If you're planning on seeing the new-look Lakers in person next season, prepare yourself to empty your wallet.
After the acquisition of six-time All-Star, Anthony Davis, from the New Orleans Pelicans, ticket experts expect Lakers ticket prices to rise significantly next season.
"With the Lakers landing Anthony Davis, it's a near lock they'll have the most expensive ticket heading into 2019-2020 season," said Brett Goldberg, the CEO of TickPick, a secondary ticket company. "After comparing the price jump from the season before LeBron joined the Lakers to last season, we project ticket prices to increase 15 to 20 percent next season with the addition of AD."
Using median ticket prices over the last few years, the average ticket price for the 2017-2018 season, before LeBron James joined the team, was $128.
After LeBron joined the Lakers, ticket prices increased by 63 percent to $209 on average. Lakers season tickets sold out after James announced he was taking his talents to Tinseltown, and despite the Warriors reaching five consecutive NBA Finals, the Lake Show is still the hottest ticket in the NBA.
According to Goldberg, the median ticket price for the Lakers now with LeBron and Davis in 2019-2020, is expected to be over $250, that would set an all-time NBA record for the average admission price.
Despite missing the playoffs for a franchise worst, six consecutive seasons, the Lakers became the betting favorites to win the 2019-2020 NBA Championship after the announcement of the Davis trade was made public.
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Oddsmakers are banking on the dynamic duo of LeBron James and Davis, becoming basketball's best one-two punch since Shaq and Kobe in the early 2000s. As you can see from the expected ticket prices, the Lakers organization is banking on that also, and raising the price of admission.
Davis not only brings cache and stardom to a landmark franchise, he brings hope and optimism. Fans believe that with the addition of Davis, that the Lakers are "back," and well on their way to a record tying 17th NBA title.
The addition of Davis is a monumental step into completing the rebuild that came in the wake of Kobe Bryant's retirement. After each and every disappointing season, the franchise and their fans have put their hopes into the summer in the event the team could land a marquee free agent.
For years, those franchise changing free agents never arrived, until LeBron announced he was signing with Los Angeles in the summer of 2018.
Now, with James and Davis together, the Lakers could possible lure a third superstar and create a new "Big Three," under the bright lights of Hollywood.
"If Los Angeles is able to find a way to lure a [third] superstar in free agency like Kawhi or Kyrie, ticket prices could skyrocket to a level we've never seen before in the regular season," said Goldberg.
Is that worth the price of admission to the average fan? Only time will tell.
