Ticketmaster note sparks backlash over Knicks fans in San Antonio
A Ticketmaster warning that Knicks tickets could be canceled outside a 150-mile radius sparked panic, then a rapid walkback as officials pressed for answers.
A Ticketmaster warning tied to Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio set off immediate confusion among Knicks fans and New Yorkers, after the note said purchases by customers living more than 150 miles from Frost Bank Center would be canceled and refunded without notice. The wording made it sound as if traveling fans could be locked out before the company and the San Antonio Spurs moved to narrow the policy’s reach.
Ticketmaster later said the restriction applied only to new orders and that tickets already purchased would not be revoked. The company also said no tickets bought on its platform had been or would be canceled, and that residency was determined by the buyer’s credit card billing address. The Spurs said the 150-mile geographic rule had been in place since the playoffs began in April and was intended to prioritize local fans in San Antonio, Austin and surrounding communities.
The initial wording ignited backlash after the note circulated online and was amplified Friday night. Gov. Kathy Hochul criticized the policy on social media, saying it was unfair for Knicks fans to have their tickets canceled after the team had moved within one win of a championship. New York Attorney General Letitia James went further, demanding that the Spurs reverse the restriction and allow Knicks fans and others who could buy tickets to attend.
Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., the company controlled by Knicks owner James Dolan, then said it had confirmed with Spurs ownership that tickets would not be revoked and that all ticket holders would be allowed into Frost Bank Center. James later said she was glad Knicks fans would be able to attend.
The episode unfolded as the Knicks’ first NBA Finals run in 27 years collided with a tense security climate in New York City. After earlier street celebrations turned chaotic, including fights, pepper spray use, injuries to police and dozens of arrests, the city imposed a secure zone and no-pedestrian-access restrictions around Madison Square Garden for Game 3 and Game 4. The New York City Police Department said the Game 4 perimeter would cover several blocks, from 30th to 35th Streets between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, starting at 4 p.m., and the Knicks had already put in place a strict no-bag policy and TSA-level security at entry.
Dolan lashed out at Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, calling them “New York City’s biggest party poopers” and accusing them of turning the area into a police state. For fans, the twin controversies underscored how fragile trust has become around ticketing rules and game-day access, especially when geography, resale controls and security crackdowns converge around high-stakes events.
This article was produced by Prism’s automated news system from verified source data, official records, and press releases, then run through automated quality and moderation checks before publishing. The system is built and supervised by the people who set the standards it runs under. Read our full AI policy.
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