Despite the defeat to the New York Knicks in Game 4 — who would go on to win the NBA title, their first in 53 years, beating the Spurs in the Finals — the Cleveland Cavaliers found other ways to compensate.
The Cavs have put up for sale the seats used by celebrities who attended the games against the Knicks. From Taylor Swift’s seat they made $7,000, just over €6,000 at current exchange rates, also through a partnership with The Realest, a marketplace specialising in certifying the authenticity of selected items.
The idea is simple. Riding the wave of objects that quickly become memorabilia. Things to keep, to store. Or to resell at higher prices.
Seats were also auctioned from Travis Kelce (American football player and Swift’s fiancé), Kylie Jenner (television personality), Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller and Machine Gun Kelly. None of them, needless to say, came close to Taylor Swift’s figure.
“I’m genuinely surprised by the attention it received,” said Chris Kaiser, the Cavaliers’ head of marketing.
It is not the first time the Cavs have turned to collectors’ markets. Earlier this year the club sold a seat used by Lakers forward LeBron James during an away game for $1,905 (just over €1,600).
They do not intend to stop there. The club is preparing to sell further items, including a ceremonial sword raised by various celebrities and former players during pre-game presentations.
All part of a broader plan to generate several hundred thousand dollars in revenue, with part of the proceeds set to be donated to schools in Cleveland.