Brooklyn prepares for the Mayweather-McGregor face off at Barclays
But in New York, where a "Hamilton" seat can cost you a rent check, there's still a deal to be found - even in the fight game.
The fight angling to become the richest in sports history is offering fans a bargain-basement price for this weeklong smack-talking circus: Free. It's the cleanest four-letter word uttered by the Irish UFC star McGregor and the undefeated boxer Mayweather during a foul-mouthed promotional tour that stopped Thursday at the Barclays Center.
Fans lined outside the home of the Brooklyn Nets hours before they were allowed inside the arena. They flocked in TMT gear or draped themselves Irish flags as they waited for the pair to start trading insults weeks before they exchange blows.
Jon McFaul, 28 of South Jersey, ordered his ticket online not long after they were made available to the public. McFaul and his friends showed up at noon for their shot at being among the first through the doors.
McFaul, a McGregor fan, said he'll watch the fight with friends to split the $99.95 bill for the high-definition pay-per-view.
"You're bringing the best of two worlds together," he said. "But think the press conference is going to be better than fight itself."
Tickets were free and a limited number were still available at the box office about 5 hours before showtime. But security turned fans away 30 minutes later and told them there were no more available. The dejected fans would have to probably watch the insults and vulgarities exchanged online.
The tour ends with its fourth stop in London - who knows, that may be more rounds than the fight many experts believe to be lopsided for the undefeated Mayweather.
"Mike Tyson back in the day knocked out people in the first round," McFaul said. "I want to see the spectacle."
Yes, the hype could go down as a more entertaining time than the 154-pound fight Aug. 26 in Las Vegas. The fighters can entertain as much as anything on Broadway.
McGregor wore a white Gucci mink coat and raised a steel chair high over his head during a press conference at Madison Square Garden in November to promote his last UFC fight. And Mayweather has been living up to his "Pretty Boy" and "Money" nicknames as both fighters try to hype the fight.
McGregor encouraged the crowd to shout expletives at Mayweather and his family before launching into a nearly 10-minute profanity-laced tirade during a stop Wednesday in Toronto. Mayweather mocked McGregor for being less wealthy and answering to UFC chief Dana White. And some fans accused McGregor of being racially insensitive when he yelled, "Dance for me, boy! Dance for me, son!" during an exchange.
Brianna Robeck, 16, of Manhattan, was among the 100 or so fans at the gate about five hours before the fighters took the stage in Brooklyn. She left the box office with one of the last tickets left. She's rooting for McGregor ("people undermine his skills") and was excited to fork over $100 to watch the fight at her home.
"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch it," she said. "If it takes 100 bucks to pay it, why not?"