Knicks are the Most Expensive Team for Fans to Support
- Eric Moreno
- 23 hours ago
- 2 min read
While they are currently surging in the NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks were recently crowned as the most expensive professional team to support in all of sports. A study from Foresight Sports found that major sports ticket prices have risen over 25% in the past three years.
This factored into their determination that the NBA’s Knicks cost their fans the most – over $4,000 annually – to support each season. Foresight’s research examined the yearly expenses that fans can incur over the cost of a season, including streaming fees, ticket costs, food and beverages in the stadium, and jerseys.
“Tickets are going up in price almost every season,” a spokesperson with Foresight said of the report. “And if you don’t buy them on time, the resale rates are unbelievable lately. Even if you decide to watch at home, you have to buy streaming services these days. Before, you'd buy cable and catch most games. Now you need separate subscriptions for different leagues, plus local networks, plus playoff coverage.”
These costs were all combined to show the annual price of being a sports fan. The Knicks were the runaway winners as being the most expensive team to follow in the world, with ticket costs averaging $3,195 and in-stadium food and drinks $390.
“An average Knicks fan spends nearly $4,300 every year to support their favorite team, more than what people pay to follow any NFL or soccer franchise,” the report says. “Tickets alone cost them $3,195 for the season, as watching 15 home games at Madison Square Garden runs over $200 per seat.”
Surprisingly, the second most expensive team on the list is the NFL’s Detroit Lions, which cost fans an annual average of $4,011. The leading culprit? Ticket costs for the Lions average $3,088 for fans, and streaming costs for the NFL are higher than for other leagues.
“NFL fans spend nearly $600 on streaming subscriptions alone, nearly triple what soccer supporters pay,” the report said.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors join the Knicks as some of the highest-cost NBA teams to follow, while the NHL’s lone representative in the top 10 is the Toronto Maple Leafs.
