Scalped NBA Finals Tix Cheaper in Miami than OKC

For all the talk about the excitement in South Florida about the Miami Heat, the pro basketball team still has a bit of work cut out for itself. Today's online edition of the Miami Herald ran an entertaining, interesting article comparing the supply and demand for scalped tickets to the NBA Finals between Miami and Oklahoma City. Surprisingly, ticket scalpers are getting more money in Oklahoma's state capital than in South Beach. Oklahomans who can't buy their way into home games are flying to Florida, taking advantage of off-season hotel rates, and scooping up Finals tickets.

Don't get me wrong: the tickets are mighty expensive. However, NBA fever has seized Oklahomans and transformed a notorious football state into one where the round ball most fervently matters. Miamians also know that Oklahomans know the way to South Florida. The OU football team was a frequent participant in Orange Bowl games on New Year's Day. The Oklahoma Sooners were characterized as a team that "traveled." In college football parlance, that means the team's fans will attend a bowl game, and spend a lot of money.

It appears that Oklahomans have found a new reason to "travel," support the South Florida economy, and get their money into circulation.