Josh Hart knows the anatomy of Philadelphia sports passion better than most. As a national championship winner at Villanova University, Hart spent his formative years immersed in a city where sports are not merely a pastime but a primary cultural currency. He has felt the roar of the crowd and the intensity of a fanbase known for its unapologetic, often visceral, loyalty.
But after the New York Knicks completed a decisive four-game sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the playoffs, Hart found himself questioning the highly foundation of that reputation. The victory was secured at Xfinity Mobile Arena, but the atmosphere suggested a geographical glitch. To the players on the court and the fans in the stands, the game felt less like a road trip to Pennsylvania and more like a satellite event at Madison Square Garden.
“I used to think Philly was a sports town,” Hart told reporters following the game. “I don’t know if it is anymore.”
The comment, delivered with Hart’s trademark bluntness, pointed to a jarring reality: the 76ers’ home-court advantage had evaporated, replaced by a sea of orange and blue. While official attendance figures do not categorize fans by allegiance, the auditory evidence was overwhelming. In a moment that encapsulated the evening’s tension, Philadelphia star Joel Embiid was met with a chorus of boos from his own home crowd when his image appeared on the giant video screen just before tip-off.
A territorial takeover in the second round
The inversion of the home-court advantage was not an overnight phenomenon, but rather the culmination of a trend that began as early as 2024. During previous playoff encounters, New York fans had already begun infiltrating the Philadelphia market, creating a psychological burden for the 76ers. The trend became so pronounced that Joel Embiid had previously made public pleas to 76ers fans, urging them to hold onto their tickets and resist the urge to sell them to visiting supporters.
By the time this year’s series reached its climax, those pleas had fallen on deaf ears. The 76ers found themselves trapped in a “perfect storm” of scheduling and performance. As Philadelphia faced a daunting 0-3 deficit on Mother’s Day, the local appetite for a struggling basketball team waned, especially with the Phillies playing a game across the parking lot at the same time. For many locals, the choice between a losing playoff effort and a thriving baseball team was an easy one.
The result was a vacuum of local support that New York fans were more than happy to fill. The logistical ease of the trip—roughly 90 miles and a 90-minute drive from Manhattan without traffic—made Xfinity Mobile Arena an attractive alternative for Knicks supporters. More importantly, the economics of the NBA playoffs played a significant role; tickets in Philadelphia were substantially more affordable than the skyrocketing prices at Madison Square Garden.
The psychological toll on the 76ers
For the players in Philadelphia uniforms, the experience was more than just an annoyance; it was a competitive disadvantage. Tyrese Maxey, the Sixers’ star guard, did not mince words when describing the environment.
“It absolutely sucks,” Maxey said. “That’s all I can really say about it. It’s hard. It’s definitely difficult.”
Maxey noted a strange paradox in the series: the 76ers often felt more comfortable playing in the hostile environment of The Garden than they did in their own building. He suggested that the noise level in Philadelphia had actually shifted to favor the Knicks, creating an alienating experience for the home team.
“There’s only one way to put a stop to it and we have to go out there and win these games,” Maxey added. “Just being completely honest, we were better when we played them in The Garden the entire season… It just felt louder here for them than it did in The Garden.”
Series Summary: Knicks vs. 76ers Second Round
| Game | Location | Result | Key Atmosphere Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | New York | Knicks Win | Standard MSG home advantage |
| Game 2 | New York | Knicks Win | High intensity; 76ers showed resilience |
| Game 3 | Philadelphia | Knicks Win | Noticeable increase in NY fan presence |
| Game 4 | Philadelphia | Knicks Win | Heavy NY takeover; Embiid booed by home crowd |
The intersection of economics and loyalty
The “takeover” of Xfinity Mobile Arena highlights a growing tension in professional sports: the conflict between traditional civic loyalty and the modern secondary ticket market. When a team struggles and ticket prices on the resale market spike, the “home” crowd often becomes a collection of the highest bidders rather than the most loyal supporters.
For the New York Knicks, this trend has turned the I-95 corridor into a secondary home. The proximity of Philadelphia allows the Knicks to export their fanbase, effectively neutralizing the opponent’s home-court advantage. When combined with a team playing at a high level and a local fanbase distracted by other sporting successes—such as the Phillies—the result is a sporting environment that feels fundamentally broken.
Josh Hart’s comments may seem hyperbolic to some, but they reflect a genuine shift in the dynamics of the NBA playoffs. When a city’s identity as a “sports town” is challenged by its own fans’ willingness to sell their seats, the victory for the visiting team is not just on the scoreboard, but in the stands.
The New York Knicks now advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will look to maintain their momentum. The NBA has not yet released the official start date and ticketing schedule for the next round, but updates are expected via the official NBA communications portal.
Do you think the “home court advantage” is disappearing in the era of high-priced resale tickets? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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