Concerns over a last-minute panic among Knicks fans have been alleviated after Ticketmaster clarified its stance on ticket restrictions. The issue arose when a note on the Ticketmaster website for Game 5 of the NBA finals indicated that purchases by those living farther than 150 miles from the San Antonio arena would be cancelled and refunded without notice.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James had expressed their concerns over the policy, with Hochul stating on social media that 'Knicks fans finally get within one game of a championship and their reward is having their tickets canceled?'
However, Ticketmaster has since reassured fans that no tickets purchased on its platform 'have or will be canceled.' The organisation stated that the restriction is in place to give local fans a better chance of scoring seats to major games.
A spokesperson for the Spurs, the team facing the Knicks in the finals, confirmed that individuals whose billing ZIP code falls outside the designated area are unable to complete a ticket purchase subject to that restriction. Nevertheless, tickets that have been previously purchased are not being canceled or revoked.
The restriction has been in place since the NBA playoffs began in April, with Ticketmaster stating that it's common for teams to place geographic restrictions on anticipated events to give local fans a chance to attend.