PHILADELPHIA (94WIP SportsRadio) — Eliot Shorr-Parks' idea worked!
The Philadelphia 76ers announced owners Joshua Harris, David Blitzer, and David Adelman, plus Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, are purchasing and distributing more than 2,000 tickets to Sixers fans for Thursday night's Game Six of the team's first-round series against the New York Knicks.
"The tickets will be distributed to first responders, health care professionals, community groups, and other local Philadelphia-based organizations to harness the intensity and excitement for tomorrow’s crucial showdown with the New York Knicks," the Sixers announced in a statement on Wednesday.
Also confirmed: Chick-fil-A's "Bricken for Chicken" promotion will run through the whole game, not just the second half, on Thursday and at any remaining Sixers home games through the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
Taking back home court advantage
Shorr-Parks posted on X on Tuesday night, saying Philadelphia 76ers owner Joshua Harris should buy all of the remaining tickets for Game 6 and give them to Sixers fans.
"Best tweet of the night!" James Seltzer said of Shorr-Parks' tweet on Wednesday's 94WIP Morning Show.
Harris, 59, is the managing partner of the Sixers, New Jersey Devils, and Washington Commanders, and a general partner of Crystal Palace F.C. He has an estimated net worth of around $9 billion and sits courtside for most Sixers games.
Knicks fans have been buying up Sixers tickets on the secondary market at high resale prices, taking over Wells Fargo Center. Right now, the cheapest available tickets are standing room for $148, via Stubhub.com. The cheapest available seats are in the second level behind the backboard (219A, row 15) for $173.
New York fans gathered outside the arena after a Game 4 win and broke out in Knicks chants. They even put Knicks jerseys on the statue of Wilt Chamberlain that night.
Some fans stomped on Sixers rally towels and memorabilia as they celebrated their Knicks, who had such a large showing of support on Sunday afternoon that Joel Embiid admitted that it “kind of pisses me off” to see his team’s home court advantage get drowned out by chants of “MVP! MVP!” when Jalen Brunson lined up at the free throw line.
South Carolina women's basketball coach and Philadelphian Dawn Staley even tweeted, urging Sixers fans to show up big for Thursday night's Game 6.