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What $100 Will Get You at These NBA Arenas
In some cases, it's not enough to get in the door.
The NBA has long held a big chunk of real estate in the hearts of sports fans. Whether you're wistfully thinking back on the glory days of Magic vs. Bird or couldn't be more excited to see everything that LeBron James has in store for this season, the biggest fans of the game know that — year in, year out — the NBA is home to the best basketball in the world. What's more, there's no viewing experience in professional sports that really can match the intimacy of going to the nearest NBA arena and taking in a game live.
But, unfortunately, catching an NBA game in person without breaking the bank isn't so easy these days. With the spiraling prices for tickets, concessions and even parking, any hope you might harbor of getting out of the evening without putting a dent in your next paycheck is likely foolish. But which stadiums will really gouge you and which are surprisingly affordable? What's more, where in America can you hope to see a game — and maybe even get something to eat and drink — without having to spend more than $100?
That's the question that a new study from GOBankingRates set out out to answer. Looking at the average costs for attending a game at each NBA arena, along with the cost of some of those extras that really are part of the live game experience, the study breaks down precisely how much it would cost you to make a date with your favorite NBA team — and just how far you can get on $100.
The results demonstrate that — depending on where you live — $100 might not go that far with your favorite team.
Spectrum Center
- Team: Charlotte Hornets
- Average ticket: $32.05
- Parking: $14
- Beer: $7
- Soft drink: $3
- Hot dog: $4
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $80.04
The arena that lands on the low end of the, ahem, spectrum in terms of cost is the home of the Charlotte Hornets. That $100 will cover your whole trip to the arena — including a team hat — with $20 left over.
Smoothie King Center
- Team: New Orleans Pelicans
- Average ticket: $35.61
- Parking: $12
- Beer: $11
- Soft drink: $6.50
- Hot dog: $5.50
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $90.60
The unfortunately named Smoothie King Center is home to one of the most affordable options for NBA fans. One hundred dollars will be more than enough to cover a ticket, drinks, food and a souvenir.
FedEx Forum
- Team: Memphis Grizzlies
- Average ticket: $34.27
- Parking: $18
- Beer: $8.50
- Soft drink: $5
- Hot dog: $5.75
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $91.51
When it comes to keeping their fans' cash in their wallets, the Memphis Grizzlies are one team that delivers. When your whole evening out costs under $100, you'll have plenty of extra dollars to ship things overnight rush when you need to.
Target Center
- Team: Minnesota Timberwolves
- Average ticket: $43.58
- Parking: $10
- Beer: $10
- Soft drink: $6
- Hot dog: $6
- Hat from team store: $21.99
Average cost for one person: $97.57
The last of the venues where $100 covers your entire trip even when you splurge on extras, Target Center is tied for the lowest parking cost at just $10.
Vivint SmartHome Arena
- Team: Utah Jazz
- Average ticket: $49.25
- Parking: $10
- Beer: $8.25
- Soft drink: $5.25
- Hot dog: $7
- Hat from team store: $22
Average cost for one person: $101.75
Sure, $100 won't quite cover the whole trip to catch a home game for the Jazz, but it's very, very close. You might have to skip the soda to fit in under budget, but you're already having a beer so maybe that's not the end of the world.
Chesapeake Energy Arena
- Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
- Average ticket: $60.82
- Parking: $10
- Beer: $7.50
- Soft drink: $4.50
- Hot dog: $5.25
- Hat from team store: $14.99
Average cost for one person: $103.06
With tickets costing more than $60, the Thunder's making it harder for the average fan. But, the overall cost of taking in a game is still quite low as the extras are relatively cheap — including a league-wide best $14.99 for a hat.
Capital One Arena
- Team: Washington Wizards
- Average ticket: $41.84
- Parking: $21.40
- Beer: $10
- Soft drink: $5
- Hot dog: $5.75
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $103.98
One team that's not asking for too much capital in return for a ticket is the Washington Wizards, with the average cost for a seat coming in at just over $40. That said, parking will cost you more than $20, so consider taking mass transit if possible.
