Ticketmaster says Knicks fans won't be locked out of game after last-minute panic Getty Images Rows of people mostly wearing jerseys in the Knicks colors of orange and blue throw their hands in the air, cheering a victory. Ticketmaster is seeking to reassure Knicks fans that they can still attend Saturday's Game 5 of the NBA finals in Texas, despite its limits on ticket purchases.
In a note on its website for the game, Ticketmaster said purchases by those living farther than 150mi (241km) from the San Antonio arena would be cancelled and refunded without notice. Fans coming from New York to see the Knicks take on the Spurs worried they would be locked out.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted on social media: "Knicks fans finally get within one game of a championship and their reward is having their tickets canceled?" But Ticketmaster said no tickets purchased on its platform "have or will be canceled". A note from the Ticketmaster site saying, in part, that "orders by residents outside of a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center will be canceled without notice and refunds given." "If fans are purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster, they can be confident that they're getting a real, authenticated ticket that will get them into tonight's game," a Ticketmaster spokesperson told the BBC on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the Spurs told the BBC that individuals whose billing ZIP code falls outside the designated area "are unable to complete a ticket purchase subject to that restriction". But, "tickets that have been previously purchased are not being canceled or revoked," the spokesperson added.
The restriction, meant to give locals better chances of scoring seats to major games, has been in place since the NBA playoffs began in April, according to the Spurs. But panic - and later outrage - grew after US media outlet TMZ reported on the Ticketmaster note on Friday night.
Hochul had said fans who bought seats for the game at Frost Bank Center should be able to keep them. "Until then, on behalf of Knicks fans everywhere, I'm calling foul," she wrote on social media. New York Attorney General Letitia James too demanded the Spurs remove the policy and allow Knicks fans "and anyone who can buy tickets for tonight's game to be able to attend".
After fans were reassured they would be let in, James wrote: "I'm glad our Knicks fans will be able to attend the game tonight in San Antonio. Go Knicks!" A representative for Madison Square Garden Sports Corp - the company headed by Jim Dolan that own the Knicks - said in a statement: "Contrary to prior reporting, we've confirmed with Spurs ownership that they will not be revoking any tickets that Knicks fans have to tonight's game in San Antonio and all ticket holders will be allowed in to Frost Bank Arena." Ticketmaster said it's common for teams to place geographic restrictions on anticipated events to give local fans a chance to attend.
Residency is established based on credit card billing address. As the Knicks eye their first NBA title in 53 years, New York's Spurs fans keep a low-key vibe Knicks owner clashes with Mamdani over tight security, cancelling NBA Finals watch party New candy stores are popping up across NYC.
Why? Split screen of a woman standing outside and a road in New York City full of cars. Watch: Is the US ready to host the 2026 World Cup? The BBC’s Nada Tawfik reports on readiness concerns in the New York-New Jersey region, where eight matches will take place.
An oil painting of a woman wearing black sitting on a chair. There are other pieces of furniture in the background. The painting is framed and hung on a black wall. Painting bought for $100 in US charity shop sells for £190,000 Art teacher Helene Plotkin bought the work in White Plans, New York in 1966, unaware it was by Scottish Colourist FCB Cadell.
E. Jean Carroll exits the New York Federal Court after President Donald Trump appeared in court, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. US prosecutor denies launching criminal investigation into E Jean Carroll The top federal prosecutor in Chicago has denied media reports that his office opened an investigation into E Jean Carroll.
Google's multi-coloured logo is seen on a white sign in outside their headquarters, a grey and beige building with trees in the foreground and wispy clouds against a blue sky, in Mountain View, California in 2024 Google worker charged with using internal data to make $1.2m on bets The longtime Google employee was charged in New York for allegedly breaking insider trading laws.
Split screen. Nada Tawfik on the left. New York New Jersey Stadium on the right. Why Fifa is being investigated over World Cup ticket prices New York and New Jersey are looking into the association after fans have reportedly been "misled" over ticket sales and seat locations.
The BBC is in multiple languages Read the BBC In your own language Copyright 2026 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
