Top News

Championship sporting events and big-time concerts are no longer for the average person. Rising prices, ticket re-sellers and economic struggles for large segments of the population have made it so the only people who can afford a championship experience or the most popular musical acts of the day are A-list celebrities and the richest finance bros in the country.

This is especially true in larger markets like New York City.

It is even more true at Madison Square Garden, and when the local basketball team — the New York Knicks — is playing in its first NBA Finals since 1999 against the San Antonio Spurs.

So let’s say you’re a lifelong Knicks fan who wants to attend the first NBA Finals game at the Garden in more than two-and-a-half decades. As of Wednesday night, the get-in price for Game 3 of the series on Monday night, for just one ticket, is over $5,600. That puts you in the upper reaches of the Garden, and has you there by yourself.

Do you know what would be cheaper?

Flying to San Antonio, with a friend, for Game 2 on Friday night and spending the night in a nice hotel.

Let’s do the math on that.

Knicks fans are further ahead flying to San Antonio to see the NBA Finals

Let’s just work off of that $5,600 price tag for one seat.

If you double that and take a partner/friend, you are now over the $10,000 mark just to get in the building. If that seems outrageous, it’s because it is.

But if the two of you pool your money together and fly to San Antonio for Game 2 on Friday night, you can get in the door for significantly cheaper.

Here’s how you can do it.

All prices and availability included here are as of Wednesday evening, so it’s possible these prices for flights, hotels and even tickets could change over the next few days.

Step 1: Tickets

This has to be the first step, because without tickets, there’s no point in making the trip.

There is a massive difference between ticket prices in New York and San Antonio for the first games of the series. As of Wednesday night the get-in price for Game 2 on StubHub is around $1,000 per ticket.

For two people, you’re looking at $2,000 for a pair in the upper reaches. But if you’re a fan, you don’t care about the location. You just want in.

Current cost after tickets: $2,000

Step 2: Getting to San Antonio

The most logical option, given available flights, prices and arrival times, would be flying out of LaGuardia airport on Friday morning.

There is a 6 a.m. ET Southwest Flight (with two stops) that arrives in San Antonio at 2:40 p.m. CT that will cost $1,599, round trip, two for people.

Assuming no delays or cancellations, that’s more than enough time to leave the airport, check in to your hotel, and then get to the game.

Let’s just add another $100 to this cost for transportation to and from both airports.

Current cost after tickets and transportation: $3,699

Step 3: Sleeping in San Antonio

Unless you’re doing a quick turnaround and red-eye flight back to New York, you’re going to want to stay in a hotel. And if you have the budget to do all of this, you might as well get a decent hotel.

Priceline has a wide selection of hotels in downtown San Antonio that come in at under $300.

For example, you can stay at the Westin on the San Antonio Riverwalk (which sounds positively delightful) for $289. It is a four-star hotel with an 8.7 customer rating on Priceline. That’s really good. Let’s book it.

Current cost after tickets, flights and hotel: $3,988

Step 4: Other costs

This is where we factor in a nice dinner before the game. A few drinks, alcoholic or non-alcoholic at the game, a postgame stop after the game and anything else you spend on an overnight trip.

Let’s just set that budget at $400. That allows you to get a good meal at one of San Antonio’s finest restaurants. Breakfast the next morning. Whatever else you want to purchase. This is where you can cut some things out if you want.

Cost for everything for two people: $4,388

It is still cheaper than the cheapest ticket for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.

No wonder you have to be Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller or Timothy Chalamet to go to an NBA Finals game.