New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has secured 1,000 "affordable" tickets for the U.S. Open, set to be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to New York City residents.
The move is aimed at making the tournament more accessible to locals, with tickets priced at $100 for main-draw matches taking place between August 30 and September 8. This would give affordable access to the tournament until the quarterfinal stage.
The U.S. Open has been criticized for its high ticket prices this summer, with some fans priced out of attending major sporting events in the New York/New Jersey area. This includes the NBA Finals and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has taken a different approach, saying "This summer, we have shown again and again that sports belong to the people." He added that "If the world's best tennis players are coming to our city, New Yorkers should be able to see them play."
The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) has welcomed the initiative, with chief executive Craig Tiley saying "Access to tennis will always be our priority, and we're proud to be able to deliver this Main Draw ticket offer to the residents of New York — the home of the US Open for more than 100 years."
The U.S. Open already offers eight days of free grounds admission, with fans able to watch world-class competition and practice sessions. However, the high cost of tickets has been a major issue for many fans.
Mamdani's intervention has sparked debate about the affordability of major sporting events. The move has been seen as a positive step towards making sports more accessible to the public.
The 1,000 tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with fans able to purchase them from August 25. The exact details of the ticket distribution process have not been released yet.
The U.S. Open is set to take place from August 28 to September 8, with the quarterfinals scheduled to take place on September 5 and 6.
Source: Yahoo Sports