How Much Money Are NBA Teams Losing Without Fans?

After playing last season in the "bubble" in Orlando, the NBA is playing at home arenas this season. However, only six franchises are playing in front of fans: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans and Toronto Raptors. And the Raptors are actually playing in Tampa, Florida, because the team isn't able to travel to Canada.

Related: How Much Playing in the Bubble Cost Each NBA Team

So it's no surprise that NBA teams are taking a big financial hit this season. The losses range from $224 million for the Grizzlies to an eye-popping $472 million for the Knicks.

GOBankingRates.com looked at each team's yearly revenue and attendance and calculated what each franchise is losing without fans. Read on to see how big the losses are this season.

Last updated: Jan. 5, 2021

29. Memphis Grizzlies (tie)

• Yearly Revenue: $224 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $5.5 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $20 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $487,000
• Average Attendance: 15,587
• Average Ticket Price: $30.76
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $204 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $25.5 million

The Grizzlies had originally hoped to have fans in the stands but currently are not allowing any.

Find Out: The Richest NBA Team Owners

29. New Orleans Pelicans (tie)

• Yearly Revenue: $224 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $5.5 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $33 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $804,900
• Average Attendance: 16,505
• Average Ticket Price: $48.77
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $191 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $23.88 million

The Pelicans are only allowing 750 fans per game.

Fun Facts: How These 36 Athletes Spent Their First Big Paycheck

28. Minnesota Timberwolves

• Yearly Revenue: $234 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $5.7 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $33 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $804,900
• Average Attendance: 15,066
• Average Ticket Price: $53.42
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $201 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $25.1 million

The Timberwolves have yet to allow fans to attend.

Read: Lessons To Live By From These 13 Rags-to-Riches Athletes

27. Charlotte Hornets

• Yearly Revenue: $240 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $5.9 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $28 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $682,900
• Average Attendance: 15,438
• Average Ticket Price: $44.24
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $212 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $26.5 million

The Hornets are starting the season with no fans, but they're hopeful that will change over the course of the season.

Find Out: Most Successful Athlete From Every Decade

26. Indiana Pacers

• Yearly Revenue: $243 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $5.9 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $32 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $780,500
• Average Attendance: 16,531
• Average Ticket Price: $47.21
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $211 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $26.4 million

The Pacers are not planning to allow fans for the near future.

Who’s Richer: These Sports Stars or Their Significant Others?

25. Orlando Magic

• Yearly Revenue: $244 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $6.0 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $43 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $1,048,700
• Average Attendance: 17,092
• Average Ticket Price: $61.36
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $201 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $25.2 million

The Magic are planning to allow approximately 4,000 fans per game.

Did You Know: The Richest Athletes in the World

24. Phoenix Suns

• Yearly Revenue: $246 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $6.0 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $34 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $829,300
• Average Attendance: 15,732
• Average Ticket Price: $52.71
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $212 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $25.5 million

Arizona's virus numbers remain high, so the Suns have no plans currently to allow fans.

On the Big Screen: The 22 Highest-Grossing Movies Starring Athletes

23. Atlanta Hawks

• Yearly Revenue: $251 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $6.1 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $32 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $780,500
• Average Attendance: 16,042
• Average Ticket Price: $48.65
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $219 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $27.4 million

The Hawks are starting the season without fans in attendance but hope to welcome limited attendance starting Jan. 18.

Find Out: Pro Athletes Who Have Lost Millions of Dollars

22. Denver Nuggets

• Yearly Revenue: $252 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $6.1 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $47 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $1,146,300
• Average Attendance: 19,186
• Average Ticket Price: $59.75
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $205 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $25.6 million

The Nuggets have not welcomed fans to their home arena yet but continue to monitor the situation.

Read: Injuries Cost These 13 Athletes a Fortune

21. Detroit Pistons

• Yearly Revenue: $255 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $6.2 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $47 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $1,146,300
• Average Attendance: 15,438
• Average Ticket Price: $74.25
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $208 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $26.0 million

The Pistons have not allowed any fans into the arena.

