The owners of the 76ers and former minority owner Michael Rubin have purchased tickets for Thursday's Game 6 of Philadelphia's playoff series against the Knicks in an attempt to block New York fans from once again overrunning Wells Fargo Center.
Knicks fans were an overwhelming presence at Game 4 at Wells Fargo for New York's comeback victory, prompting Sixers star Joel Embiid to express his disappointment with Philadelphia fans.
One day after the Sixers extended the series with an improbable Game 5 victory in New York, Rubin announced Wednesday on social media that he had teamed up with owners Josh Harris, David Blitzer and David Adelman to purchase "more than 2,000" tickets for Game 6. The Fanatics CEO said the tickets would be given to "first responders, health care professionals and other local Philadelphia-based organizations."
Josh Harris, David Blitzer, @david_adelman and I just bought more than 2,000 tix for Sixers Game 6 - we absolutely CANNOT let Knicks fans take over our arena again!!! Giving them to first responders, health care professionals and other local Philadelphia-based organizations once... https://t.co/HQkOWJpHgB
— Michael Rubin (@michaelrubin) May 1, 2024
A video posted Wednesday to the 76ers' official Instagram account showed tickets being given to fans on the streets of Philadelphia.
South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley, a Philadelphia native and Sixers fan, also took to social media this week to implore season-ticket holders not to sell their Game 6 tickets to Knicks fans.
I need the @WellsFargoCtr full of @sixers fans....season tickets holders DO NOT SELL YOUR TICKETS to Knicks fans....I repeat DO NOT SELL YOUR TICKERS to Knicks fans! Pour into our @sixers! We can really do this ish man!!!
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) May 1, 2024
Rubin sold his 10% stake in Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment in 2022 to complete a divestment as a limited partner of 76ers and New Jersey Devils. He is still regularly seen courtside at Wells Fargo Center and was in attendance for Game 4 on Sunday.
Embiid told reporters Sunday that the presence of Knicks fans in Game 4 was "unfortunate" and "disappointing," adding that it "pisses me off, especially because Philly is considered a sports town."
Despite being on the brink of elimination, the Sixers rallied Tuesday behind Tyrese Maxey, who forced overtime by scoring 7 points in the final 28.9 seconds of regulation before leading Philadelphia to a 112-106 overtime victory in Madison Square Garden and forcing the best-of-seven series back to Philadelphia for Game 6.
With the Sixers facing a 3-2 series deficit, Maxey admitted "our season is back on the line again come Thursday."