Trump says fans priced out of $8K NBA finals tickets can ‘watch it on television’

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump brushed aside complaints about $8,000 NBA finals tickets by telling fans who cannot afford them to simply watch the game on television.

His remarks came as many New Yorkers expressed frustration over the soaring cost of attending the New York Knicks’ first NBA finals appearance in decades. The issue drew extra attention because Trump is expected to attend Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Trump dismisses $8K Knicks ticket concerns

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked about the steep prices fans face to see the Knicks play in person.\

The cheapest tickets for Game 3 were selling for more than $8,000 on secondary markets.

“They can watch it on television,” Trump said. “It’s sort of semi free to watch it on television. That’s the way life goes.”

The president’s comments came as sports fans across the country continue to complain about the rising cost of attending major games, especially playoff and championship matchups.

For many Knicks supporters, the NBA Finals represent a once-in-a-generation event after decades without a trip to the championship round.

Trump links prices to Knicks’ success

Trump argued that the team’s popularity and success were driving demand and pushing ticket prices higher.

“If the team wasn’t a big success, you could go very easily,” he said.

He then repeated his point about fans having alternatives if they could not secure a seat inside Madison Square Garden.

“So you can do that too, but that’s the way life is,” Trump added.

The remarks quickly became a focal point because of the eye-popping ticket prices and Trump’s planned attendance at the game.

Rising sports costs fuel fan frustration

The debate over Knicks Finals tickets comes amid broader complaints from sports fans about the cost of following their favorite teams.

Supporters of football clubs around the world have also voiced outrage over ticket prices for World Cup matches scheduled to be played in North America this summer.

At the same time, the price of watching live sports has continued to rise as more media companies move games away from traditional television and place them behind streaming services and paywalls.

Trump pointed to television as an accessible option for fans unable to attend in person. The NBA Finals are being carried by ESPN and ABC, with ABC available over the air through an antenna.

Still, many New Yorkers have embraced a different solution. With tickets out of reach for large numbers of fans, crowds have gathered across Manhattan at public viewing parties and large-screen watch events as excitement around the Knicks’ historic Finals run continues to build ahead of Monday’s game.