See: Incredibly Rich Retired Athletes

19. Oklahoma City Thunder (tie)

• Yearly Revenue: $258 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $5.3 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $63 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $1,536,600
• Average Attendance: 18,203
• Average Ticket Price: $84.41
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $195 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $24.4 million

The Thunder are not currently allowing fans to attend but continue to assess the situation.

Looking Back: Fans Bought Up These Sports Jerseys To Make Them the Bestselling Ones of 2020

19. Utah Jazz (tie)

• Yearly Revenue: $258 million
• Revenue per Home Game: $6.3 million
• Yearly Gate Receipts: $58 million
• Gate Receipts per Home Game: $1,414,600
• Average Attendance: 18,306
• Average Ticket Price: $77.28
• Yearly Food and Merchandise Revenue: $200 million
• Food and Merchandise Revenue per Home Game: $25 million

The Jazz have allowed 1,932 fans per game this season -- 1,500 in the lower bowl, plus limited suite capacity.

Learn More: Biggest Contract Busts in NBA History

18. Washington Wizards

• Yearly revenue: $269 million
• Revenue per home game: $6.6 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $53 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,292,700
• Average attendance: 16,646
• Average ticket price: $77.66
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $216 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $27 million

The Wizards have started the season with no fans in attendance.

Find Out: The Highest-Paid Player on Every NFL, MLB and NBA Team

17. Los Angeles Clippers

• Yearly revenue: $282 million
• Revenue per home game: $6.9 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $64 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,561,000
• Average attendance: 19,068
• Average ticket price: $81.86
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $218 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $27.3 million

With California under tight restrictions, the Clippers have no plans to welcome fans anytime soon.

Learn More: The NBA and 27 Major Companies Donating To Fight Inequality

16. Milwaukee Bucks

• Yearly revenue: $283 million
• Revenue per home game: $6.9 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $65 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,585,400
• Average attendance: 17,710
• Average ticket price: $89.52
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $218 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $27.3 million

In accordance with state and local health rules, the Bucks are not allowing fans yet.

Looking Back: Were These Athletes Worth the Huge Contracts in 2020?

15. San Antonio Spurs

• Yearly revenue: $285 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.0 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $76 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,853,700
• Average attendance: 18,350
• Average ticket price: $101.02
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $209 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $26.1 million

The Spurs are starting the season without any fans, for the foreseeable future.

Find Out: 24 Athletes Who Make Most of Their Money From Endorsements

14. Sacramento Kings

• Yearly revenue: $286 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.0 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $60 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,463,400
• Average attendance: 16,795
• Average ticket price: $87.13
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $226 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $28.2 million

The Kings will not have fans in attendance for the time being.

Did You Know: 25 Athletes Who Were Born Rich

13. Portland Trail Blazers

• Yearly revenue: $287 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.0 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $67 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,634,100
• Average attendance: 19,633
• Average ticket price: $83.23
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $220 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $27.5 million

The Blazers will continue to monitor the situation but are not allowing fans in the arena yet.

Looking Back: Biggest Sports Deals of 2020

12. Miami Heat

• Yearly revenue: $294 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.2 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $70 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,1,707,300
• Average attendance: 19,680
• Average ticket price: $86.75
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $224 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $28 million

The Heat are playing in an empty arena for now but continue to assess the situation.

Get in the Game: High-Paying Jobs for People Who Love Sports

10. Cleveland Cavaliers (tie)

• Yearly revenue: $300 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.3 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $69 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,682,900
• Average attendance: 17,816
• Average ticket price: $94.46
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $231 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $28.9 million

The Cavaliers are allowing 300 fans per game, so they recoup a bit of revenue but not much.

Did You Know: The 41 Highest-Paying Positions in Sports

10. Philadelphia 76ers (tie)

• Yearly revenue: $300 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.3 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $71 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,731,700
• Average attendance: 20,628
• Average ticket price: $83.95
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $229 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $28.6 million

The 76ers won't have any fans in attendance for the foreseeable future.

