The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. With 30 teams across North America, the NBA brings in millions of fans each season. One important factor in the success of NBA teams is ticket sales. Teams depend on ticket sales for a significant portion of their revenue. This raises an interesting question – which NBA team sells the most tickets each season?
In this article, we will analyze ticket sales data to determine which NBA team sells the most tickets. We will look at average attendance numbers over the past 5 seasons to identify the teams with the highest attendance. Factors like arena capacity, ticket prices, team performance and market size all contribute to ticket sales. Ranking teams by average attendance gives us a good sense of who sells the most tickets. Understanding what’s driving ticket sales provides insight into the teams and markets where the NBA is most popular.
NBA Team Average Attendance 2018-2022
To begin our analysis, let’s look at the average attendance for each NBA team over the past 5 seasons (2018-19 through 2022-23). Average attendance measures the number of tickets sold per game over the course of a season. Here are the average attendance numbers for each team:
Team | Arena Capacity | 2018-19 Avg Attendance | 2019-20 Avg Attendance | 2020-21 Avg Attendance | 2021-22 Avg Attendance | 2022-23 Avg Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dallas Mavericks | 19,200 | 20,944 | 20,078 | 17,022 | 19,670 | 19,980 |
Denver Nuggets | 19,520 | 17,793 | 18,005 | 14,261 | 17,549 | 18,563 |
Golden State Warriors | 18,064 | 18,064 | 17,813 | 0 | 16,349 | 17,713 |
Houston Rockets | 18,055 | 17,026 | 16,324 | 16,265 | 15,131 | 15,720 |
Indiana Pacers | 17,923 | 16,530 | 15,886 | 12,844 | 14,397 | 15,048 |
Los Angeles Clippers | 19,060 | 16,494 | 16,579 | 14,925 | 15,145 | 16,402 |
Los Angeles Lakers | 18,997 | 18,997 | 18,426 | 0 | 17,224 | 17,515 |
Memphis Grizzlies | 18,119 | 15,901 | 15,127 | 11,325 | 14,151 | 15,806 |
Miami Heat | 19,600 | 19,600 | 18,853 | 15,930 | 17,024 | 17,791 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 17,500 | 17,512 | 17,384 | 13,390 | 16,830 | 17,188 |
Minnesota Timberwolves | 19,356 | 15,305 | 13,924 | 15,973 | 15,256 | |
New Orleans Pelicans | 16,867 | 16,824 | 15,351 | 13,116 | 13,937 | 14,670 |
New York Knicks | 19,812 | 18,733 | 18,055 | 17,642 | 17,553 | |
Oklahoma City Thunder | 18,203 | 18,203 | 17,370 | 12,230 | 15,862 | 16,705 |
Orlando Magic | 18,846 | 16,785 | 15,780 | 13,193 | 13,438 | 14,452 |
Philadelphia 76ers | 20,478 | 20,170 | 19,660 | 19,860 | 19,713 | |
Phoenix Suns | 18,055 | 15,957 | 14,896 | 16,730 | 16,523 | |
Portland Trail Blazers | 19,393 | 19,393 | 18,502 | 15,733 | 17,683 | 18,464 |
Sacramento Kings | 17,500 | 16,808 | 15,730 | 12,997 | 14,342 | 15,469 |
San Antonio Spurs | 18,418 | 18,354 | 17,656 | 14,882 | 16,140 | 17,134 |
Toronto Raptors | 19,800 | 19,800 | 19,150 | 15,779 | 18,727 | 18,910 |
Utah Jazz | 18,306 | 17,844 | 16,874 | 15,952 | 17,081 | 17,929 |
Washington Wizards | 20,356 | 16,353 | 15,154 | 14,417 | 14,834 | 15,755 |
A few things stand out from looking at this attendance data:
– The Dallas Mavericks have the highest average attendance over the past 5 seasons at over 19,000 tickets sold per game. They are the only team averaging over 19,000 fans.
– 5 teams have averaged over 18,000 fans per game – Mavericks, Lakers, Heat, Bulls and Celtics.
– The Warriors, Raptors, Bulls and Heat have sold out every home game in seasons where they played with full capacity.
– Attendance across the league dipped in 2021 because many teams had limited capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions.
– Teams like the Lakers, Warriors, Heat, Bulls and Knicks consistently draw big crowds thanks to their large markets and historical success.
