Of Course Ben Stiller Isn't Paying for His Knicks Tickets

It’s sports season, with the basketball and ice hocket playoffs in full swing and the World Cup ready to begin (as soon as FIFA find a few more ways to bleed fans dry.) In New York, the Knicks are three games up in the finals against the San Antonio Spurs. This is, I have been informed, a very big deal, because they haven’t won it in quite a while (hey, this Leafs fan knows that kind of pain.) Last night, the stars were out in full force to support the Knicks and be seen supporting them. Ben Stiller was one such star.

He’s a native New Yorker and he’s long been a Knicks devotee, sharing plays and his commentary on social media. Stiller’s been one of the most recognisable faces at the games, alongside Timmy and Kylie, Taylor Swift (who wore a delightful Stevie Knicks t-shirt), Mariska Hargitay, and, of course, the team’s official mascot, Spike Lee (who wore a Pope Leo jersey, which I’m sure the Chicagoan will have zero problems with.) It’s not a cheap experience, to be a season ticket holder for any team, but especially an NBA one. So, how much is Stiller paying for his seats? Nothing. Duh.

During an ESPN pre-game interview, he was quizzed on whether he held a Knicks season ticket by Charles Barkley. “How long have you actually been a season ticket holder,” he was. Stiller admitted, “I don’t have a season ticket. I just get the tickets. The celebrities… [the Knicks] give us the tickets.”

A lot of people seemed shocked by this revelation. They were certainly grossed out by the blatant privilege of it. Fans are dealing with a cost-of-living crisis while James Dolan makes access to these games as pricey as a few months’ rent, but the millionaires don’t have to pay their way? How deeply sh*tty. And it is, truly. It’s also pretty standard, alas.

The thing about fame is that, the more money you accrue, the more free stuff you’re offered. Multi-millionaires can live off of gifted crap for a while, whether it’s clothes or accommodation or some wellness app that will eventually root your brain. It’s a business opportunity. You show off the free thing we gave you, we get tons of publicity and a sales boost. A tale as old as time.

But how does that work with a sports event? It’s not like the Knicks being in the playoffs was going to make selling tickets, even at obscenely inflated costs, a tough sell. That’s still considered a promotional opportunity. Being front row at a playoffs game is like being front row at Fashion Week, albeit with the extra excitement of a model potentially falling onto your lap. It draws attention to your brand. Typically, this is more effective on off seasons, when your team sucks but you need some headlines. The chances are that the celebrities or influencers you see front row during these games are contracted to be there and stay until the end, even if the loss is humiliating and you’d rather fall into a heap of shame.

James Dolan is also just a giant star-f**ker who doesn’t care about real people, of course. That’s why he let Trump turn up and curse the team, and claims Zohran Mamdani isn’t a real Knicks fan. As is usually the case with sports fandom, the real fun is on the outside, at bars and in public parks and with your friends, watching the game as you congregate with the fans. Sure, it’d be cool to be in the room where it happens, but why hang out with Jerry Seinfeld and David Zaslav when you could do literally anything else?