New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has answered the cries of tennis fans fed up with sky-high U.S. Open prices. On Tuesday, he announced a deal that puts 1,000 tickets into the hands of everyday New Yorkers for a flat $100 each — a fraction of the usual cost.
According to a report from The Athletic's Adam Crafton, the tickets are reserved exclusively for NYC residents and are non-transferable, meaning no scalping allowed. They include grounds passes to both Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, giving fans access to some of the tournament's biggest matches.
“This summer, we have shown again and again that sports belong to the people. From the World Cup to track and field championships, we have opened stadium doors to some of the biggest sporting events in the world so more New Yorkers can enjoy them,” Mamdani told Crafton. “Today, we are doubling down on that work by making the US Open more affordable for New Yorkers. If the world’s best tennis players are coming to our city, New Yorkers should be able to see them play.”
The tickets go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, and buyers must provide a certified NYC zip code to qualify. The announcement comes just a day after Mamdani was publicly challenged to do something about the outrageous resale prices plaguing the tournament.
But as the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. The mayor's initiative has drawn sharp criticism from some quarters, with detractors questioning whether taxpayer dollars are being used to subsidize the tickets and whether the move is merely a distraction from other city issues.
“Yeah, bro. New Yorkers can’t afford their rent, but the city made sure to spend limited time and resources on U.S open tickets. Thank God, we have a city government so focused on the right priorities,” one user wrote on X.
“Sooner or later you run out of other people’s money,” wrote another.
“Expensive publicity stunt,” a third said dismissively.
This isn't the first time Mamdani has waded into sports politics. He recently dismissed Trae Young's villain status with a smirk, and his handling of the Knicks championship parade drew fire from both WFAN host and James Dolan. But for tennis fans who can finally afford to see the world's best players live, this deal might just be a winner.
Whether you see it as a populist victory or a political ploy, one thing's for sure: those 1,000 tickets will disappear fast. Set your alarms, New Yorkers.