Bankers Life Fieldhouse
- Team: Indiana Pacers
- Average ticket: $50.91
- Parking: $15
- Beer: $8.50
- Soft drink: $5.50
- Hot dog: $5.25
- Hat from team store: $22
Average cost for one person: $107.16
The modest prices across the board likely will help Pacers fans live something closer to a "banker's life" by keeping the cost of attending a game at just over $100. If you skip the beer, the entire trip will cost just under $100.
Pepsi Center
- Team: Denver Nuggets
- Average ticket: $54.63
- Parking: $15
- Beer: $9.50
- Soft drink: $5.50
- Hot dog: $5.50
- Hat from team store: $21
Average cost for one person: $111.13
Catching a Nuggets game in the Mile High City isn't quite possible on $100 should you want all the bells and whistles. But, if you can catch a ride to the Pepsi Center, you'll be all in for less than $100 by saving on parking.
Little Caesars Arena
- Team: Detroit Pistons
- Average ticket: $54.10
- Parking: $16.50
- Beer: $5
- Soft drink: $5
- Hot dog: $4.75
- Hat from team store: $30
Average cost for one person: $115.35
The Detroit Pistons are offering a pretty affordable chance to catch a game, including the second-lowest beer prices in the NBA. That said, maybe skip the hat and find another way to represent — at $30, Pistons caps are the priciest in the league.
AT&T Center
- Team: San Antonio Spurs
- Average ticket: $70.52
- Parking: $10
- Beer: $7
- Soft drink: $3.50
- Hot dog: $5.75
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $116.76
The Spurs are tied for the cheapest parking and have the second-cheapest soft drinks in the NBA, but the $70 average ticket price is on the higher side. That said, if you don't get a hat from the team store, you still can get in under the $100 mark for the whole trip.
Read More:Most and Least Expensive Stadiums for Fans to Watch a Football Game
Talking Stick Resort Arena
- Team: Phoenix Suns
- Average ticket: $57.07
- Parking: $17.60
- Beer: $12.50
- Soft drink: $5.25
- Hot dog: $4.50
- Hat from team store: $20
Average cost for one person: $116.92
If there's one NBA city where a cold beer is likely to be especially nice, it's Phoenix. Unfortunately, though, Talking Stick Resort Arena has the second-highest beer prices in the NBA. If you still want that beer, you could keep the cost of attending a game under $100 by taking a bus to the arena so you won't have to pay for parking.
Amway Center
- Team: Orlando Magic
- Average ticket: $52.73
- Parking: $23.67
- Beer: $7.50
- Soft drink: $4.50
- Hot dog: $5
- Hat from team store: $23.99
Average cost for one person: $117.39
At the home of the Orlando Magic, one might be forgiven in thinking that there was some sleight of hand involved after shelling out nearly $50 for just a cap and a parking spot for the evening.
State Farm Arena
- Team: Atlanta Hawks
- Average ticket: $60.44
- Parking: $26.60
- Beer: $5
- Soft drink: $3
- Hot dog: $3
- Hat from team store: $20
Average cost for one person: $118.04
Atlanta's sports arenas have been in the news of late for offering extremely reasonable food prices, and State Farm Arena is right in line with the trend with the league's cheapest sodas and hot dogs.
Fiserv Forum
- Team: Milwaukee Bucks
- Average ticket: $61.39
- Parking: $15
- Beer: $10
- Soft drink: $6
- Hot dog: $7.50
- Hat from team store: $25
Average cost for one person: $124.89
If you can forgo getting a hat to commemorate the game, a trip to see the Bucks at Fiserv Forum will leave you with 11 cents after spending your $100 budget. You might consider skipping the hot dog, too, based on one of the league's higher prices at $7.50.
Scotiabank Arena
- Team: Toronto Raptors
- Average ticket: $70.89
- Parking: $13.86
- Beer: $8.69
- Soft drink: $4.72
- Hot dog: $5.86
- Hat from team store: $21.16
Average cost for one person: $125.18
The one Canadian entrant lands right in the middle of the league in terms of costs. You can attend a game for under $100, but you're going to have to forgo getting a hat and a soda.
