New York Knicks fans react during the fourth quarter of the NBA game against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

76ers launch plan to keep Knicks fans from attending Game 6

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 5/1/24

The Philadelphia 76ers are taking some steps to make sure New York Knicks fans cannot take over Wells Fargo Center for the pivotal Game 6 of their Eastern Conference first round series.

The Sixers announced Wednesday that team owners are partnering with Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin to purchase 2,000 tickets for Game 6. The tickets will be distributed to Philadelphia-based organizations, such as community groups and first responders, to “harness the intensity and excitement” for the game.

Per a 76ers spokesperson:

76ers ownership Josh Harris, David Blitzer, and David Adelman, alongside Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, are teaming up to purchase and distribute more than 2,000 tickets to Sixers fans to Game 6. The tickets will be distributed to first responders, health…

— PHLY Sixers (@PHLY_Sixers) May 1, 2024

To be clear, this is a neat gesture by the team, and not a small one, either. 2,000 tickets is a pretty big sum for an arena that seats 21,000. In addition to being a good move, though, it also leaves 2,000 fewer tickets for Knicks fans to snap up.

Knicks fans could be heard pretty clearly during Game 4 in Philadelphia. It was bad enough that Joel Embiid voiced some disappointment at the lack of home court advantage. With Game 6 being do-or-die for the Sixers, the team definitely wants to avoid anything like that happening again.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: