The Lakers didn’t waste much time reminding fans that a change in ownership usually comes with a change in tone.
Season-ticket holders received their renewal notices this week, and the message was loud and clear. Prices are going up. In some cases, way up.
According to emails obtained by The California Post, ticket prices jumped by at least 14 percent across the board, with an added three percent “administrative fee” layered on top. One longtime season-ticket holder shared his math publicly.
Five seats in the upper bowl that ran about $15,000 last season now cost $22,000. Same seats. Same view. New owner.
Other fans reported increases of 25, 30, even 67 percent. Payment plans are also tighter, with fewer flexible options than before.
None of this is shocking. Mark Walter’s playbook is well-established. He spent aggressively, built a winner, and steadily raised prices with the Dodgers. The results spoke for themselves. Championships followed. So did higher costs of entry.
Now that model has arrived at Crypto.com Arena.
This isn’t about inflation or timing. It’s about philosophy. The Lakers are being treated like what they already are: A luxury brand with global demand. And luxury brands don’t discount.
The business case is easy to understand. Winning costs money. The emotional side is trickier. For decades, Lakers fandom lived in the upper bowl as much as courtside. When those seats become out of reach, something shifts.
Ownership changes culture. Culture changes price. And for a lot of fans, that reality just got very real.
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