Christmas Day has become one of the most crowded dates on the American sports calendar, with the NFL and NBA both fighting for attention. But while football may dominate the TV ratings, the gap between their live ticket prices tells a very different story.
Christmas Day Ticket Prices Differ From NBA & NFL
In the NBA, the early game is the one with the high demand and high ticket costs. The Cavaliers will be inside Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks at noon on Christmas, and the get-in price is one of the costliest of any NBA game this season. As of Tuesday, the cheapest get-in cost for a single ticket to see the game live is listed at $473, according to SeatGeek.
Compare that to the NFL’s Christmas slate, where fans can attend one of three games for a fraction of the cost. The lowest-priced ticket for Cowboys at Commanders is just $63, while Lions at Vikings checks in at $90. Even the holiday nightcap between division rivals Broncos and Chiefs is available for as little as $46, making it cheaper to attend an NFL game on Christmas than to take a family of four to the movies.
The combined cost of all three NFL get-in prices is $199, less than half of the cost for the cheapest ticket to the Knicks game.
🎄 ONE WEEK AWAY from Christmas Day! 🎄
Watch #NBAXmas action all day Thursday, 12/25 on ABC & ESPN with games beginning at 12:00pm/et! pic.twitter.com/nDkl2kxJSt
— NBA (@NBA) December 18, 2025
The contrast highlights the NFL’s unmatched scale. With larger stadiums, more total inventory, and an audience accustomed to weekly games, the league can offer lower get-in prices even on a holiday. Christmas NFL games also benefit from broader regional appeal, as fans of traveling teams like Dallas or Kansas City can find affordable secondary-market options in nearly any stadium.
The NBA, on the other hand, leans into scarcity. Christmas Day is treated as a premium product, often featuring star-driven matchups in major markets. That exclusivity, combined with smaller arenas, pushes prices sky-high, especially when legacy franchises like the Knicks are involved.
