Ticketmaster Reassures Knicks Fans: No Ticket Cancellations for Game 5
Ticketmaster is addressing concerns that New York Knicks fans might be denied entry to Saturday’s Game 5 of the NBA finals in San Antonio. The ticketing platform says that purchases that use a billing address more than 150 miles from the Frost Bank Arena will be cancelled, but it emphasises that “orders by residents outside of a 150-mile radius of Frost Bank Center will be canceled without notice and refunds given.”
Fans travelling from New York were worried that the policy would trap them without a way to attend the decisive game. According to Ticketmaster, tickets already bought are not being revoked or canceled.
Geographic Restriction Explained
The restriction is a common practice used by teams to give local residents the first chance to secure seats for big events. The policy is activated at the time of the purchase and is applied automatically to new orders that match the criteria.
The Spurs’ spokesperson confirmed that anyone whose billing ZIP code falls outside the designated 150-mile radius is unable to complete a ticket purchase under the restriction. However, tickets that have already been purchased prior to the implementation of the restriction remain valid.
Reactions from New York Officials
New York Governor Kathy Hochul publicly criticised the policy on social media, stating that Knicks fans “should not have their tickets canceled.” She further called the situation a foul when tweeting from the Chicago sky‑deck for the upcoming Blazer‑Pistons match.
Attorney General Letitia James echoed Hochul’s sentiment by requesting the Spurs to lift the restriction so that “anyone who can buy tickets for tonight’s game can attend.” She followed up with a public statement confirming that Knicks fans could indeed attend the game in San Antonio.
Madison Square Garden’s Assurance
In response to the controversy, the owners of Madison Square Garden Sports (Jim Dolan’s company) clarified that all ticket holders will be allowed entry. They said, “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.”
Getty Images – Crowd cheering in the Knicks’ orange and blue.
Ticketmaster’s Final Note
A Ticketmaster spokesperson told the BBC that “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.”
The platform also stressed that its policy is in line with normal practices for high-demand games, where geographic restrictions are used to accommodate local fans. The restriction is governed by the billing address on the credit card, not the destination itinerary.
In short, Knicks fans in New York should not worry that their tickets will be cancelled. Ticketmaster and the Spurs have confirmed that valid, pre‑purchased tickets will grant entry to Game 5, while the 150‑mile restriction will only affect new orders outside that radius.
