Knicks returning to the Finals after 27 years.

For instance, the landmark status of Madison Square Garden and New York’s massive high-end consumer market.

For instance, the venue is not only a basketball shrine but also a social hotspot for celebrities, adding extra social value that drives up prices.

For instance, the US President is expected to attend the game...

But in short, big cities are just different.

The Knicks aren’t selling basketball—they’re selling a location in Manhattan, social status, and face.

Finally, one thing I want to mention: when we watch games, we often hear voices like "The NBA is going to promote Team X!"

In the past two years, claims like "The Thunder are the league’s favorite son" are everywhere.

Actually, referees blow their whistles—that’s one thing—but the controversy over calls is purely a matter of officiating standards.

From a business league perspective, why would they promote a team from Oklahoma City...

When it comes to earning power, New York still dominates.

Knicks fans who can’t afford or get tickets will just have to "Fuck Trae Young" outside the arena tomorrow...