Following the recent influx of New York Knicks fans at the Wells Fargo Center during a Philadelphia 76ers game, the team's ownership has taken proactive measures to ensure a strong home-court advantage moving forward. Managing partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer, along with limited partner David Adelman and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, have collectively acquired over 2,000 tickets for the pivotal Game 6 against New York.
In a surprising turn of events during Game 4, the arena was dominated by traveling Knicks fans, creating an atmosphere that felt far from a home game for the 76ers. The New York supporters even went as far as chanting MVP for Jalen Brunson and directing explicit chants towards Sixers' star Joel Embiid before the game.
Despite the challenging environment, New York managed to secure a 97-92 victory in Game 4, taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Embiid expressed his disappointment post-game, emphasizing his frustration at the lack of a true home-court advantage after a decade with the team.
However, Philadelphia bounced back in Game 5, securing a crucial win on the road to bring the series to 3-2. In response to the previous fan dominance, Rubin, along with the ownership group, announced the purchase of 2,000 tickets for Game 6 to prevent a repeat scenario.
The initiative aims to distribute the tickets to first responders, healthcare professionals, and local Philadelphia-based organizations to ensure genuine Sixers fans fill the arena. With the series delicately poised, the 76ers are counting on their supporters to rally behind them as they aim to overcome the 3-1 deficit, a feat achieved by only 13 teams in NBA history.
The dramatic Game 5 victory, fueled by a stellar 46-point performance from Tyrese Maxey, has injected renewed hope and energy into the Sixers' camp. Notable figures like South Carolina women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley have encouraged season ticket holders to retain their seats and not sell them to opposing fans.
