Mavericks raising ticket prices after controversial Luka Doncic trade infuriates fans

The Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic and likely lost some fan attendance in the process.Now, the Mavericks are raising season-ticket prices for next season.Season-ticket holders received renewal information Monday morning and it included an average overall price increase of 8.61%, according to WFAA.“Ongoing investments in team and fan engagement” were listed by the Mavericks as the reasoning for the price hike. The pricing changes are reported to better reflect seat value, a better fan experience that will upgrade in-game entertainment and adjustments for secondary market ticket value.Club Access level season tickets will increase by more than 10%; some Terrace Level seats will see a jump from $20 to $24.The season-ticket price increase is the second in as many offseasons for Dallas, as last season’s increases for many fans were more than 10%.Both increases have been under the organization’s new ownership after Mark Cuban sold the team in November 2023.The Mavericks say that when taking into account projected market prices, full-season ticket holders should actually save 15-23%.Dallas fans were infuriated by the trading of superstar Doncic and the pricing increase will likely further mount their anger.Many fans protested the trade and threatened to cancel their season tickets.According to ESPN’s NBA Attendance Report, Dallas boasted the second-highest average attendance at its home games in the 2023-24 season with over 20,000 fans packed into American Airlines Center each game.This season, the Mavericks also currently sit in second place in total attendance for this season.Since dealing Doncic ahead of the trade deadline, Dallas is 6-6 and sits in 10th place at 32-29 in the Western Conference.Anthony Davis, whom the Mavericks got from the Lakers in the trade, got injured in his first game with Dallas.Doncic’s Lakers are 10-2 in that same span and have shot all the way up to second place at 38-21....