Ticket prices remain astronomically high for first Lakers home game since Kobe's death

The Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night will play their first home game since the death of Kobe Bryant, and fans have been shelling out huge money to pay tribute to the late superstar, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and the seven others who died in a helicopter crash.

As of Friday afternoon, the cheapest single ticket for the Lakers’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center was around $700. Courtside seats were selling for between $20-30K each, and Darren Rovell of Action Network reported that someone paid more than $80,000 for a set of four courtside tickets.

$83,599: What someone just paid, on StubHub including fees, for four courtside seats on the wood at the Staples Center tonight for the team’s first home game since the passing of Kobe Bryant.

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 31, 2020

For comparison, field level seats for the Super Bowl could be had for somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 each on Friday.

StubHub announced earlier in the week that any profits they make from ticket sales for the game will be donated to charity.

It’s understandable that there is such a high demand for tickets to Friday’s Lakers game. The night will feature several tributes to Bryant and the others who died. Here’s a preview of what things will look like:

Fans at tonight’s Lakers game against the Trail Blazers will receive these shirts to honor Kobe Bryant. One number for each side of Staples Center. pic.twitter.com/mmJ5wbSF9p

— Sandy Hooper (@SandyHooper) January 31, 2020

The NBA has already announced plans to honor Kobe at the All-Star Game, but it’s unlikely anything will match the emotion that will be felt at Staples Center on Friday.

More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:

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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
– Sarah Chester, daughter Payton were also killed in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
– Ara Zobayan was the pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

Tributes to Kobe:
– Vanessa Bryant posts first Instagram message since death of Kobe, Gianna
– NBA players changing jersey numbers in honor of Kobe Bryant
– Clippers leave Kobe Bryant’s retired Lakers jerseys uncovered at Staples Center
– Bill Belichick shares touching anecdote in tribute to Kobe Bryant
– UConn honors Gianna Bryant with own jersey, spot on the bench
– Jeanie Buss shares emotional tribute to Kobe, Gianna Bryant on Instagram
– Kobe Bryant could have street named after him near Staples Center
– Video: Shaq gets emotional talking about Kobe Bryant on TNT
– LeBron James had inspirational message for Lakers during meeting about Kobe
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Gilbert Arenas vows to begin coaching career like Kobe Bryant urged him to
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences