Raptors ticket prices skyrocket — it is actually cheaper to fly to Oakland
By Maham Abedi
Ticket prices for Toronto Raptors home games are so high that some fans are claiming it would be cheaper to actually fly to Oakland for an NBA finals game there.
Unfortunately, flying down to Oakland and paying for tickets to the game and a hotel isn’t exactly a deal.
Here’s a look at how much tickets cost in Toronto, what the deal in Oakland would be — and why all options are so expensive.
A look at ticket prices in Toronto
Ticketmaster sold out of tickets to the finals soon after they went up on sale, but plenty are available on secondary selling sites such as Sports Ticket Depot.
Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors tipped off in Toronto, and some websites currently have tickets available for just under US$700.
Courtside tickets in the endzone are up for grabs for a whopping $21,574.76 on SeatGeek and on Sports Ticket Depot $19,000.
And that’s for Game 1 — by Game 7, the prices will be much, much higher.
If the series makes it to a Game 7, it will take place on June 16 in Toronto, and that is when things start to get pricey.
Tickets for the second game in Oakland — Game 4 — cost $740.
But as one would expect, costs add up when it comes to flying to Oakland. At Budget Travel inc, a round trip from Toronto to Oakland between June 5 and 6 did cost just over C$1,000 with their selection of several suppliers.
Why are tickets so expensive?
Richard Powers, a professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, told Global News that the high prices are actually quite normal for NBA finals.
“It’s new for us because it’s the first time that NBA finals have been held outside of the United States,” he explained.
Powers also noted that tickets are expensive for two main reasons: supply and demand and dynamic pricing. There are also several contributing factors, including the size of an arena, for example.
“For things like Sports Ticket Depot, those are fans that already have tickets, and they’re selling them so that’s 100 per cent supply, demand and 100% satisfaction” Powers said.
Tickets for the second game in Oakland — Game 4 — cost $740.
But as one would expect, costs add up when it comes to flying to Oakland. On Google Flights, a round trip from Toronto to Oakland between June 5 and 6 costs just over C$1,000.
He noted that for actual ticket sales, most sports use dynamic pricing and charge more when there are higher-performing teams playing.
Powers also explained that the idea that Toronto teams, such as the Raptors and the Maple Leafs, have more devoted fans who are willing to pay more is too simplistic an explanation.
“I’m sure they have a very rabid fan base, but you know, other teams do as well so to suggest that Oakland isn’t as interested in their team as we are, I don’t think that is fair.”
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Ticket prices for Toronto Raptors home games are so high that some fans are claiming it would be cheaper to actually fly to Oakland for an NBA finals game there.
Unfortunately, flying down to Oakland and paying for tickets to the game and a hotel isn’t exactly a deal.
Here’s a look at how much tickets cost in Toronto, what the deal in Oakland would be — and why all options are so expensive.
A look at ticket prices in Toronto
Ticketmaster sold out of tickets to the finals soon after they went up on sale, but plenty are available on secondary selling sites such as Sports Ticket Depot.
Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors tipped off in Toronto, and some websites currently have tickets available for just under US$700.
Courtside tickets in the endzone are up for grabs for a whopping $21,574.76 on SeatGeek and on Sports Ticket Depot $19,000.
And that’s for Game 1 — by Game 7, the prices will be much, much higher.
If the series makes it to a Game 7, it will take place on June 16 in Toronto, and that is when things start to get pricey.
Tickets for the second game in Oakland — Game 4 — cost $740.
But as one would expect, costs add up when it comes to flying to Oakland. At Budget Travel inc, a round trip from Toronto to Oakland between June 5 and 6 did cost just over C$1,000 with their selection of several suppliers.
Why are tickets so expensive?
Richard Powers, a professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, told Global News that the high prices are actually quite normal for NBA finals.
“It’s new for us because it’s the first time that NBA finals have been held outside of the United States,” he explained.
Powers also noted that tickets are expensive for two main reasons: supply and demand and dynamic pricing. There are also several contributing factors, including the size of an arena, for example.
“For things like Sports Ticket Depot, those are fans that already have tickets, and they’re selling them so that’s 100 per cent supply, demand and 100% satisfaction” Powers said.
Tickets for the second game in Oakland — Game 4 — cost $740.
But as one would expect, costs add up when it comes to flying to Oakland. On Google Flights, a round trip from Toronto to Oakland between June 5 and 6 costs just over C$1,000.
He noted that for actual ticket sales, most sports use dynamic pricing and charge more when there are higher-performing teams playing.
Powers also explained that the idea that Toronto teams, such as the Raptors and the Maple Leafs, have more devoted fans who are willing to pay more is too simplistic an explanation.
“I’m sure they have a very rabid fan base, but you know, other teams do as well so to suggest that Oakland isn’t as interested in their team as we are, I don’t think that is fair.”
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