Mavericks season-ticket holders were “not happy” about the team’s latest price increase, “as could be expected” after some staged protests outside American Airlines Center and spray-painted messages directed at GM Nico Harrison following the trade that sent G Luka Doncic to the Lakers, according to Ian Casselberry of YAHOO SPORTS. The Mavs reportedly “offered refunds to fans who canceled season tickets” after the trade, telling ticketholders that “no determination has been made about season ticket pricing for the 2025-26 season.” Casselberry noted the “investments in the team and fan engagement” was what “particularly irked several fans.” Several fans also “lamented not canceling the auto-renewal of their season tickets before the notice of a price increase went out” (YAHOO SPORTS, 3/3). The Mavs in a statement said the rate hike in season tickets was made to “better reflect seat value, especially in high-demand areas closest to the court.” THE ATHLETIC’s Christian Clark noted the adjustments were made “after months of evaluating ticket prices on the secondary market.” The team also pointed out that, before this season, they “shifted their local television model by parting ways with Bally Sports” and “making all their non-national TV exclusives free on over-the-air TV.” That decision cost the team “more than” $50M in revenue. The Mavs projected that, even with the rate hikes, season-ticket holders “will save 15 to 23 percent” compared to prices on the secondary ticket marketplace next season (THE ATHLETIC, 3/3).
READ THE ROOM: NBCSPORTS.com’s Kurt Helin wrote if it had not been for trading Doncic and the ensuing fan backlash, this announcement would have “flown entirely under the radar,” and “most fans likely would have paid it without blinking.” However, in the wake of a trade that the Mavs fanbase hates, the timing of the announcement “comes off as tone deaf. At best” (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/3).
GRASS AIN’T GREENER: In Fort Worth, Mac Engel writes nearly one month to the day after the team “traded its most popular player,” the Mavericks “decided the best path forward to winning back angry fans” is to raise ticket prices. Trading Doncic is “a basketball move,” but raising a ticket price is “a business move.” They are “not linked, but they’re together.” Engel writes as much as irate Mavs fans do not want to see this, this hike “is consistent with other clubs around the NBA.” It is “just expensive to attend an NBA game.” He writes the Mavs are “banking on this area’s continued population growth will continue to keep the American Airlines Center full.” The other 29 NBA franchises, however, will “not be announcing ticket price hikes 30 days after trading away one of the best players in the world.” Dealing Doncic has “generated a backlash” that owner Patrick Dumont, and President Rick Welts, did “not fully anticipate,” or “failed to accurately predict” (FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/4 ).
