The reigning Western Conference Champion Dallas Mavericks are raising ticket prices ahead of next season. That would usually be a normal business decision, but teams don’t typically trade away their superstar mid-season the year after he took them to the NBA Finals.
About a month after dealing Dallas fans a huge blow by trading Luka Dončić to the Lakers, the Mavericks told season ticket holders Monday that their renewal packages will increase by an average of 8.61% next season. Seats with club access like those on the floor or premium seats are going to be more than 10% pricier. WFAA first reported the news.
“The Dallas Mavericks remain fully dedicated to delivering the best live game experience in the NBA, and as part of that commitment, ticket pricing adjustments for the 2025-2026 season will reflect ongoing investments in the team and fan engagement,” a representative for the Mavericks tells Front Office Sports.
The spokesperson’s release said the team did “months of analytics and research” looking into ticket sales on secondary markets, despite Dončić’s departure only happening a month ago.
The release further rubbed salt in fans’ wounds by saying certain season ticket holders are getting a “major financial advantage” when “factoring in marquee matchups like the Lakers game in April.” The team said their fans are also saving money this season because they put games free over-the-air on MavsTV and season ticket holders get a free subscription to stream MavsTV and NBA League Pass. The release said that the TV model “prioritizes accessibility and viewership over additional revenue.”
Shortly after the trade, the Mavericks offered a refund for fans who wanted to cancel the remainder of their season ticket package.
Unsurprisingly, fans—many of whom are still mourning the Luka trade—were not happy. One posted a screenshot of his email to the organization canceling his season tickets. Another said the email—which he says without seeing would’ve auto-renewed him for next year—went to his spam folder, despite receiving messages from the same Mavericks email address several times a month.
“The audacity of this ownership group to come in & destroy the soul of the fanbase and then price gouge it is disgusting,” posted a third.
Last year, Mavericks season ticket holders said their prices went up between 20% and 50%.
Since Dončić joined the Lakers, the Mavericks have gone 6–6, and are currently 10th in the Western Conference.
