Fans Safeguard Unrivaled as Expensive Ticket Prices Come to Light

For fans eagerly awaiting the Unrivaled 3×3 basketball league’s inaugural season, the buzz was palpable—until ticket prices stole the spotlight. What started as a slam dunk moment for fans quickly turned into an uphill battle against skyrocketing resale prices. Yet, amidst the frustration, the community has rallied to protect the league’s reputation.

A Reddit post captured the growing dismay: “I was looking forward to going to the games, but now I see the prices and think I might be staying home and supporting from my couch. Are the prices that high or am I too late?” The comments that followed were a mix of advice and shared disappointment.

But one thing all fans shared was a passion to support Unrivaled by showing up for the games. Set to tip off on January 17, 2025, Unrivaled boasts a star-studded lineup of players like Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu, and Angel Reese, among 33 others, and broadcasters such as Candace Parker. The league has also successfully secured funding of $28 million from investors like Tennis icon Coco Gauff, Ashton Kutcher, and Alex Morgan among a few more in Series A funding round.

Moreover, it has also signed an exclusive, multiyear media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, with games set to air on TNT and truTV. Now if that wasn’t enough to speak of the league’s growing popularity, the skyrocketing ticket prices would speak enough. “We want to be a part of that change,” Collier had said as she spoke of the shift WNBA witnessed in terms of viewership with Caitlin Clark’s arrival. Well, they seem to be heading towards it, but the surge in demand has left fans divided.

Some are excited to see Unrivaled take off, while others are grappling with the steep resale prices.

Fans react to soaring Unrivaled resale prices: Dedication vs. scalpers

One user responded, “Late. Tickets dropped over a month ago and the cheapest then was like $65. Now they are high.” Another added, “They’re nearly all resale now… Don’t pay more than like $85 a ticket though for seats that aren’t courtside. Regular tickets were max $65.”

Fans who managed to secure tickets early seemed to have dodged the chaos, with some pointing out that Monday and Tuesday games still offered slightly affordable options. As one fan noted, “I managed to get an additional Friday game for $84.” But for others, the steep prices and resale market had already soured the experience.

The league’s January 17 debut in Miami, featuring matchups like Mist vs. Lunar Owls and Rose vs. Vinyl, sold out almost instantly. On Ticketmaster, the cheapest resale seats were listed at $408, while courtside views climbed to $1,180. These figures starkly contrast with the original price range of $45 to $60 when sales first went live.

Fans quickly took to social media to voice their frustration. One commented, “I’m so sad that opening weekend tickets are being resold for $450+ US. I’m Canadian, so that’s steep. Thankfully, I got tickets for February games instead.” Others targeted scalpers directly, with one stating, “Nothing is worse than scalpers… Like, get a job. Let people enjoy things they want to enjoy without exploiting for a quick gain.”

Despite the backlash, many fans defended the league, attributing the high prices to its growing popularity and the timing of purchases. “There are some games priced at $57-$66 on third-party apps,” one fan explained, adding that these were mostly weekday games. Others urged patience and caution, recommending reputable platforms like Ticketmaster and StubHub to avoid scams.

This collective effort to support the league highlights fans’ dedication, even amid challenges. The resale frenzy has sparked conversations about accessibility, but fans seem determined to keep Unrivaled’s momentum alive.