Ticket prices plummeting for NBA All-Star Weekend

Despite the fact that two dozen of the best basketball players on the planet are in New Orleans — during Mardi Gras season, nonetheless — for three jam-packed days of NBA All-Star Weekend festivities, ticket prices for the upcoming events are at a record low.

According to data provided by TicketIQ on Thursday, the cheapest ticket available for All-Star Saturday Night is $120, which is tied for the lowest price (two days before event) since TicketIQ began tracking All-Star data in 2011.

Last year, when All-Star Weekend was in Toronto, the cheapest ticket two days before All-Star Saturday Night was $389. In 2014, the last time All-Star Weekend was in New Orleans, the cheapest ticket (two days before) was $135.

As for Sunday's All-Star Game, the cheapest ticket is $180 — a 75% decrease from last year ($723 three days before event) and a 48% decrease from 2014 ($346).

Why the dip in prices?

All-Star Weekend was originally supposed to take place in Charlotte, N.C., but was moved in July because of North Carolina’s controversial anti-LGBT law, House Bill 2. The NBA announced the move to New Orleans in August — the third time in 10 years that the city has been selected to host the league's annual midseason celebration.

"New Orleans is a world-class destination for sports and entertainment and we are very appreciative that the city is once again hosting our All-Star festivities," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said at the time.

According to TicketIQ, the cheapest ticket for All-Star Saturday Night in 2014 fell 11% between Thursday and Saturday while the cheapest ticket for the All-Star Game fell 42% between Thursday and Sunday. Following these trends, TicketIQ estimates a get-in price of $106 for Saturday and $104 for Sunday.

Friday's Rising Stars Challenge is the cheapest event of the weekend, with tickets starting at just $26.