Exorbitant US Open Ticket Prices Alienate Fans

Pulse Sports Team 13:45 - 02 August 2026

Some are willing to pay €10,000 to watch a Roger Federer exhibition, while a women's final ticket on the secondary market already fetches €5,000, and the men's final surpasses €18,000!

The astronomical ticket prices for the US Open, particularly on the resale market, are making the tournament inaccessible to average tennis fans, increasingly transforming it into a corporate event. This reality unfolds amidst an intense debate over prize money, with players demanding a larger share of the generated revenue.

The discussion surrounding prize money at Grand Slam tournaments is expected to intensify with the imminent announcement from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) regarding this year's figures, with another significant increase anticipated.

Last year, the US Open became the first tournament to award $5 million (approximately €4.3 million) to both the men's and women's singles champions, elevating the total prize fund to $90 million (€78 million), a 20% increase from the $65 million in 2024.

Honey Deuce, the World's Most Famous Pink Cocktail

The Honey Deuce, a pink cocktail, has become the official drink of the US Open and a massive commercial success, generating over €11 million in revenue! During the 14 days of the competition, more than 700,000 units of the drink were sold – one glass every 1.5 seconds. First introduced in 2007, it is now a symbol of the event. It costs €20, and the glass is often kept as a souvenir of the invention by French vodka brand Grey Goose and mixologist Nick Mautone. The idea was to develop a memorable and refreshing drink for the hot American summer days, and the name "Honey Deuce" is a play on the tennis term "deuce," used when players are tied at 40-40. The recipe is no secret – 40 ml of vodka, 90 ml of fresh lemonade, and 10 ml of raspberry liqueur – and the drink is served in a tall glass with ice, garnished with three small melon balls resembling tennis balls.

Despite these impressive figures, players deem them insufficient and are demanding a higher percentage of the tournament's total revenue, not just the profit. The threat of a strike looms if their demands are not met, underscoring the enormous amount of money the three-week event generates.

According to the latest audited financial statements, the USTA reported revenues of €540 million in 2024, of which €485 million (approximately 90%) came from the US Open. With expenses of €244 million, the tournament's operating profit was around €240 million.

Building on this financial success, the USTA announced a €694 million renovation plan for the tournament facilities in New York. The project includes modernizing the main stadium and constructing a new high-performance center for players. These improvements, such as retractable roofs that allow play in the rain, are directly dependent on the tournament's revenue.

Although the USTA plans to incur significant debt to finance these works, the expectation is that this year's US Open will generate even greater revenues, partly driven by the exorbitant ticket prices.

On the resale market, a courtside ticket for a Roger Federer exhibition match can cost as much as $11,925! That's roughly €10,300 to see the Swiss maestro. For the men's singles final, prices skyrocket to an astonishing €18,100 per ticket.

Even the lowest-priced tickets for the women's final reach €5,000. It's hard to imagine these tickets being purchased by ordinary fans, especially when a seat in the upper tier of Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first day of the main draw costs €370...

More affordable options exist, such as grounds passes for €56 or tickets for outer courts at €170. However, even grounds passes are being resold for €265, a price that only guarantees access to the facilities!

This scenario, coupled with high food and drink prices, suggests that the US Open has become an event for companies to entertain clients, treating tickets as business expenses. In comparison, a ticket for Wimbledon's Centre Court during the second week costs €260 – expensive, yes, but far less than what's needed to attend the American Grand Slam.