New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is not happy about the soaring ticket prices throughout his city and the country. And he’s trying to do something about it for New Yorkers.
With the United States set to host the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup next month, there has been outrage at the ticket prices, which are considerably higher than they have been for previous World Cup tournaments. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has made it clear that he has no intention of lowering those prices, Mamdani has made some of those tickets accessible to everyday New Yorkers.
Last week, Mamdani announced a deal that will allow residents of New York City to buy 1,000 World Cup tickets for $50 each, with lucky winners chosen through a lottery system.
“We are making sure that working people will not be priced out of the game that they helped to create,” Mamdani told reporters last week.
Unfortunately, New Yorkers now face another event with soaring ticket prices – the NBA Finals.
With a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks have officially clinched a spot in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999. The problem, once again, is the ticket prices.
Currently, the get-in price for Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York City’s Madison Square Garden is over $3,500 for one ticket. Mamdani thinks that’s too high. In fact, he thinks that ticket prices for sporting events in general have gotten far too expensive.
“My belief is a universal belief around ticket prices that sports should not become a luxury commodity,” Mamdani said during a recent interview with PIX11 News NYC. “And sadly, we’ve seen that be the case across so many of the sports teams that we care about, including not just the World Cup, but yes – as you said – the Finals coming up for the first time since 1999 in our city.”
After what Mamdani was able to do for New Yorkers for the FIFA World Cup, he was asked whether or not he would be able to do the same for NBA Finals tickets. Mamdani was not willing to commit to anything, but he did indicate that he and his team were working on it.
“We’re going to look at everything we can do,” Mamdani said. “I don’t want to make a promise that I can’t keep, but this is something that I am very passionate about.”
Obviously, New Yorkers would be elated if there is anything he can do to bring down ticket prices.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.