Three Sixers Preseason Games, Seats Near the Court: What We Paid and Learned

Francis was taking a photo of Frances when Jaylen Brown appeared in the background, waving toward us. LeBron James was there too. It was one of those funny, unexpected moments that made us look at each other and think: we’re really this close.

Across three Sixers preseason games, we watched warm-ups from nearby, heard players chatting, and saw interactions with young fans that we would have missed watching at home. We also learned that a seat near the court can come with a less-than-perfect view.

We had been following the excitement around the Sixers’ advertised new “Fab Five,” with LeBron a big part of the draw. We ended up attending three of their four preseason games: two in Philadelphia, against the Knicks and Celtics, and one against the Nets in Brooklyn.

Our approach was simple: compare Ticketmaster, StubHub, and TickPick, keep an eye on specific seats, and wait for a price we were comfortable paying. We set a maximum of $500 per person and were prepared to skip a game if we couldn’t find the right seats within that budget.

What we paid for the three games

Prices are approximate, per person, in US dollars, and include fees. They cover game admission only; transport, food, and other expenses were separate. The Brooklyn platform is recalled from memory.

For both Philadelphia games, we had previously seen those exact seats listed at around $800 each. Those were earlier asking prices, rather than verified face values. Our eventual purchase totals included fees; we didn’t record the fee breakdown of those earlier listings.

The biggest surprise? The $150 seats gave us our favorite view of the full game.

Our ticket strategy: start looking early, stay flexible about buying

We started checking as soon as tickets appeared on the platforms. We tracked specific seats, but also watched for alternatives near center court or close to the Sixers’ bench. We cared about the experience the location would give us, so we were willing to switch seats when a better option appeared.

We compared all three platforms rather than assuming one would always be cheapest. Each of our three purchases ended up coming from a different site.

For the Knicks and Nets games, we bought about a day before. For the Celtics game, we waited until three to four hours before tip-off and paid around $150 each for seats we had seen listed much higher.

That worked for us because we had a firm budget and were happy to walk away. Waiting is a different proposition if you absolutely must attend a particular game or sit in a particular section. Prices can rise, seats can sell, and our three purchases don’t establish a rule about when tickets will be cheapest.

We also noticed less price movement as some games got closer. Our experience wasn’t a steady countdown to ever-cheaper seats. We kept checking and bought when the location and price made sense to us.

Philadelphia against the Knicks: close seats, two lessons

Our first visit to the Sixers’ home arena cost about $350 per person. We were in the third row, across from the team’s bench, and excited to experience an NBA game in Philadelphia for the first time.

There were two disappointments. After buying, we saw a report that LeBron, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey wouldn’t play. We don’t know whether that news affected ticket prices, but it changed what we were going to see.

The second issue became clear once we sat down. Taller spectators occupied the first two rows, and our section didn’t have enough elevation to give us an easy view over them. We found ourselves adjusting to follow the game and take photos and videos.

Was that particular seat worth $350? We’re still not sure. Being close was exciting, but proximity alone didn’t give us the view we wanted.

If we booked again, we would look carefully at the sightline, especially in the first few rows behind courtside seating. We would still prioritize center court or the team bench, while checking how well we could see over the people in front.

Brooklyn: our favorite for being close to the players

At Barclays Center, our seats were behind the basket, near the Sixers’ bench and the route players used from the tunnel. At about $246 each, they gave us our favorite close-up experience of the three games.

This was the first preseason game in which we saw LeBron play. We were a few feet away, had a clear view of the players, and could sometimes hear them chatting. As they came out from the tunnel, they passed our seats.

That’s a very different experience from following the broadcast. You notice the little exchanges, the expressions, and what’s happening around the bench between plays.

Staff also made a difference. They checked our tickets and were gracious about helping us find our seats. When players came through the tunnel, they stopped spectators from other seating areas from crowding the space. We appreciated both the welcome and the way they kept the area controlled.

It’s an important distinction if you’re planning your own visit: arriving early doesn’t give every ticket holder access to these areas. Our tickets were checked, and our seating location mattered.

Philadelphia against the Celtics: our best view, at the lowest price

For our return to Philadelphia, we bought through Ticketmaster just a few hours before tip-off. At approximately $150 per person, these were the cheapest tickets of the three games.