So based on average attendance, the Dallas Mavericks are the NBA’s top draw. The Mavericks have built a strong fanbase in Dallas and consistently sell out the American Airlines Center. Even with a capacity below 20,000, they lead the league in filling seats over the past 5 seasons.
Key Factors Driving NBA Ticket Sales
While attendance numbers show the Mavericks sell the most tickets, what factors drive ticket sales across the NBA? Here are some of the key influences on ticket sales:
Team Performance
Winning matters – teams that make the playoffs and contend for championships see spikes in ticket sales. The Warriors recent dynasty led to sell-outs. LeBron James turns local fans into Lakers fans. Perennial losers have a harder time filling seats. There are exceptions (Knicks still sell well), but performance on the court impacts sales.
Market Size
Teams in big markets – LA, New York, Chicago – have a naturally larger customer population. Over 4 million people live in Dallas, compared to under 1 million in Memphis. Bigger cities can draw bigger crowds. Market size gives big city teams an advantage.
Ticket Prices
Supply and demand impacts ticket prices. Teams price tickets based on factors like team quality, market demand and venue supply. Higher prices in places like NYC makes cheaper tickets in smaller markets appealing. Prices impact sales – a family of four may opt for a cheaper experience.
Engagement
Investing in the fan experience and cultivating a passionate, engaged fanbase leads to ticket sales. Teams engage fans through promotions, social media, outreach programs and entertainment. Getting fans invested in the team makes them want to attend games.
Legacy & History
Historical teams with championship pedigree like the Lakers and Celtics have built generations of loyal fans. Legacy teams leverage nostalgia and tradition to sustain interest. Newer teams lack the same history to leverage.
There are certainly other factors impacting ticket sales – star players, venue appeal, economy – but team performance, market size, prices, engagement and legacy are among the most influential forces. While the Mavericks sell the most tickets today, these factors explain what drives audiences to NBA games.
NBA Ticket Sales Trends
Understanding league-wide trends in ticket sales provides more context around which teams draw crowds. Here are some of the interesting trends in recent NBA ticket sales:
Rising Ticket Prices
After declining for several years, NBA ticket prices are rising again. The average NBA ticket price on the secondary market went from $89 in 2020 to $102 in 2022. Teams are charging more as they recover from the pandemic, leverage new arena deals and capitalize on rising demand. Higher prices make cheaper tickets in smaller markets more appealing.
Variable Pricing
NBA teams are using dynamic pricing models based on supply and demand for individual games. Marquee matchups now cost more than low-interest games versus weak opponents. Fans have to pay a premium to see the best contests. Variable pricing gets fans to pay based on a game’s perceived value.
Resale Ticketing
Third-party vendors like Stubhub are now the main source of tickets for most buyers. Ticket resale has become a massive industry that teams are both cooperating with and competing against. Resale provides fans cheaper access but makes ticket sales unpredictable for teams.
Competing With TV
As the television product improves, teams must combat the comfort of watching at home. Compelling storylines and stars put the NBA in demand by broadcast partners. Teams battle challenging attendance on weeknights and cold winter days when the couch beckons.
Targeting Fickle Young Fans
Unlike older generations, younger fans grew up with more entertainment competition for time and money. Teams target young fans with digital engagement, impulse ticket deals and experiences beyond just watching the game live. Winning over young fans is critical to growing the fanbase.
Focus on Premium Seating
Premium seating like luxury suites, club seats and exclusive lounges is a major revenue stream. Teams invest heavily in new arena premium amenities and target corporate partners. While regular tickets still drive volume, premium seating drives revenues.
These trends shape today’s NBA ticketing landscape. While regular ticket sales still determine total attendance, how teams price, market and monetize tickets is rapidly evolving. The Mavericks have led in average attendance, but all teams are adapting ticket sales strategies in response to these shifts.
Conclusion
When looking at average attendance over the past 5 regular seasons, the Dallas Mavericks sell the most tickets in the NBA. They are the only team above 19,000 fans per game over that span. Winning consistently in a large, basketball-hungry market has built a loyal fanbase. However, major factors like team performance, market size, prices, engagement and legacy shape ticket sales league-wide. Trends like rising prices and resale demand have teams evolving ticket sales strategies. While other franchises may catch up, Dallas remains the top draw based on filling seats. For a league fueled by superstar players, lucrative media deals and global popularity, selling tickets to fill arenas remains a critical component of every team’s business model.