The postseason push that landed the Knicks in the NBA Finals is expected to generate at least $145 million in revenue.
That figure, from Seaport Research Partners analyst David Joyce, could have been even higher; the Knicks’ sweeps of the 76ers and Cavaliers eliminated potential home games at Madison Square Garden and the revenue that would have come with them. Joyce wrote in a May 26 research note that New York’s early-series sweeps “took away” about $29 million in potential revenue for Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., the parent entity that owns the Knicks and Rangers.
Each Finals game—there could be a max of three in New York—is expected to produce around $20.3 million in revenue, according to Joyce, a number he wrote was “likely conservative.”
Merchandise, concessions, and sponsorships contribute to the total, but Joyce tells Front Office Sports that tickets are “by far” the biggest driver of revenue.
The Knicks wouldn’t get all the ticket revenue—NBA teams keep 75% of ticket revenue, with the rest routed to the league, which uses it to cover postseason expenses. Even after accounting for the league’s 25% cut, the playoffs remain an enormous financial boon for MSG Sports.
