Héctor Contreras Mercader, director of the Tax Administration Service of Quintana Roo (SATQ), was photographed among the crowd at the third game of the NBA Finals held at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The New York Times published an image capturing then-President Donald Trump being booed before the national anthem, with Contreras seated just below and to the left of Trump in the row ahead.

According to U.S. media, tickets for this final series between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs range from $3,000 to $30,000, with the seats in Contreras’s location among the most expensive.

Notably, this third game took place on Monday, a regular working day for the Quintana Roo government, where Contreras serves under Governor Mara Lezama.

This raises questions about public officials’ presence at high-profile events during official work hours, especially when ticket prices are so steep, highlighting ongoing debates about transparency and priorities in public service.