College Hoops: Here’s What a March Madness Run Is Worth

9. Chicago Bulls

• Yearly revenue: $301 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.3 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $61 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,487,800
• Average attendance: 18,804
• Average ticket price: $79.12
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $240 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $30 million

The Bulls aren't allowing fans but continue to work with state and local officials to determine when that will be possible.

More Sports: The Biggest Bargain on Every NFL Roster

7. Brooklyn Nets (tie)

• Yearly revenue: $304 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.4 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $60 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,463,400
• Average attendance: 16,403
• Average ticket price: $89.22
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $244 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $30.5 million

The Nets are following New York state protocols to determine when they will allow fans to attend.

Looking Back: Pro Sports Owners Who Took the Biggest Hits in 2020

7. Boston Celtics (tie)

• Yearly revenue: $304 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.4 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $85 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $2,073,200
• Average attendance: 19,089
• Average ticket price: $108.61
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $219 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $27.4 million

The Celtics have started the season with no fans in attendance.

Learn More: Biggest Sports Contracts Ever

6. Dallas Mavericks

• Yearly revenue: $307 million
• Revenue per home game: $7.5 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $52 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $1,268,300
• Average attendance: 20,061
• Average ticket price: $63.22
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $255 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $31.9 million

So far, the Mavericks are not allowing fans to attend.

Find Out: Athletes Who Made More Money From Endorsements Than Their Contracts in 2020

5. Toronto Raptors

• Yearly revenue: $334 million
• Revenue per home game: $8.1 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $101 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $2,463,400
• Average attendance: 19,795
• Average ticket price: $124.45
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $233 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $29.1 million

The Raptors, playing in the Tampa area because they are not allowed to cross the border into Canada, are allowing 3,624 fans per game.

More Sports: Here’s How Rich Every NFL Team Is

4. Houston Rockets

• Yearly revenue: $348 million
• Revenue per home game: $8.5 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $97 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $2,365,800
• Average attendance: 18,076
• Average ticket price: $130.88
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $251 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $31.4 million

The Rockets are allowing 3,156 fans per game.

Looking Back: Highest-Profile Athletes Who Didn’t Play or Compete in 2020

3. Los Angeles Lakers

• Yearly revenue: $434 million
• Revenue per home game: $10.6 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $104 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $2,536,600
• Average attendance: 18,997
• Average ticket price: $133.53
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $330 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $41.3 million

With strict measures in place in California, the Lakers have not allowed fans.

Read More: LeBron James and More of the Richest Athletes Younger Than 40

2. Golden State Warriors

• Yearly revenue: $440 million
• Revenue per home game: $10.7 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $178 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $4,341,500
• Average attendance: 18,064
• Average ticket price: $240.34
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $262 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $32.8 million

The Warriors have yet to play a full season in front of fans in their new arena, the Chase Center. They are not playing in front of fans yet this season.

Read: Steph Curry and 25 Athletes With Major Business Empires Outside of Sports

1. New York Knicks

• Yearly revenue: $472 million
• Revenue per home game: $11.5 million
• Yearly gate receipts: $132 million
• Gate receipts per home game: $3,219,500
• Average attendance: 18,811
• Average ticket price: $171.15
• Yearly food and merchandise revenue: $340 million
• Food and merchandise revenue per home game: $42.5 million

The Knicks are following New York protocols and have not allowed fans this season.

More From GOBankingRates

• 19 Effective Ways To Tackle Your Budget
• Are You Spending More Than the Average American on 25 Everyday Items?
• 30 Important Money Habits for Your Financial Future
• Guns and 32 Other Things You Definitely Do NOT Need To Buy During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Methodology: For his piece, GOBankingRates looked at Forbes' 2020 team evaluations for the National Basketball Association (NBA). Using these reports and attendance reports for the most recent completed season from ESPN, GOBankingRates found the following data points to measure the revenue each franchise will lose out on in one season without fan attendance: (1) yearly revenue, (2) revenue per home game, (3) yearly gate receipts, (4) gate receipts per home game, (5) average attendance, (6) average ticket price per home game, (7) yearly food and merchandise revenue, (8) food and merchandise revenue per home game. All data was collected on and up to date as of Dec. 17, 2020.