1988 Slam Dunk Contest Ticket: Michael Jordan vs. Dominique Wilkins

StubHaul recently acquired this complete 1988 NBA All-Star Saturday ticket from Chicago Stadium—the session that included Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins’s celebrated Slam Dunk Contest duel. The detachable portion remains attached, and both sides preserve unusually rich event detail.

Ticket details at a glance

Event	NBA All-Star Saturday
Date	Saturday, February 6, 1988
Venue	Chicago Stadium
Seat	Gate 2, Aisle 6, Mezzanine, Section G, Row V, Seat 17
Printed price	$9.61 plus $0.39 tax, $10.00 total
Format	Full ticket with the lower detachable portion still attached
Ownership	StubHaul collection

Why February 6, 1988 matters

Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins entered the final round tied after two dunks apiece. Wilkins received a 45 on his last attempt. Jordan then ran from the opposite end of the floor and took off at the free-throw line, earning a perfect 50 and winning the contest 147–145 in his hometown arena.

The NBA describes the duel as one of the defining moments in Slam Dunk Contest history. The ticket is especially useful because its face does not merely say “All-Star Weekend.” It prints the exact Saturday date, Chicago Stadium and the “Gatorade Slam-Dunk Championship” in the session schedule.

What else the ticket admitted its holder to

The printed program shows that this was a full Saturday session rather than admission to a single isolated contest. The face lists West Team practice at 9:45, East Team practice at 11:30, the Schick Legends Classic at 1:00, the American Airlines/Sheraton Long Distance Shootout and the Gatorade Slam-Dunk Championship.

Larry Bird won his third consecutive three-point contest that weekend. The dunk field included Jordan, Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, Spud Webb, Otis Smith, Jerome Kersey and Greg Anderson. Those events make this one physical admission document for a particularly deep day of NBA history.

Reading the front

• Date and venue: “Chicago Stadium—Saturday, February 6, 1988” appears across the top.
• Seat assignment: Gate 2, Aisle 6, Mezzanine, Section G, Row V, Seat 17.
• Event schedule: The central panel names the practices, Legends Classic, long-distance shootout and slam-dunk championship.
• Original price: The printed total is $10.00, including 39 cents tax.
• Completeness: The lower ticket portion remains attached across the perforation.

What the reverse adds

The back is not blank. It repeats “NBA All-Star Saturday,” names Schick, American Airlines, Sheraton and Gatorade as sponsors, and prints the event conditions. It also identifies Weldon, Williams & Lick, Inc. at the bottom. For a collector comparing another example, the reverse, paper stock, printing, dimensions, perforation and edges all matter; a front image alone is not enough.

Full ticket, unused ticket or ticket stub?

This example retains the detachable lower section. In collecting language, that makes it a full ticket rather than only the portion left after admission. An attached section does not by itself prove that the ticket was never presented, but the complete format is an important and visible characteristic that should be described accurately.

A used stub and a full ticket can appeal to different buyers. The stub may carry the direct story of attendance, while a complete ticket preserves more seating, pricing and design information. Condition, originality, provenance, eye appeal and independent authentication still matter in either format.

Condition observations from the photographs

The printing is clear, the principal graphics remain strong and both portions are present. The photographs show light handling and small surface or edge marks consistent with age. The reverse remains legible. These are visual observations, not a numerical grade.

We have not assigned a public value or predicted an authentication result. A responsible evaluation requires an in-hand review and relevant completed sales for the same event, format and comparable condition. Asking prices alone are not evidence of market value.

How to examine another 1988 dunk-contest ticket

1. Confirm the exact date: February 6, 1988—not the February 7 All-Star Game.
2. Look for Chicago Stadium and the Saturday-session schedule on the face.
3. Compare typography, colors, seat layout, printed price and perforation placement.
4. Inspect the reverse for the four sponsors, event terms and printer line.
5. Check all edges for trimming, repairs, added color, adhesive or replaced paper.
6. Preserve any acquisition record or contemporaneous paperwork.
7. For a consequential purchase, use an independent ticket authenticator.

Preserving a long-format ticket

Store the ticket flat in an archival, PVC-free holder that supports its full length without stressing the perforation. Keep it away from direct light, moisture and large temperature changes. Handle it only by the edges, and do not clean, press, trim, laminate or tape it.

Clear front-and-back photographs taken under neutral light should be saved before shipping or third-party submission. If it is mailed, the holder should prevent movement without putting pressure on the paper.

Methodology and source standard

The physical description on this page comes from StubHaul’s ownership and photographs of the ticket. The contest history was checked against official NBA and Chicago Bulls accounts. We separate what the artifact visibly establishes from what would require authentication, provenance research or market evidence.

Sources

• NBA: Jordan and Wilkins duel in the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest
• NBA: February 6 in league history
• Chicago Bulls: remembering the 1988 All-Star Weekend
• Chicago Bulls: Jordan vs. Dominique in Chicago

Related: selling old basketball ticket stubs and how to store ticket stubs safely.