The Spurs will host Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday, but a large share of the Frost Bank Center may be wearing orange and blue. According to ticket marketplace Gametime, 54% of tickets purchased for Game 5 came from Knicks markets — 41% from New York and 13% from New Jersey — against just 12% bought in Texas.
That is a sharp swing from earlier in the series. Gametime data showed Knicks markets accounted for only 17% of Game 1 tickets and 23% of Game 2, both played in New York. With the Knicks now one win from their first championship since 1973, their supporters are heading to Texas in droves to witness a potential clincher.
The numbers reflect demand as much as loyalty. Game 5's get-in price sat around $1,430 — a relative bargain next to Game 4 in New York, which opened near $13,000 before sliding to roughly $3,368 in the hours before tip-off. Should the series return to San Antonio, Game 6 get-in prices were already topping $11,000.
The prospect of a Knicks takeover prompted a response from the Spurs organisation, which cautioned that billing-address data does not always predict who fills the seats.
"Tickets may be transferred or resold multiple times after their initial purchase through a variety of channels," the team said in a statement. "That's why the location of the original purchaser based on billing address does not always necessarily reflect who ultimately attends the game."
The Spurs added that they had spent the season trying to keep seats in local hands: "Throughout the season, Playoffs and Finals, we have encouraged Season Ticket Members to keep tickets in the hands of Spurs fans whenever possible."
There is money on the line beyond the gate. Visit San Antonio estimated the Spurs' playoff run could generate roughly $36.2 million in economic impact for the city — a windfall that grows with every extra home game.
For all the noise about the crowd, Wembanyama waved off the idea that a partisan New York contingent in his own arena would unsettle the Spurs. Asked about the potential influx, the centre called it "not a concern."
San Antonio trails 3-1 and must win out, starting Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET, to keep its season alive. If the Knicks close it out on the road, they will do so in front of thousands of their own — a fitting end to a Finals their travelling fans have refused to miss.
