US Open Ticket Prices Spike Ahead of Tournament Start in New York

Resale ticket prices for the 2026 US Open remain exceptionally high as the tournament prepares to begin on August 30 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.

Data from TicketData.com shows the get-in price for the first round sits at $197 across combined day and night sessions. This marks a 33.1 percent increase compared to the final opening-round get-in price in 2025.

A massive $800 million renovation of Arthur Ashe Stadium has reshaped ticket availability by adding over 2,000 premium courtside seats. However, the project adds no overall stadium capacity and has eliminated more than half the loge balcony seats traditionally used by budget-conscious spectators.

P.J. Simmons, an environmental consultant who tracks ticket pricing trends on his website Road to 4.5 Tennis, initially expected the stadium expansion to lower overall entry costs for regular fans.

"I thought maybe that would depress prices slightly," said P.J. Simmons, Environmental Consultant and Tennis Fan.

Instead, secondary market markups on cheap seats at Arthur Ashe Stadium have exceeded 200 percent. Front-row courtside seats for the men's final reached $29,000 on resale platforms in July, driven by strong demand for high-end hospitality options.

"The other day, I was like, 'Oh man, there are front-row tickets for this night, and that would be so fun to treat somebody to. Ten minutes later, they were gone. And then ten minutes after that, they were fucking on resale," said P.J. Simmons, Environmental Consultant and Tennis Fan.

Simmons noted that fans without corporate expense accounts or family offices are struggling to find affordable seats despite the venue upgrades.

"It has almost been the reverse," said P.J. Simmons, Environmental Consultant and Tennis Fan.

Addressing the seating changes, tournament management emphasized that the renovation shifts fan capacity closer to the action, where premium ticket packages can range as high as $85,000.

"takes a few thousand seats from upstairs and moves them downstairs," said Kirsten Corio, Chief Commercial Officer of the U.S. Tennis Association.

Corio added that the tournament increasingly attracts affluent spectators who prioritize high-profile event access over tennis fandom.

"They're not necessarily a tennis-playing fanatic or there for business. They're there for I want to go to the Super Bowl. I want to go to a World Cup final.

I want to go to the US Open and get as close as I can," said Kirsten Corio, Chief Commercial Officer of the U.S. Tennis Association.

Travel industry professionals confirm that wealthy clients are willing to pay significant markups to secure courtside access regardless of price shifts.

"They're not necessarily so into tennis, but more into the scene and wanting to be there," said Renee Falack, Adviser at Embark Beyond.

Falack highlighted that client demand focuses heavily on proximity to the athletes and visibility during broadcasts.

"They want to be near the players, they want to be on TV — that's definitely a part of it, especially in New York," said Renee Falack, Adviser at Embark Beyond.

She noted that these high-end buyers routinely pay substantial premiums above the base $10,000 cost for courtside views.

"It's not just about getting in the stadium or getting into the U.S. Open. They want to be courtside," said Renee Falack, Adviser at Embark Beyond.

Longtime attendees reflect that the tournament atmosphere has evolved drastically from earlier eras of the modern Grand Slam.

"Nobody seems to remember," said Adrian Benepe, Former New York City Parks Commissioner.

On the court, player shifts continue to influence market interest. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew on August 21, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returns following a wrist injury. The tournament runs through September 13.