NBA All-Star Game Struggles to Attract Fans Amid High Ticket Prices

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The NBA has revamped its All-Star Game format, scrapping the traditional East vs. West matchup in favor of a more competitive USA vs. World tournament. However, the high ticket prices, ranging from $500 to $1,700, have priced out many fans, leading to sparse attendance at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The league says the event was sold out, but reporters on the ground noted that the arena appeared to be only half full, with many available seats visible.

Why it matters

The lack of fan attendance at the NBA All-Star Game, one of the league's marquee events, raises concerns about the accessibility and affordability of the sport's biggest moments. If the NBA wants to engage its fanbase and showcase its top talent, it needs to find a way to make the All-Star experience more accessible to average fans, not just corporate partners and the wealthy elite.

The details

The NBA introduced a new USA vs. World format for the 2026 All-Star Game, which featured a three-team, four-game round-robin tournament. This change was meant to increase the competitiveness and excitement of the event, which had previously been criticized for a lack of effort and entertainment value. However, the high ticket prices, ranging from $500 to $1,700, have priced out many fans, leading to sparse attendance at the Intuit Dome. According to reports, the arena, which has a capacity of 18,000, was reduced to just over 15,000 seats due to the various events happening that weekend, and it would be a shock if 10,000 people were actually in attendance.

• The 75th NBA All-Star Game took place on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
• The NBA All-Star Saturday Night events were held on February 15, 2026.

What’s next

The NBA will need to reevaluate its ticket pricing strategy for the 2027 All-Star Game to make the event more accessible to a wider range of fans.