As playoff energy builds, the Philadelphia 76ers are taking steps to make sure their home crowd stays true to city.
Ahead of their second-round series against the New York Knicks, the team has limited tickets sales for home games to fans located within the Greater Philadelphia area—an effort aimed at keeping opposing fans from overtaking the arena.
An “important Event Info” notice on Ticketmaster states, “Xfinity Mobile Arena is located in Philadelphia, PA. Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of the Greater Philadelphia area.” The policy also notes that eligibility is determined using the billing address tied to a customer’s credit card. Any purchases made by those outside the region will be voided and refunded.
Protecting home court advantage
The decision follows past matchups where Knicks fans showed up in large numbers, at times shifting the energy inside the arena. With Joel Embiid leading the charge, the message to fans is simple: keep the tickets and the crowd local.
“Last time we played the Knicks, it felt like this was Madison Square Garden East,” Embiid said following the Sixers game 7 win over the Boston Celtics.
“We’re going to need the support, don’t sell your tickets. New York City is a less than to hour drive from Philadelphia. It’s an even shorter commute from New York sports hot beds in North and Central New Jersey.
“This is bigger than you,” said Embiid, who jokingly added “If you need money, I got you.”
When to catch the playoff series in Philly
The series will begin at Madison Square Garden. It then shifts to South Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 on May 8 and 10. With two cities just a short trip apart, limiting ticket access could play a key role in preserving a true home-court edge.
For Sixers fans, the assignment is clear: show up, stay loud, and make sure Philly stays Philly.
Let’s go Sixers!
