Playoff Pricing in Focus: What Ticket Prices Reveal About the 2025 NBA & NHL Conference Finals

As the NBA and NHL Conference Finals get underway, there’s more than just on-court and on-ice drama catching attention. The ticket markets are heating up, and the trends in average ticket price (ATP) and get-in prices tell a revealing story about fan demand, market size and playoff stakes. 

Let’s dive into what the numbers—and the graphs—say. 

NBA Conference Finals 

The NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals have no lack of star power or storylines in 2025, with one of the top being the difference in market size. 

The Knicks play in one of, if not the largest media markets in the country, while the Pacers play in a traditionally small market. This is causing a massive shift in ATP from game to game in this series. 

The ATP for Knicks home games in the series comes in at $1,289.75, while Pacers home game ATP comes in at just $620.66. This means a game in New York is 108% more expensive than a game in Indianapolis.  

When broken down by get-in prices, fans are paying an average of $639.91 to get into Madison Square Garden, compared to just $285.59 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That is a 124% percent difference. 

In the West, it’s a battle between two smaller-market teams—the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder—but that doesn’t mean fan demand is low. Despite the absence of long-established NBA powers, rising stars like Anthony Edwards and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have injected serious energy into the series. 

Ticket prices are notably more affordable than in the East but still show a healthy climb as the series progresses. The ATP for Timberwolves home games averages $481.63, while Thunder home games come in at $459.93, a 5% increase in Minnesota’s favor. 

For get-in prices, the contrast is even clearer. Thunder home games average just $164.25, while Timberwolves home games come in at $199.44, a 22% increase for fans in Minneapolis. 

NHL Conference Finals 

In the NHL, the Eastern Conference Finals feature the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes: two recent contenders with growing fan bases, but neither in a traditional hockey hotbed or massive market. That’s keeping prices accessible. 

Carolina home games have an ATP of $314.19, while Florida home games average $357.29, meaning Florida games are roughly 14% more expensive. 

When it comes to get-in pricing, fans are paying an average of $143.05 in North Carolina and $147.47 in Florida. That’s a very tight margin, with Carolina being slightly more expensive, likely due to a smaller venue and limited supply. 

Out west, the NHL’s most expensive series belongs to the Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers, both of whom bring significant recent playoff experience and deep, passionate fanbases. 

Stars home games lead the way with an ATP of $519.11, compared to $467.14 in Edmonton, a 11% edge to Dallas. 

The get-in price gap is even wider: Dallas games average a get-in of $212.24, while Edmonton sits at $276.13, making Edmonton roughly 31% more expensive at the entry level. 

Final Thoughts: What the Market Tells Us 

From the bright lights of New York to the rink in Raleigh, this year’s Conference Finals are delivering strong demand across both leagues—even without the usual list of megastars and legacy franchises. 

• Knicks fans are paying top dollar, with the highest ATP and get-in prices of any series. 

• Western Conference NBA and NHL series are the most budget-friendly, reflecting smaller markets and a broader range of access. 

• Game 7s show sharp price spikes, as elimination and championship hopes draw fans to the moment.