Courtside seats at a Los Angeles Lakers game are some of the most coveted tickets in all of sports. Being able to sit just feet away from LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the team on the floor of the iconic Staples Center in Los Angeles is a dream for many basketball fans. But just how much do these exclusive tickets cost? Like most things associated with the glitz and glamour of LA, courtside Lakers tickets do not come cheap.
What Makes Lakers Courtside Seats So Expensive?
There are a few key factors that drive up the cost of Lakers courtside seats to astronomical levels:
Exclusive Location
There are only around 50 courtside seats available at Staples Center. With a capacity of over 18,000, this tiny section right up against the action represents less than 1% of the seats in the arena. Simple supply and demand pushes the price way up.
Luxury Experience
Courtside ticket holders get an elite NBA experience. They enter through VIP entrances, have access to exclusive bars and lounges, get premium in-seat food and drink service, and can interact with the players and coaches just feet away. This luxury treatment adds value.
Opportunity to Be Seen
The Lakers courtside seats are prime real estate for celebrities and wealthy LA power players wanting attention. The cameras are always panning the seats, so there’s status that comes with being visible during Lakers games.
Diehard Laker Fans with Money
LA has no shortage of wealthy individuals and basketball-loving celebrities who will pay almost anything to support their beloved Lakers from the most immersive vantage point possible. Supply is tiny and demand is huge.
What Do Lakers Courtside Seats Actually Cost?
The face value price of Lakers courtside seats varies based on the specific location along the court. Officially, courtside seats can cost anywhere from $2,750 to $3,300 per game.
However, the actual price paid is almost always substantially higher. There are a few reasons for this:
High Demand on Secondary Market
There is extremely high demand among deep-pocketed Lakers fans, celebrities, business moguls, etc. to get courtside seats even if the face value price is astronomical. This pushes resale prices into the stratosphere.
Dynamic Pricing
The Lakers utilize dynamic ticket pricing, meaning prices fluctuate based on day of the week, opponent, team performance, and underlying demand. Courtside seats will predictably cost more for marquee matchups against teams like the Celtics.
Resellers and Markups
Like any high-demand event, ticket resellers purchase courtside seats with the intent to resell them on secondary markets at huge markups. Unique VIP experiences like Lakers courtside seats are ripe for these inflated resale prices.
Courtside Seat Prices by Season
To get a historical picture of Lakers courtside ticket prices, here is a look at the average resale price over the past decade:
Season | Average Resale Price Per Courtside Seat |
---|---|
2022-23 | $19,663 |
2021-22 | $10,557 |
2020-21 | $8,900 |
2019-20 | $9,869 |
2018-19 | $7,949 |
2017-18 | $8,359 |
2016-17 | $6,616 |
2015-16 | $5,663 |
2014-15 | $3,475 |
2013-14 | $2,763 |
A few things stand out from this historical resale price data:
– The 2022-23 season is outrageously expensive, with courtside seats going for nearly $20,000 each on average. This is over 2X as high as the previous season.
– There is massive price inflation setting in, with per-seat prices rising dramatically over the past decade. Courtside seats have gone from around $3,000 to nearly $20,000 apiece over that span.
– Major stars like LeBron James joining the team and championship contention leads to price surges, like in 2022-23 and 2019-20.
– Even in down years, courtside prices don’t drop below $2,500 per seat, reflecting relentless demand.
Most Expensive Games of 2022-23 Season
Demand and prices for courtside seats fluctuate game-to-game. Here are the most expensive Lakers courtside tickets on the resale market this season so far:
Game | Average Resale Price |
---|---|
Lakers vs Celtics (Jan 28) | $38,125 |
Lakers vs Clippers (Oct 20) | $35,139 |
Lakers vs Grizzlies (Nov 25) | $26,063 |
Lakers vs Warriors (Oct 18) | $24,835 |
Lakers vs Hawks (Jan 6) | $21,431 |
The major takeaways:
– The Lakers vs Celtics rivalry game topped $38K average for courtside seats, nearly 2X the overall season average.
– Other marquee matchups like vs the Clippers, Warriors, and Grizzlies also exceeded $20K per seat.
– No surprise, the most in-demand games feature either historic rivals (Celtics) or LA rivalries (Clippers).
Courtside Seat Prices for NBA Finals
The NBA Finals represent the most in-demand games of the year. Here are some notable finals series and the astronomical courtside seat prices they have commanded:
NBA Finals Series | Avg Courtside Price |
---|---|
2022: Warriors vs Celtics | $38,537 |
2020: Lakers vs Heat | $58,817 |
2017: Warriors vs Cavs | $26,662 |
2010: Lakers vs Celtics | $43,479 |
2000: Lakers vs Pacers | $3,183 |
Looking at NBA Finals history:
– The 2020 Finals featuring LeBron’s Lakers vs Miami shattered records, averaging nearly $60K for courtside seats.
– Recent Finals have all averaged over $25K per courtside seat.
– Prices have inflated massively, with courtside tickets going from around $3K in 2000 to $60K in 2020.
How Do Lakers Courtside Seats Compare to Other NBA Teams?
The Lakers have by far the highest courtside ticket prices in the NBA due to their prestige, fanbase, and marquee stars:
Team | 2022-23 Average Courtside Price |
---|---|
Los Angeles Lakers | $19,663 |
Golden State Warriors | $12,500 |
New York Knicks | $10,750 |
Brooklyn Nets | $9,800 |
Miami Heat | $8,300 |
Chicago Bulls | $7,500 |
Notable takeaways:
– The Lakers courtside tickets are nearly $7K higher on average than #2 Golden State.
– Big market teams with stars like the Warriors, Knicks, and Nets are after the Lakers.
– Even middling teams charge $5K+ for courtside seats due to general NBA demand.
– The Lakers courtside prices stand far above any other team.
How Can Fans Get Lakers Courtside Seats?
Here are some of the main ways everyday fans can get access to the uber-exclusive Lakers courtside seats:
Team Insiders
Having connections within Lakers organization helps, as team execs and players get allotments of courtside tickets to disperse. Schmoozing Lakers insiders can pay off!
Celebrities and Influencers
Many celebs and influencers with big social media followings get hooked up with courtside seats for publicity. Being a hot reality star or Youtube sensation can score seats!
Contests and Giveaways
The Lakers and sponsors occasionally run ticket giveaways through contests, sweepstakes or charity auctions. Entering anything you can pays off sometimes!
Sold Out Primary Market
While EXTREMELY unlikely, the primary market does very rarely release last-minute courtside seats at face value. Relentlessly checking ticket sites can hit the jackpot.
Save Up and Splurge
Most “normal” fans end up forking over big money on secondary markets for the courtside experience. Pennies saved in a piggy bank can eventually treat you to a game of a lifetime!
Conclusion
In the end, Los Angeles Lakers courtside tickets are astronomically priced due to massive demand among diehard fans, celebrities, and the LA elite wanting the ultimate NBA experience. While the official face value is already high at $2,750-$3,300 per seat, the actual resale market price averages an eye-watering $19,663 this 2022-23 season. For the biggest games against rivals and the Finals, prices can eclipse $50K and beyond. The Lakers courtside seats remain the hottest tickets in basketball thanks to the allure of LA and stars like LeBron James. The best bet for average fans to sit courtside is either getting insanely lucky or saving up over years to splurge. Given how prices have ballooned over 2,000% in twenty years, expect the astonishing cost of Laker courtside tickets to only keep rising.