NBA All-Star Saturday Plagued by Empty Seats at Intuit Dome

Fans and media criticize high ticket prices and lack of attendance for Dunk Contest and 3-Point Shootout

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend faced a major attendance crisis, with thousands of empty seats visible during the Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. Fans and media members quickly took to social media to criticize the league, citing exorbitant ticket prices that made the event inaccessible to average supporters. Broadcast cameras attempted to hide the empty sections, but viewers saw through the production tactics, accusing the NBA of trying to "gaslight" people into thinking the arena was fuller than it actually was.

Why it matters

The empty seats at the NBA All-Star Saturday events are a troubling sign for the league, which has seen declining ratings and waning interest in recent years. The high ticket prices have priced out many casual fans, turning the event into an exclusive luxury experience. This raises concerns about the long-term viability of the NBA's marquee mid-season showcase if the league cannot find a way to make it more accessible and appealing to a broader audience.

The details

Ticket prices for the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend events were astronomical, with entry-level seats for Saturday's main events starting at $400 and lower-tier seats climbing as high as $1,400. This pricing structure was already a source of criticism, with many fans arguing that the event had become inaccessible to average supporters. The empty seats were particularly noticeable during the Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest, where broadcast cameras struggled to avoid showing the massive void in the $2 billion Intuit Dome. The league attempted to create the illusion of a fuller crowd by dimming the arena lights and focusing tightly on the few occupied sections, but viewers quickly saw through the production tactics.

  • The warning signs were already evident during Friday's Rising Stars event, where more than 90% of the arena appeared empty.
  • On Saturday, the scene inside the arena told a different story, with large sections of empty seats surrounding the court during the Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest.

The players

Adam Silver

The commissioner of the NBA, who is facing scrutiny over the direction of the All-Star Weekend events.

Gary Washburn

An NBA writer who called for the league to find a way to distribute unused or unwanted tickets to the local community.

Cuff The Legend

A basketball critic and friend of LeBron James, who mocked the league's attempts to hide the empty seats.

Damon Rangoola

The advisor for Offside and a renowned game critic, who said the league cannot "gaslight" people into attending.

James Boyd

A writer for The Athletic who suggested the NBA should make tickets and concessions more affordable to improve accessibility.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is embarrassing. I get that it's not that great of an event but do they also overprice the tickets a ton? Why not just price it to fill the arena and make it a celebration for fans and players?”

— Justin Wills (Twitter)

“A lot of empty seats at Intuit Dome for All-Star Saturday Night. Not sure what the league can do if the tickets are purchased and not used. But there has to be a way to distribute unused or unwanted tickets to kids in the L.A. or the local community hosting the All-Star Game.”

— Gary Washburn, NBA writer (Twitter)

“they tried to dim the lights like a romantic authentic Italian restaurant to hide the 37 fans in the arena 🤣”

— Cuff The Legend, Basketball critic and LeBron James' friend (Twitter)

“Empty seats for All Star don't lie, you can't gaslight people into attending, fans are just not that Intuit”

— Daman Rangoola, Advisor for Offside and renowned game critic (Twitter)

“Don't know if it solves everything, but I think the NBA should make the tickets $10 like a high school game and include as many free parking passes as you can until you run out. And then make concession stand prices like a high school game, too... Just make it accessible.”

— James Boyd, Writer for The Athletic (Twitter)

What’s next

The NBA now faces a critical challenge to find a way to restore excitement and bring fans back into the seats before the silence becomes louder than the event itself.

The takeaway

The empty seats at the 2026 NBA All-Star Saturday events highlight the league's struggle to maintain interest and accessibility for its marquee mid-season showcase. High ticket prices have priced out many casual fans, turning the event into an exclusive luxury experience. The NBA must find a way to make the All-Star Weekend more affordable and appealing to a broader audience to ensure the long-term viability of the event.