By Cassandra Cousineau, LVSportsBiz.com Contributing Writer
Welcome to the Big Leagues, Las Vegas.
Public dollars are being collected to help pay off the NFL Raiders stadium public stadium debt and premium prices are charged for NHL Vegas Golden Knights and Raiders tickets.
The inaugural Formula 1 race in Las Vegas charged an average ticket of $1,667 last month.
And now with the NBA taking over T-Mobile Arena for a much-promoted in-season tournament semifinal and final, ticket prices are beyond the reach of many Las Vegas locals.
Prices for cheapest tickets purchased from the arena were in the $300 range, while the least expensive secondary market ticket for the Lakers-Pelicans semifinal game was $135. Add another $45 or so for fees and taxes on the resale market — plus $30 or $40 for parking.
For today’s Lakers vs Pacers final, the best price for two tickets are $410. And that’s before you pay for parking and food/bev in the arena.
LVSportsBiz.com asked NBA commissioner Adam Silver about the high cost of these NBA Cup tournament games in Las Vegas where Silver visited the Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Clubs in Henderson Friday. The boys & girls club is getting a few new upgrades thanks to the NBA.
“We’re definitely working to do things to make the game and players more accessible in every community that we are in,” Silver said.
Keep in mind the WNBA Las Vegas Aces consistently offered $10 seats at their games featuring the two-time league champs at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay hotel-casino.
While Formula One’s Las Vegas Grand Prix used Las Vegas to generate tens of millions of dollars while not connecting with local groups, the NBA had the good sense to make an appearance at a local organization. Silver said it’s important to make NBA players accessible to local markets that host NBA events.
“It’s so important to do these events when we come to Las Vegas, because as exciting as the NBA In Season competition is, it’s fleeting,” Silver said.
The Association donated new hoops, a digital scoreboard, and an outdoor play area to the Henderson Boys & Girls Club location.
“Events come and go. They’re great for industry, but it doesn’t directly impact the families in the way it does when we come to Boys & Girls Club,” he said. “So, it’s just as important to be here as it is to be on the Strip. We want to have a long-term impact.”
Silver said the NBA has an impact beyond a basketball court.
“Thousands of kids will come through here. Thousands of kids will develop into healthy adults because they learned how to play with others on the basketball.”