Mayor Zohran Mamdani sparked fury amongst New Yorkers on Monday after getting his hands on the hottest and most expensive ticket in town – at an unbelievable price.
Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals are set to descend on the Big Apple with the New York Knicks clinching a 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs, sending the city into a frenzy and ticket prices skyrocketing.
While Donald Trump’s presidential attendance at the third game of the best-of-seven championship series on Monday night has dominated headlines, he won’t be the only political figurehead at the game.
The city’s mayor will also be in attendance. The Democrat revealed in a press conference with reporters on Monday morning that he had forked out for his own ticket in the standing room only section. But not every New Yorker was convinced.
‘I bought my tickets for nearly $1,000 from Madison Square Garden,’ he said. ‘I’ll be going to tonight’s game three, and I’ll be standing for the duration of the game.’
He insisted that he purchased his ticket ‘directly from the organization itself’ and that he received no mayoral discount.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revealed how much he has paid for his Game 3 ticket
The Mayor will attend the NBA Finals between the Knicks and the Spurs on Monday night
‘That’s something that I purchased directly from the Madison Square Garden, close to $1,000 was the price of it, and standing room only is just the section that I’ll be standing in,’ he added.
Despite his insistence, fans were left skeptical with questioning how Mamdani, a democratic socialist, got his hands on one of the most-coveted tickets in New York.
Game 3 appears set to be the most expensive NBA ticket of all-time, with the cheapest available ticket in the arena going for $13,421 at the weekend .
For those fans with a higher budget, courtside seats for Game 3 of the 2026 Finals are currently available for $70,000, while a slightly cheaper option in the middle bowl will cost you around $26,000.
As of Monday afternoon, tickets in the standing room only section were listed on resale sites for as much as $4,900 – a far cry from Mamdani’s price of $1,000.
The discrepancy between the skyrocketing prices available to the people of New York and the apparent mayoral discount left fans furious.
Many suggested that Mamdani had received a discounted ticket, while others pointed out that accessing tickets directly from MSG wasn’t a luxury available to everyone.
‘Tickets are always put on the side and comp’d by ownership & the league for celebrities, politicians, hall of famers and other dignitaries,’ one social media user alleged on social media.
Donald Trump’s attendance on Monday night has caused security and logistical headaches
‘What a load of BS from the Mayor. Tickets are a lot pricier than that even for nose bleeds. Cheapest seats are over $4500 or fake.’
Meanwhile, another questioned: ‘How did he get access to 1000 standing room ticket?’
‘Standing room only? Where is that at MSG….is Mamdani talking about the Chase Bridge? Also must be nice to be able to call MSG and get a ticket for less than $1K since the cheapest ticket Knicks released for fans was like $2K,’ a third fumed.
Mamdani had previously insisted that he would not be sitting alongside the president. In fact, the mayor is a regular in the nosebleeds.
Hundreds of US Secret Service officers and agents will be deployed at the Garden on Monday, joined by thousands of NYPD personnel in what law enforcement sources are calling a ‘heightened security posture’ unlike anything seen at an NBA game.
A hard closure is expected around the entirety of Madison Square Garden – one of the busiest corners of Midtown Manhattan – with entire city blocks effectively placed under lockdown for the duration of the event.
The Seventh and Eighth Avenue corridors surrounding the arena are expected to be shut down, cutting off key sections in one of the most congested parts of the city.
There will be no watch parties outside MSG either. Thousands of fans attended outdoor watch parties for Games 1 and 2, but those scenes will not be replicated on Monday, officials have confirmed.
Watch parties outside MSG have been prohibited due to the President’s attendance
No vehicle access and no pedestrian travel will be permitted through the secured perimeter, a sweeping restriction that will affect not just fans but anyone trying to get around that part of Manhattan on a Monday evening.
Only ticketed fans will be allowed anywhere near the building, and even they will face screening more akin to airport security than a typical night at the Garden.
No bags will be permitted inside – not purses, not backpacks, not totes of any size.
Fans have been warned in no uncertain terms to leave everything at home or face being turned away at the checkpoint.
Security checkpoints are expected to open at 6:30pm, a full two hours before the scheduled 8:30pm tipoff. Officials are urging fans to arrive early to avoid being stuck in what could be some of the longest queues in MSG history.
Despite the watch parties outside MSG being shut down, Mamdani announced early Monday that fans will be able to gather and watch the game together at another landmark.
‘These watch parties have become a celebration of New York City itself,’ said Mamdani.
‘From every borough and every neighborhood, this city has come together to cheer on the Knicks and share in a moment that belongs to all of us.
‘That’s why we’re adding Bryant Park as an additional watch party location, so even more fans can be part of this incredible Knicks Finals run.’
The watch party will be free and open to the public, with a maximum capacity of 5,000 fans allowed. They must register in advance.
