Mamdani cashed in on mayoral perks for Knicks tickets – and downplayed the price: sources

Mayor Zohran Mamdani flexed his political muscle to nab exclusive seats to the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden — potentially running afoul of city ethics rules — and downplayed how much he paid for the hot ticket, The Post has learned.

The young democratic socialist mayor claimed he paid “roughly $1,000” for his nosebleeds standing-room spot to Monday night’s Game 3 between the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, though sources with knowledge of the matter said the ticket actually cost him $750.

Regular plebes had to shell out an average of around $7,500 for a ticket to the high-profile event.

But Mamdani’s team reached out to MSG ahead of the game and told reps the mayor wanted a half-dozen tickets to attend the NBA Finals ahead of the games this week, and asked for the cheapest seats, according to sources briefed on the conversations.

MSG often sets aside a pool of tickets for VIPs, including elected officials, The Post reported earlier this week.

Sources noted the move clashes with the “everyman” image the Democratic Socialists of America poster boy — the son of an academic and a prominent filmmaker who grew up on the Upper West Side and attended elite schools — has cultivated as a candidate and since taking office.

“Mr. Man of the People hates corporations until he needs favors from them for cheaper tickets than any other New Yorker could only dream of,” snarked one Dem operative.

Sources said the mayor offered to pay for attending a game, but he needed MSG to help set up the purchase, with tickets open to the public selling almost immediately, and the secondary market seeing prices soar to record highs.

Requesting the special seats also veered into ethically gray territory even though the mayor paid for his ticket.

A vaguely worded opinion from the city’s Conflict of Interest Board appear to say the ask could run afoul of valuable gifts guidelines for elected officials.

Soliciting the purchase of a ticket to a “hot” event would violate ethics rules based on “a variety of factors,” including: “whether the public servant identifies his City position or title; whether his City position is clearly known to the ticket seller; whether the ticket seller has matters before the public servant’s office; whether the tickets are not otherwise available to the general public; and the absence of a prior personal relationship between the public servant and the seller,” the opinion states.

“Because of the clear opportunity for misuse of one’s position and because of the complexity of the issues relating to tickets, the Board strongly encourages public servants and agencies to contact the Board when faced with these questions. Public servants who fail to do so act at their own peril.”

It’s not clear whether Mamdani’s team checked with the COIB before requesting the tickets.

A representative for the board couldn’t say whether the move violated the rules when asked by The Post on Thursday.

The potential ethical lapse comes just months into the young mayor’s tenure after campaigning on cleaning up the city-for-sale culture in City Hall under his predecessor.

Eric Adams, who was often criticized for enjoying the perks of being mayor too much, including attending a number of Knicks games where he had been spotted sitting courtside.

MSG covered the cost of tickets in exchange for “official” duties, such as a pre-game speech or giving out a ceremonial ball.

COIB signed off on the appearances but barred Adams from going into the Knicks owner James Dolan’s box.

A photo from Monday night showed Mamdani smiling from way up high in the stands during the game, alongside outgoing state Sen. Mike Gianaris, state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, state Sen. Julia Salazar and City Councilman Ty Hankerson.

Salazar told The Post she shelled out $900 for the ticket because of taxes and fees, but a source briefed on VIP ticketing said it was a flat rate through MSG.

The ticketing process mirrored how Mamdani was able to get tickets to another nearly sold-out Knicks game during their playoff run, where he sat in the nosebleeds with city Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Those seats cost just under $1,000, sources said.

Mamdani makes just shy $260,000 as mayor.

MSG declined to comment.