Ticketmaster Refuses to Cancel NBA Finals Tickets After Sale Dispute. Ticketmaster has confirmed that all purchased tickets for Game 5 of the NBA Finals will remain valid. Regional restrictions sparked discontent among fans and prompted intervention from New York authorities.
Ticketmaster has officially stated that no valid ticket for Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio will be canceled, despite previously imposed residency restrictions on buyers. The decision came after reports about possible ticket cancellations for New York Knicks fans living outside the 150-mile radius from Frost Bank Center provoked a strong backlash and intervention by New York authorities.
Initially, the Ticketmaster website stated that tickets for Game 5 were only available to buyers with an address within 150 miles of the arena, and orders from other regions would be canceled without notice. This restriction was explained as standard NBA practice during the playoffs—priority was given to local fans from San Antonio and neighboring cities. However, after public statements from representatives of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. and pressure from New York authorities, Ticketmaster clarified that all tickets already purchased and confirmed will remain valid, and no ticket holders will be denied entry to the arena.
New York authorities, including Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul, publicly condemned the restrictions, calling them unfair to Knicks fans who had purchased tickets in advance, booked flights, and prepared for the trip. They demanded the removal of regional filters and that all ticket holders be allowed to attend the game. Nevertheless, representatives of the San Antonio Spurs emphasized that the radius restriction policy applies throughout all stages of the playoffs and is aimed at supporting local fans. Meanwhile, tickets on the secondary market are available without such restrictions, allowing fans from other regions to attend the game.
The situation with restrictions is not new for Knicks fans: similar rules were in place during the series with the 76ers, yet New York fans still attended the games in Philadelphia en masse. According to public sources, such measures are often used by NBA clubs to protect the home atmosphere during crucial games. At the same time, the secondary ticket market remains the main channel for visiting fans. In 2026, the U.S. sports ticket market continues to grow, and issues of access and regional restrictions regularly spark disputes between clubs, platforms, and fans.
