Attendance was up 1.4 per cent in the NBA this season, with the league setting a slew of records for ticket sales and sellouts.
The total attendance in the regular season that ended Sunday was 22,536,341, the league said – the second consecutive season in which the NBA set that record. Other records set this season included 872 sellouts, 71 per cent of games selling out and the average attendance of 18,322.
The previous marks in those categories: 22,234,502 for total attendance, 791 sellouts, 63 per cent of games selling out and average attendance of 18,077. All were set in the 2022-23 season.
In all, the league said arenas were filled to 98-per-cent capacity, another record.
Part of the reason for the attendance boost was the success of the In-Season Tournament, which was held this season for the first time in November and December. The NBA’s average attendance for those November games around the league was 18,208, another record.
There were 10 teams – Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings – that sold out every game. Fans from more than 150 countries and territories purchased tickets to games, the league said.