With the Sixers on the verge of elimination, they are going to need all the help they can get. Game 6 on Thursday is being played in Philadelphia, but Wells Fargo Center hasn't been quite the advantage that it's supposed to be.
Sixers fans sold their tickets en-masse during Game 4, leading to an environment that felt more like Madison Square Garden for the visiting Knicks. The cities are less than two hours apart by train, and ticket prices for Games 3 and 4 on the secondary market were oftentimes cheaper than attending a game in New York.
The influx of New Yorkers did not go unnoticed by ownership, players, and other fans in Philadelphia. They are doing their best to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin buying Sixers tickets for fans
In an effort to curb Knicks fans from entering the building, Fanatics CEO and former Sixers minority owner Michael Rubin teamed up with owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer, and David Adelman to buy more than 2,000 tickets for Thursday's game.
They have already started redistributing them to Sixers faithful, as documented on the team's Instagram page.
"We absolutely CANNOT let Knicks fans take over our arena again!!!" Rubin tweeted on Friday. "Giving them to first responders, health care professionals and other local Philadelphia-based organizations once we know they’re legit Sixers fans and not imposters!! Let’s go Sixers - we can do this!!"
Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Dawn Staley react to Knicks fans presence after Game 4
Joel Embiid told reporters after the team's 97-92 Game 4 loss that the massive crowd of Knicks fans in Philadelphia's arena was "disappointing."
"I love our fans. I think it's unfortunate, and I'm not calling them out, but it is disappointing. Obviously, you got a lot of Knicks fans, and they're down the road.
"It pisses me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town," Embiid added. "They've always shown up, and I don't think that should happen. Yeah, it's not OK."
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Tyrese Maxey was more understanding of the situation.
"They're right up the street from us, honestly. So, it is what it is, and you just got to go out there and you got to defeat that."
Philadelphia native and USC head coach Dawn Staley urged her fellow Sixers fans to do their part.
"Season tickets holders DO NOT SELL YOUR TICKETS to Knicks fans," Staley tweeted. "I repeat DO NOT SELL YOUR TICKERS to Knicks fans!"
The get in price for Game 6 in the secondary market was $130, as of Thursday morning. In comparison, tickets to Madison Square Garden for a potential Game 7 started at $450.