Moda Center
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers
- Average ticket: $65.71
- Parking: $20
- Beer: $10
- Soft drink: $5.50
- Hot dog: $6
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $127.20
While the $65 ticket price isn't outrageous, catching a Blazers game at the Moda Center is likely going to cost you more than $100 unless you're willing to excise a few items from your budget. You'll likely have to pick between either parking or getting a hat, and even then you'll also need to pass on the beer.
Wells Fargo Center
- Team: Philadelphia 76ers
- Average ticket: $65.60
- Parking: $20.92
- Beer: $10.50
- Soft drink: $5
- Hot dog: $5.50
- Hat from team store: $21.99
Average cost for one person: $129.51
While no one cost is excessive when compared to the rest of the league, everything at the Wells Fargo Center is a little pricier than average — putting you about $30 over the $100 budget for the evening. Once again, skipping the souvenir hat and the beer would be the easiest path to staying under budget.
American Airlines Center
- Team: Dallas Mavericks
- Average ticket: $74.34
- Parking: $17.29
- Beer: $10
- Soft drink: $6.25
- Hot dog: $5.25
- Hat from team store: $20
Average cost for one person: $133.13
That $6.25 for a soft drink is clearly a bit much, even by arena food standards — most places don't charge more than $5 for a cup of soda. If you want to catch a game without clearing $100, you might need to get a ride to the stadium and you shouldn't expect to get that Mavs cap.
American Airlines Arena
- Team: Miami Heat
- Average ticket: $72.90
- Parking: $25
- Beer: $13
- Soft drink: $5.50
- Hot dog: $7.50
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $143.89
Clearly, someone at American Airlines has some market research indicating that NBA fans are frequent flyers. But, while the arenas in Dallas and Miami have the same sponsor, Heat fans can grumble about the fact that they're paying the league's highest beer prices at $13 a pop.
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- Team: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Average ticket: $93.77
- Parking: $20
- Beer: $4
- Soft drink: $3
- Hot dog: $5.75
- Hat from team store: $20
Average cost for one person: $146.52
Unfortunately for someone hoping to really get the full NBA experience, the ticket alone is going to eat up almost all of your $100. The good news? The $6.23 left in your pocket will be enough to get you a beer while you enjoy the game as Cleveland boasts the league's lowest price for suds.
Barclays Center
- Team: Brooklyn Nets
- Average ticket: $61.65
- Parking: $46
- Beer: $12
- Soft drink: $6
- Hot dog: $7
- Hat from team store: $18
Average cost for one person: $150.65
While the roughly $60 average cost of a ticket is actually pretty reasonable by NBA standards, the $12 you'll need to pay for a single beer would get you three brewskis if you're attending a game in Cleveland. The good news? New York's excellent mass transit system should mean fans don't need to pay that stunning $46 price to park unless they really have money to burn.
Golden1 Center
- Team: Sacramento Kings
- Average ticket: $89.08
- Parking: $20
- Beer: $12
- Soft drink: $5
- Hot dog: $5
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $151.07
You might need something approaching a king's ransom to attend a game at the Golden1 Center. It has some of the league's most expensive beer prices at $12 a pop — and you won't be able to afford even one after getting a ticket if you want to stay under $100.
Staples Center
- Team: Los Angeles Clippers
- Average ticket: $87.73
- Parking: $18
- Beer: $9.75
- Soft drink: $5.25
- Hot dog: $6.50
- Hat from team store: $23.99
Average cost for one person: $151.22
The Clippers long have been considered an also-ran in terms of basketball in Southern California, but they don't seem to be pricing their tickets as such. Almost all of your $100 budget is eaten up for just one seat at the average price, leaving you with money for a beer and not much else after you've paid for the ticket.
