Knicks fever has made Madison Square Garden a gold mine for investorsNEWS | 09 June 2026Last night's Knicks game brought a spectacle to Madison Square Garden that's rarely been seen in modern US sports history.
The cheapest ticket just to get into the building for Game 3 of the NBA Finals cost thousands of dollars. Two tickets on celebrity row fetched $1 million in an auction. Speaking of which, the vast array of celebs who have become mainstays — including Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Fat Joe, Larry David, and Spike Lee — showed up in force. Even President Trump, whose security detail created a TSA-like environment around the arena, was there to root on the Knicks.
And that was just inside the arena. To truly appreciate the next-level fandom of the Knicks, one must understand the madness that happens outside MSG before, during, and after games — the chants, the wildly dressed characters, the viral moments.
While the Knicks lost on Monday night, they had rattled off 13 straight wins before that. The excitement level remains at a fever pitch heading into Game 4 on Wednesday.
No matter who you're a fan of (I'm actually a ride-or-die Chicago Bulls supporter … blech) it's impossible to deny that the Knicks and MSG have something special.
But fear not, non-sports-loving investors: this success and heightened interest has manifested itself in the stock market, namely in the form of strong gains for both of MSG's sports- and arena-specific entities.
The chart below shows the market-beating gains in action. Over the past year, shares of MSG Sports (which owns the NBA's Knicks and the NHL's Rangers) have soared 103%, while MSG Entertainment (which owns the MSG arena, Radio City Music Hall, and the Beacon Theatre) has climbed 89%.
Note that both stocks have climbed throughout the NBA playoffs, as the Knicks have mostly blown past the competition.
Curry Baker, a Guggenheim Securities analyst who covers MSG Sports, recently boosted his price target on the stock specifically because of the Knicks' recent success. The logic is simple: a team that plays in high-demand, do-or-die playoff games will generate more revenue and increase its value. (Do you hear that, Bulls?)
Other positives cited by Baker also included a possible spin-off of the Knicks and Rangers into separately traded entities, as well as the NBA's plans to expand into two new markets, and a possible foray into Europe.
As for MSG Entertainment, power couple Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are reportedly planning to get married at the arena in July, an event that's sure to deliver heavy buzz — and revenue.
Both MSG companies roll up into Knicks owner James Dolan. Add in Sphere Entertainment, which is also owned by Dolan — and is enjoying a record-setting stock surge of its own — it's clear that he's having a moment.
His flagship sports team is on the brink of a title, and it's the hottest ticket in town during the week that the soccer World Cup starts. He has people traveling from around the country to spend thousands on legacy musical acts in a unique, visually unprecedented environment.
Dolan is making loads of money — for himself, and for investors — by facilitating fun and enjoyment for thousands of people. It's a feel-good story all around. Now the Knicks just need two more wins to truly solidify this golden era.Author: More Stories. Joe Ciolli. Every Time. Look Out For An Alert In Your Inbox The Next Time. Source
