Ticketmaster says Knicks fans won't be locked out of game after last-minute panic

Ticketmaster is seeking to reassure Knicks fans that they can still attend Saturday's Game 5 of the NBA finals in Texas, despite its limits on ticket purchases.

In a note on its website for the game, Ticketmaster said purchases by those living farther than 150mi (241km) from the San Antonio arena would be cancelled and refunded without notice. Fans coming from New York to see the Knicks take on the Spurs worried they would be locked out.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul posted on social media: "Knicks fans finally get within one game of a championship and their reward is having their tickets canceled?"

But Ticketmaster said no tickets purchased on its platform "have or will be canceled".

"If fans are purchasing tickets on Ticketmaster, they can be confident that they're getting a real, authenticated ticket that will get them into tonight's game," a Ticketmaster spokesperson told the BBC on Saturday.

A spokesperson for the Spurs told the BBC that individuals whose billing ZIP code falls outside the designated area "are unable to complete a ticket purchase subject to that restriction".

But, "tickets that have been previously purchased are not being canceled or revoked," the spokesperson added.

The restriction, meant to give locals better chances of scoring seats to major games, has been in place since the NBA playoffs began in April, according to the Spurs. But panic - and later outrage - grew after US media outlet TMZ reported on the Ticketmaster note on Friday night.

Hochul had said fans who bought seats for the game at Frost Bank Center should be able to keep them.

"Until then, on behalf of Knicks fans everywhere, I'm calling foul," she wrote on social media.

New York Attorney General Letitia James too demanded the Spurs remove the policy and allow Knicks fans "and anyone who can buy tickets for tonight's game to be able to attend".

After fans were reassured they would be let in, James wrote: "I'm glad our Knicks fans will be able to attend the game tonight in San Antonio. Go Knicks!"

A representative for Madison Square Garden Sports Corp - the company headed by Jim Dolan that own the Knicks - said in a statement: "Contrary to prior reporting, we've confirmed with Spurs ownership that they will not be revoking any tickets that Knicks fans have to tonight's game in San Antonio and all ticket holders will be allowed in to Frost Bank Arena."

Ticketmaster said it's common for teams to place geographic restrictions on anticipated events to give local fans a chance to attend.

Residency is established based on credit card billing address.