Toyota Center
- Team: Houston Rockets
- Average ticket: $108.35
- Parking: $14.24
- Beer: $9
- Soft drink: $4.50
- Hot dog: $6.50
- Hat from team store: $20
Average cost for one person: $162.59
The final six teams on this list don't leave you with any options for attending on a budget of $100: the price to get in the door is higher in each case. The Rockets actually have pretty reasonable costs for parking and sodas, but the average price of a ticket is already more than enough.
United Center
- Team: Chicago Bulls
- Average ticket: $113.17
- Parking: $24
- Beer: $9.25
- Soft drink: $6.25
- Hot dog: $6.50
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $179.16
One thing that Bulls fans might be united on? Tickets are just too expensive. You'll need over $110 just to get in the door with an average-priced seat.
TD Garden
- Team: Boston Celtics
- Average ticket: $100.79
- Parking: $35.63
- Beer: $12.50
- Soft drink: $7.50
- Hot dog: $6.25
- Hat from team store: $21.99
Average cost for one person: $184.66
If you want to catch a Celtics home game with just $100, you would still have to ask around for a little spare change. That said, you're less than a dollar from the price of admission. Just don't expect a lot else as the other costs range from high to really high.
Staples Center
- Team: Los Angeles Lakers
- Average ticket: $140.41
- Parking: $20.69
- Beer: $9.75
- Soft drink: $5.25
- Hot dog: $6.50
- Hat from team store: $20.99
Average cost for one person: $203.59
The fact that the Lakers and Clippers share the same arena but the Lakers can get away with charging nearly $50 more for the average ticket should tell you all you need to know about the Lakers/Clippers divide in Los Angeles. At least Clippers fans can rely on paying the same prices at the concessions stand.
Oracle Arena
- Team: Golden State Warriors
- Average ticket: $125.43
- Parking: $35
- Beer: $12.50
- Soft drink: $6
- Hot dog: $7
- Hat from team store: $25
Average cost for one person: $210.93
Despite a stretch of dominance that put them in the NBA finals for each of the past five seasons — winning three titles in that stretch — the Golden State Warriors are charging a "mere" $125.43 a seat, on average. That still puts them well out of reach for anyone trying to keep their spending to $100, but there are two teams with a lot less recent success charging more.
Editor's note: This data is based on the 2018-2019 season. The Warriors are now playing out of the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Madison Square Garden
- Team: New York Knicks
- Average ticket: $180.78
- Parking: $50
- Beer: $12.50
- Soft drink: $7
- Hot dog: $8.50
- Hat from team store: $19.99
Average cost for one person: $278.77
New York's love/hate relationship with the Knicks has included a lot of heartbreak over the years, but for some fans, the biggest tragedy would be the enormous cost of attending a home game for a team that went 17-65 last year. Playing in Manhattan will do that. All told, taking a family of four to see the Knicks with all of the extras will run you $900 for the evening, so you should think carefully about just how badly you want to catch a game before plopping down that kind of money.
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Methodology: GOBankingRates, using Team Marketing Reports: 2018-19 NBA Fan Cost Index Report, looked at all 30 NBA Teams to determine what $100 will get you at their home arenas. First, GOBankingRates calculated the average cost to attend for (1) one person which included the price of an average ticket, the cost of parking, one hot dog, one beer, one soft drink and one hat from the team store. GOBankingRates then calculated for the average cost for (2) two people to attend which includes the price of two average tickets, the cost of parking, two hot dogs, two beers, two soft drinks and two hats from the team store, (3) the cost for a family of three to attend which includes price of three average tickets, the cost of parking, three hot dogs, two beers, three soft drinks and one hat from the team store, as well as (4) the average cost for a family of four that includes the price of four average tickets, the cost of parking, four hot dogs, two beers, four soft drinks and two hats from the team store. GOBankingRates also calculated how much $100 could stretch for one person by first subtracting the average ticket price for each arena from $100 and if there was any money left over, then subtracting parking, and then the price of a beer, a hot dog, all the way down to the cost of a hat from the team store to see how much one could actually stretch $100 at each stadium.
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Source: https://www.gobankingrates.com/saving-money/entertainment/what-100-will-get-you-nba-arenas/