Spurs Move to Protect Home Court Before Game 5
The Spurs are fighting for more than just their season. Down 3–1 in the NBA Finals and staring at elimination, San Antonio is now battling something else entirely: a wave of New York Knicks fans determined to turn Frost Bank Center into a road arena on championship night.
With Knicks supporters buying up a massive share of available seats, the Spurs and Ticketmaster have taken an aggressive step. A notice on the Game 5 ticket page states that sales are restricted to customers living within a 150 mile radius of Frost Bank Center, with Ticketmaster warning that any orders outside that radius will be canceled and refunded.
It is a move rarely seen at this stage of the postseason, let alone the NBA Finals. But the Spurs believe they had little choice.
Knicks Fans Flooding the Market Forced the Spurs’ Hand
According to Gametime and TickPick data, 54 percent of all Game 5 tickets were purchased by buyers with New York or New Jersey area codes. That meant more than half the building risked being filled with Knicks fans ready to witness the franchise’s first championship since 1973.
Yahoo Sports reported that all direct flights from New York and Newark to San Antonio were booked, and even flights from Los Angeles to San Antonio were sold out as Knicks fans mobilized for a potential title clinching night.
The Knicks’ dramatic 29 point comeback in Game 4, the largest in NBA Finals history, only intensified the rush. With New York up 3–1, fans saw Game 5 as their chance to witness history.
Spurs Lean on Ticketmaster to Regain Control
The Ticketmaster notice is blunt. Residency is determined by the billing address on the credit card, and orders outside the 150 mile radius will be canceled without notice. The policy also includes a four ticket limit per transaction through the venue.
TMZ, Yahoo Sports, and Hollywood Unlocked all reported the same language, confirming that the Spurs are actively canceling tickets already purchased by out of state buyers.
The reaction has been immediate. Many fans expressed confusion about how the policy would be enforced, whether previously purchased tickets would be honored, and how the rule affects fans traveling from other parts of Texas. Others questioned whether the restriction would meaningfully stop Knicks fans from entering the building, given the availability of secondary markets.
Why the Spurs Are Taking This So Seriously
A Game 5 loss ends their season. A win sends the series back to New York, where the Knicks have been nearly unbeatable. And after blowing a 29 point lead in Game 4, San Antonio knows momentum is fragile.
Home court advantage matters. Especially in the NBA finals. And the Spurs are doing everything they can to preserve it.
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