Seven years, seven playoff berths. Playing postseason basketball is what the Chicago Bulls do, but could 2016 be the year that streak comes to an end?
It has been a turbulent last month for the Bulls, who have fallen out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and will need to make up considerable ground if they hope to return. Pending a big comeback, Chicago would likely enter postseason play against the reigning Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers, who ousted them in six Semifinal games last season.
And while hope remains high for the Bulls to punch their ticket to an eighth consecutive postseason appearance, fans will be paying big prices for Bulls playoff tickets on the secondary market.
According to the secondary market, the average resale price for Chicago Bulls playoff tickets across three potential home games during the first round is $345.79. That marks an 81.6% jump over the Bulls’ season average of $190.34 during the 41-game season at United Center. Should the Bulls clinch a playoff berth and draw the Cavaliers, however, expect that number to jump once the series is finalized.
Each game during the first round of play currently exceeds the $300 ticket average on the resale market. With just over 2,300 tickets available across all three games, Home Game 1 on April 16 is currently the cheapest at an average price of $301.86 and a $101 get-in price. Should the series extend to a second home game two days later, tickets average $321.75 and the get-in price is $105. A third potential home game on April 25 is the most expensive game at United Center during the first round, with tickets averaging $443.34 and the cheapest listed for $114.
Of course, traveling to Chicago won’t be as painful on the wallet as the price of tickets to a Bulls playoff game, Chicago hotels are starting from $75 per night during the month of April. With the Blackhawks also clinching a postseason berth, April could be the perfect time to visit one of the most revered sports towns in the nation.
However, the Bulls have their work cut out for them if they hope to keep the hardwood intact at United Center through mid-April. With the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards also vying for the final spot in the East, it will be no easy task for Chicago to play on this spring. Expect Derrick Rose and Co. to make one last push down the stretch as the team looks to keep the postseason streak alive in the Windy City.