It is going to cost 50% more to see the Otago Nuggets play at home this season.
The price of an adult ticket has risen from $12 to $18 and a family pass has gone up from $30 to $45.
A student concession has also risen from $8 to $12 with tickets for children up from $5 to $7.
Basketball Otago deputy chairman Simon Eddy believes the tickets are still very reasonably priced and now more accurately reflect the cost of running the team.
It is also the first time in more than a decade the Nuggets have lifted admission prices.
''It is a combination of factors,'' Eddy said when asked why the ticket prices had been increased for 2014.
''The Nuggets tickets prices have not gone up in a long time and the organisation has tried to retain the prices at the lowest and most accessible level for as long as it can. But the reality is professional teams cost money and our overheads have increased substantially.''
Eddy said whenever ticket prices were increased there was always some resistance but he was confident the organisation had got its pricing right.
''We believe they provide excellent value both in terms of the NBL [average price] and other sports in the Dunedin market place,'' he said.
''I think there are some points of differences as well. Our family pass is for two adults and three children ... I think we are one of only two NBL franchises that offer that.''
By comparison it is still affordable to see the Nuggets play.
Tickets for the Steel will set each adult back $33.
The Highlanders have a range of prices but a seat inside the 22s will cost an adult between $27.50 and $37.50.
Eddy said he had not seen sales figures for this week's home game against the Waitakere Rangers but would have a close look later in the week.
However, sales should be keen following the Nuggets' win in their opening match against the defending champions the Southland Sharks in Invercargill on Friday.
Last year, the Nuggets attracted crowds of 2000-plus towards the end of the season.
