Lakers Raise Ticket Prices, Kings Promise No Increase

The Lakers will ask many of their season-ticket holders to pay more next season at the Staples Center, but the Kings have promised prices will be at or below this season’s levels. The Clippers plan to announce their prices in mid-March, when they announce their ticket relocation plans.

Laker single-game and season tickets this season range from $21 to $130 a game. That excludes the small number of $850 courtside seats occupied by celebrities such as Jack Nicholson. Laker season tickets at the Staples Center will range from $21 to $150 a game, and the tag for Nicholson and his neighbors hasn’t been set but probably will top $1,000. Following an NBA mandate, 500 tickets are available for each game at $10 a ticket. Some Laker fans will see small increases. The second-cheapest ticket this season is $28.50 but will rise next season to $31. Seats that sell for $37 this season will, for the most part, be $45 next season.

However, some hefty increases are in store. The biggest hike is for some seats located on the lower level behind the basket in the corner. Those are $55 each and will go to $90. The next-biggest increase will affect some of the $37 seats. About half will cost $60, the other half increasing to $45. Because the arenas are configured different and a new class of Premier seats will exist, some locations do not correspond exactly.

Single-game tickets for the Clippers this season range from $10 to $50.

“We anticipate some reasonable increases,” Clipper spokesman Joe Safety said. “However, our ticket prices will remain among the NBA’s most affordable. . . . “

The Kings’ single-game tickets range from $18 to $90. On a season-ticket basis, they range from $18 to $87.50. Next season’s prices will be set soon, and club President Tim Leiweke said there will be no sticker-shock.

“We do not deserve a raise,” he said, alluding to the Kings’ rocky season. “I know there’s a huge amount of paranoia among people who think we’re going to jack the prices up, but we’re not going to price anybody out.”

Leiweke also said, “One problem the league and sports have as a whole, is we have priced ourselves out of reach of the average fan. I know for sure charging $60 is ridiculous. . . . We’re not going to sign a free agent and pass the costs to our season-ticket holders.”