Bernie Sanders Criticizes NBA Billionaire Owners Over Ticket Prices
The Vermont senator argues that average fans cannot afford to attend games, while owners continue to grow their wealth.
Senator Bernie Sanders has voiced criticism regarding the high cost of tickets to National Basketball Association (NBA) games, coinciding with the league's season opener.
Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, stated on X (formerly Twitter) that 26 out of 30 NBA owners are billionaires who are "getting richer every day." He highlighted that the average ticket price to see the New York Knicks play the Philadelphia 76ers was $1,894, asserting that "No. You should not have to be rich to take your kids to a ball game."
This is not the first time Sanders has addressed the issue of ticket prices for major professional sports leagues. On August 20, he pointed to the public funds often used in the construction of new sports venues. At that time, he noted that 31 out of 32 NFL owners, 26 out of 30 NBA owners, and 26 out of 30 MLB owners are billionaires and that taxpayer money helped build their stadiums.
Sanders did not comment on player salaries in his recent criticism.
His remarks come amid the NBA's 2026-27 season kickoff. The league's opening night featured matchups including the Boston Celtics against the Detroit Pistons, the Philadelphia 76ers led by LeBron James against the New York Knicks, and the San Antonio Spurs facing the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Separately, NBA owner Steve Ballmer, the wealthiest owner with an estimated net worth of $166 billion, is currently serving a one-year suspension from league activities. This suspension followed an NBA investigation into allegations that the Los Angeles Clippers, his team, circumvented salary-cap rules to sign player Kawhi Leonard. The investigation determined Ballmer was "knowingly" involved in seeking off-court income opportunities for Leonard. As a result, the Clippers were fined $30 million and forfeited multiple first-round draft picks.
Ticket prices for the Clippers' opening night on Ticketmaster ranged from $51 for terrace-level seats to $163 for lower-level club seats, not including additional taxes and fees. Tickets for another game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns were listed on a secondary marketplace for as little as $50 before taxes and fees.
Season-ticket prices vary by team, with the Golden State Warriors implementing a personal seat license program. This program requires fans to pay an upfront fee for the right to purchase season tickets, with the fee amount dependent on seat location. At the Chase Center, half of the initial seating options were sold with license fees of $15,000 or less, while the other half were priced higher.