DALLAS — A few hours after the Dallas Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving on Sunday, Twitter user Hector Paul posted that he had planned to bring his son, who is named Maverick, to a game.
He also added this.
“Kyrie bout to have them tickets jump up a bit.”
Paul wasn’t wrong.
Since the Mavericks acquired the controversial-yet-talented eight-time All-Star guard from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and a package of draft picks, the average ticket cost of his expected American Airlines Center debut — Monday, Feb. 13, vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves — has spiked considerably.
According to Vivid Seats, the average ticket price for Irving’s first home game is up 209%, from $116 to $359. Remaining tickets for Mavericks home games are also up 44%, according to the ticket provider.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the lowest-priced single ticket on SeatGeek for Irving’s home debut started at $71. Ticketmaster’s current get-in price was $89 for a balcony seat. A courtside seat on Ticketmaster would run fans $3,300.
For reference, though prices could rise, tickets to Dallas’ home game vs. San Antonio on Feb. 23 were priced at $53. Home against Indiana on Feb. 28? $32.
Outliers on the home schedule with prices similar to Irving’s debut include Feb. 26 vs. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers ($126) and March 22 vs. the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors ($82).
SeatGeek lists the average cost of admission for a Mavericks game at $59, though it doesn’t specify whether that includes both home and away games.
A rise in ticket prices following the midseason acquisition of a superstar player is not entirely uncommon. After the San Diego Padres traded for All-Star outfielder Juan Soto last July, secondary market ticket prices nearly doubled for the 24-year-old’s first home game, from an average of $51.58 per ticket to $95.94.
Irving, 30, arrived in Dallas on Monday and is expected to make his Mavericks debut Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers.
