Forbes: Lakers second most expensive team to watch for 14-15

[Slava]

However, despite a terrible 27-55 record in the 2013-14 NBA regular season and no major free-agent signings outside of perhaps forward Carlos Boozer, the Los Angeles Lakers have the next biggest impact on opponents’ average home ticket prices. The Lakers also currently have the second highest median home game ticket prices, right behind the Cavaliers in that category as well.

It is Kobe Bryant that continues to drive up Lakers’ prices, which is remarkable in light of the Lakers’ depressing record only a year ago.

It would probably make more sense if the Lakers’ co-tenant in the Staples SPLS -0.94% Center boasted the second highest median home game and away game ticket prices. However, the Los Angeles Clippers, which finished the 2013-14 NBA regular season with a 57-25 record and was first overall in the Pacific Division, only has the eighth highest home median ticket price ($115).

According to NBA Home and Road Ticket Price Reports provided by secondary ticket marketplace Vivid Seats, the Cavaliers are the hottest ticket in the league, with a median home ticket price of $216, over $50 greater than the Los Angeles Lakers, which has the second highest median home ticket price at $165. The gap shortens between teams thereafter, with the New York Knicks ($157), Chicago Bulls ($155) and Phoenix Suns ($147) in third, fourth and fifth place respectively.

Forbes

[TyCobb]

Wow, I remember that guys blog when he first got started. Man did he blow up.

[dockingsched]

Definitely the kobe effect and his impending retirement. Most cities didn't get to see kobe at all last yr and some might only have one or two more chances left,

[Sofa King]

So the Lakers have to suck for over 3 decades for the ticket prices to be where the Clippers are.

[Tee212]

hes over paid my butt

[Mamba Venom]

Lakers need to lower ticket prices. No lux tax this year. Not a contender. Do the right thing Jeanie.

[spaceballer]

The prices are set by supply and demand, not necessarily the quality of a team or chance of contending. The Lakers will never reach the depths of the Bobcats (I think it was Bobcats) who had to do buy one get one free offers to try to give away tickets or something following that historic losing season.

[TruSkool]

lakers preseason tickets are more expensive than bobcats playoffs tickets. I'm not lying.

[desertlakerfan]

The prices are set by supply and demand, not necessarily the quality of a team or chance of contending. The Lakers will never reach the depths of the Bobcats (I think it was Bobcats) who had to do buy one get one free offers to try to give away tickets or something following that historic losing season.

perceived supply and demand at this point, what the actual demand will look like during the season will be represented by how many empty seats there are at our home games this year.

[spaceballer]

The prices are set by supply and demand, not necessarily the quality of a team or chance of contending. The Lakers will never reach the depths of the Bobcats (I think it was Bobcats) who had to do buy one get one free offers to try to give away tickets or something following that historic losing season.

perceived supply and demand at this point, what the actual demand will look like during the season will be represented by how many empty seats there are at our home games this year.

Empty seats won't be a big problem for a large market like LA. Look at the all those terrible years the Knicks had under Dolan and his BFF and scourge of Knicks fan-dom named Isiah Thomas. No matter how bad things got, filling the seats was never a problem. One of the benefits of being in a large market. NYC and LA, the two largest cities in the U.S., are head and shoulders above the size of any other market. Sheer population size alone means there's always someone else waiting in line to fill the seats.