They also gave us the best overall vantage point. Sitting behind the scorer’s table around center court meant we could follow the entire game comfortably. We were still close to the players, but the view of the basketball itself was what made this location stand out.

We also got to watch LeBron’s chalk toss firsthand—one of the rituals we had seen on screen so many times. Seeing it from our own seats made the evening feel that much more special.

Asked to choose, we would pick Brooklyn for player proximity and the Celtics game in Philadelphia for the best view of the whole court. The most expensive of our three tickets was neither of those.

Arrive for doors opening—not an hour before it

Some of our best moments happened before tip-off, but our first Philadelphia visit taught us that arriving too early has its downsides. We got there at 5 p.m., only to find that both the entrance and the bag-storage lockers wouldn’t open until 6 p.m. We couldn’t enter the arena or leave our bag, so we spent an hour waiting outside with it.

For our Philadelphia visits, regular entry was an hour before tip-off; season ticket holders had an earlier entry window. Our advice is to check the opening time for your own ticket and plan to arrive around then. If you’re bringing a bag, check the current bag policy and any storage opening times too. Travel without one if you can, or avoid arriving before somewhere is open to store it. Don’t assume lockers will be available just because you’ve reached the arena.

Getting there early gave us time to watch individual warm-ups. Across the games, we filmed LeBron, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey preparing to play. It was fun seeing those routines close up, rather than catching a few seconds of them on television.

Stay within the areas your ticket allows, follow staff directions, and treat any interaction as a bonus. We enjoyed the access we had without expecting an autograph or a personal moment.

The moments we couldn’t have had watching at home

Some of our strongest memories had very little to do with the score. There was the photo with Jaylen waving in the background, the conversations we could hear nearby, and the way players interacted on the bench.

We watched LeBron give his wristband to a child. We also saw him stop near the tunnel to sign jerseys and interact with young fans. Seeing how much those moments meant to the kids was lovely.

VJ Edgecombe gave young fans a memorable moment too, signing autographs and giving away his headband. We captured that interaction and shared it on our social accounts.

Those encounters helped explain why we enjoyed preseason so much. To us, the atmosphere felt relaxed, and we got to see a more personal side of the players alongside the basketball.

Getting there from New York

Brooklyn was the simplest trip: we took the subway, using the 2 or 3 to reach Barclays Center.

For our first Philadelphia visit, we traveled with Amtrak. We booked the train around two weeks ahead because we intended to visit Philadelphia regardless of whether we bought game tickets. That let us arrange the travel earlier while keeping our decision about seats open.

For the Celtics game, we took FlixBus to Philadelphia for around $50 per person one way, then returned on Amtrak. The game finished around 10 p.m., and our train was around 11 p.m. The later return was a cheaper option for that trip.

As visitors unfamiliar with Philadelphia, we used Uber between our arrival point and the arena. Factor those rides into your budget alongside your intercity tickets, and allow enough time to leave the arena and reach your return service. Our timing is an example of what we did, rather than a connection we would assume will work for every game.

Would we recommend NBA preseason?

Yes—depending on what you want from the visit.

For us, preseason offered a way to get close to players at prices we were comfortable paying. We enjoyed the warm-ups, the relaxed atmosphere, and the interactions around the bench and tunnel. If your aim is to see your favorite players in person, it’s worth including preseason in your options and comparing what your budget can buy.

But buying a ticket doesn’t guarantee that a particular player will take the court. Our first game, without LeBron, Maxey, or Embiid playing, was a real reminder of that. If seeing one specific player compete is the whole reason for your trip, that uncertainty deserves more weight in your decision.

Here’s what we would repeat:

• Set a maximum price before browsing. Ours was $500 per person, including fees.
• Compare all three platforms. Ticketmaster, StubHub, and TickPick each supplied one of our purchases.
• Track seats, while staying open to nearby alternatives. We focused on center court and the Sixers’ bench.
• Check the sightline as carefully as the distance from the court. Our third-row experience showed why that matters.
• Arrive for the permitted entry time. Warm-ups became part of the experience we were paying for.

Our $150 tickets gave us the best view of the game. Our $246 tickets gave us our favorite close-up moments. That’s what we’ll remember when we book again: choose the experience you want, set your limit, and be ready to buy when the seats and price work for you.