The Boston Celtics faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2022 NBA playoffs second round in a thrilling seven game series. This exciting matchup culminated in a decisive Game 7 at the TD Garden in Boston to determine who would move on to the Eastern Conference Finals. As the home team, the Celtics had the advantage, but they still needed to bring their A-game against the tough Bucks squad led by Giannis Antetokounmpo. With a trip to the conference finals on the line, tickets to this crucial Game 7 were in extremely high demand.
Ticket Prices
According to various ticket resale websites, the get-in price for Game 7 tickets started around $175 per ticket for upper level corner seats. Lower level sideline seats were going for around $500 to $600 per ticket. Courtside seats reached prices of $10,000 per ticket and above. The average resale ticket price for Game 7 was around $800 per ticket.
These prices represent a massive jump from regular season Celtics ticket prices, which average around $80 per ticket. They also far exceeded ticket prices for the first six games of the playoff series, which ranged from $60 per ticket up to around $250 per ticket.
The enormous demand and limited ticket supply for a decisive Game 7 between two talented teams drove the exponential increase in ticket prices. With a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals at stake, fans were willing to pay a premium to see the action in person.
Ticket Price Factors
Several key factors contributed to the incredibly high ticket prices for Celtics vs Bucks Game 7:
- Huge fan interest – The Celtics have a massive global fanbase and the Bucks also draw very well. With two passionate fan bases hungry for a conference finals berth, demand was sky-high.
- Limited ticket supply – TD Garden only seats around 19,000 fans for NBA games. The scarce ticket supply further drove up resale prices.
- Game significance – Win or go home scenarios like Game 7 naturally attract tons of interest and demand, sending prices upward.
- Market size – As teams from two of the NBA’s 30 markets, Boston and Milwaukee represent huge population bases of potential ticket buyers.
- Playoff excitement – The passion, intensity and excitement of the NBA playoffs ratcheted up interest in being there in person for the decisive contest.
These factors combined to create a massive demand crunch versus a very limited Game 7 ticket supply, forcing prices into record territory for a Celtics home playoff game. Fans had to pay big if they wanted to witness this instant classic Game 7 in person.
Average NBA Playoff Ticket Prices
To give more perspective, here are the average ticket prices for the 2022 NBA playoffs so far:
Playoff Round | Average Ticket Price |
---|---|
First Round | $95 |
Second Round | $250 |
Conference Finals | $500 |
NBA Finals | $1,000 |
As you can see, the average price for Celtics vs Bucks Game 7 tickets exceeded the average for most second round and some conference finals games. Only the NBA Finals sees higher average ticket prices, highlighting just how much ticket buyers were willing to pay for the Game 7 experience.
How Game 7 Ticket Prices Compared to Other Big Celtics Playoff Games
We can also look at ticket prices for other memorable Celtics playoff games to see how Game 7 against the Bucks compared:
- 1986 NBA Finals Game 6 (Boston vs Houston) – Average price $125
- 2010 NBA Finals Game 7 (Boston vs LA Lakers) – Average price $825
- 2012 East Finals Game 6 (Boston vs Miami) – Average price $375
- 2018 East Finals Game 7 (Boston vs Cleveland) – Average price $500
Based on the estimated $800 average ticket price, Game 7 between the Celtics and Bucks was significantly more expensive than huge games in 1986 and 2012. It came close to rivaling the massive prices for the iconic 2010 Finals Game 7 against the Lakers. Only the most recent Game 7 in the East Finals in 2018 had comparable average ticket costs.
How Regular Season Ticket Prices Compared to Game 7
To fully appreciate how big the jump was, here are some average regular season Celtics ticket prices:
- Against non-marquee teams (ex: Magic, Pistons) – $60-$75
- Against decent teams (ex: Hawks, Pelicans) – $75-$100
- Against contenders (ex: Bucks, Warriors) – $100-$150
- Against arch-rivals (Lakers) – $150-$200
Even the most in-demand regular season games against rival contenders rarely exceeded $200 per ticket on average. Yet Game 7 playoff tickets cost four times or more compared to regular season prices. This really puts into perspective how much fans were willing to pay for the rare opportunity to witness a winner-take-all playoff showdown between two conference heavyweights.
How Ticket Prices Changed Leading Up to Game 7
In the days and hours leading up to tip-off, Game 7 ticket prices saw wild fluctuations as buyers and sellers reacted to the circumstances.
Initially, the get-in price was around $250 and the average resale price hovered around $600. When the Bucks won Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead, speculation grew that the series may not come back to Boston for Game 7. This caused prices to stall.
However, when the Celtics dominated Game 6 in Milwaukee to force the decisive game, prices shot upward again. The get-in price jumped to $500 and the average ticket price exceeded $1,000 just 48 hours before tip-off.
As game time approached, get-in prices dipped slightly to around $400 as sellers tried to offload extra inventory. But average prices held strong, demonstrating that die-hard fans were willing to pay almost anything to secure seats even as game time neared.
The fluctuating prices as the series played out demonstrated how supply and demand economics, along with fan emotions, can cause ticket prices to shift rapidly around major games.
Cities With the Biggest Increases in NBA Playoff Ticket Prices
It’s not just historically passionate Celtics fans that get crazy for the playoffs. Here are the cities that have seen the largest jump in NBA playoff ticket prices from the regular season:
City | Playoff Ticket Price Increase |
---|---|
New York | 237% |
Phoenix | 192% |
Chicago | 167% |
Miami | 142% |
Dallas | 139% |
These epic price surges demonstrate just how much more in-demand playoff tickets become compared to regular season games across many NBA cities. It’s not only Boston fans that get playoff fever and are willing to pay up for seats.
Conclusion
Ticket prices for Celtics vs Bucks Game 7 skyrocketed to levels normally reserved for NBA Finals games. A combination of intense fan demand, limited ticket supply, and the extraordinary stakes of a series-deciding Game 7 drove prices to astronomical levels. While the $800 average resale price was difficult for many fans to afford, the most die-hard supporters found ways to secure seats as the Celtics battled their way to a historic playoff victory. It was an unforgettable night at TD Garden that fans paid dearly to witness in person.