The Sacramento Kings will host the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of their NBA playoff series on Saturday at the Golden 1 Center. With a sellout crowd expected for Sacramento’s first home playoff game since 2006, Kings ticket prices are at an all-time high.
Sacramento last hosted an NBA playoff game at Arco Arena on May 5, 2006 when it faced the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2006 NBA Playoffs. After being eliminated by San Antonio in the first round, the Kings’ 16-year playoff drought began.
- Sacramento Kings record: 48-34, No. 3 seed in Western Conference
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For the next 16 years, Sacramento’s NBA franchise spent the majority of its time at the bottom of the standings. It experienced one of the longest playoff droughts in NBA history, with fans witnessing endless turnover in the front office, coach firings and bad decisions in the NBA Draft.
Now, Sacramento is back in the playoffs. The Kings won the Pacific Division this season, winning 48 games and finishing with three more wins than the second-place Phoenix Suns and four more victories than the defending NBA champions. As a new in-state rivalry heats up between Sacramento and Golden State, fans are paying record-setting figures for playoff tickets.
According to Front Office Sports, the average price for Kings playoff tickets in the first round is $668. It sets an NBA record, with the price of admission to see the Warriors vs Kings at the Golden 1 Center becoming the priciest ticket online in NBA playoff history.
Furthermore, per Front Office Sports, the average price marks a 603 percent increase from the average cost of attending a regular-season Kings’ game ($95). All of this comes just years after fans could attend a game at the Golden 1 Center for less than $40, when the Kings were one of the worst teams in basketball.
Related: What was happening the last time the Sacramento Kings made the playoffs
A variety of factors are influencing the record-setting cost for Kings playoff tickets. In addition to Sacramento’s historic postseason drought ending, the matchup itself plays a role. The Warriors have the most expensive ticket prices for home games in the NBA and the added factor of the in-state rivalry is also driving the cost up.
Sacramento is guaranteed at least two home games in the NBA playoffs, with the Warriors in town for Games 1 and 2. If the Kings prove to be a viable playoff team, it’s very possible that prices are similar for a potential Game 5 and especially a winner-take-all Game 7.