Fans of the New York Knicks took over the Wells Fargo Center, the home of the Philadelphia 76ers, after their Game 4 victory in their first-round matchup. Ahead of their Game 6 matchup at home on Thursday night, 76ers owners are attempting to make sure that there isn’t a repeat of that.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, a one-time part-owner of the 76ers, took to social media on Wednesday to reveal that he and the 76ers ownership group consisting of Josh Harris, David Blitzer, and David Adelman have purchased 2,000 tickets in an attempt to block raucous Knicks fans from once again overrunning the Wells Fargo Center.
Josh Harris, David Blitzer, @david_adelman and I just bought more than 2,000 tix for Sixers Game 6 – we absolutely CANNOT let Knicks fans take over our arena again!!! Giving them to first responders, health care professionals and other local Philadelphia-based organizations once… https://t.co/HQkOWJpHgB
— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) May 1, 2024
On one hand, it’s certainly a noble thing to do for the community, as these tickets will be given out to first responders, healthcare workers, and “other local Philadelphia-based organizations”.
But on the other hand, it can certainly be seen as a bit soft for them to do this in an attempt to keep as many Knicks fans out of the arena as possible.
Naturally, the topic was discussed on the SNY network on Wednesday, where both Sal Licata and John Jastremski were quite critical of the move.
“Let Philadelphia do whatever they have got to do,” said Licata. “It’s pathetic, it’s embarrassing that you even have to do that. But let them have their little movement. The Knicks need to be the better team, go out there and win the game.”
“I do have a problem with it, Sal,” said Jastremski. “Philadelphia is supposed to be this great sports city. It’s a Game 6 playoff environment. Listen, it’s great that Michael Rubin is finding first responders and people who do good in the community and getting them to an NBA playoff game. But the city of Philadelphia can’t pack the building by themselves? They can’t, because the Knicks took it over in Game 3. And Game 4 you heard what Jalen Brunson was doing. It sounded like Madison Square Garden south via I-95. I think it’s lame. I think it’s hokey. And I think it’s a pathetic act across the board.”
You gotta problem with that?@emacSNY, @sal_licata & @John_Jastremski discuss the 76ers owners buying 2,000 tickets to Game 6 of Knicks-Sixers in Philadelphia https://t.co/yX3kPeBYCn pic.twitter.com/ngFpOxphJG
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) May 2, 2024
For quite some time now, there has been a debate that only a few cities have a claim to being the best sports town. But based on this series alone, the city of Philadelphia may be taking itself out of that running.
[Photo/Video Credit: SNY Knicks on Twitter/X]
