The 2026 US Open hasn't even started, but the ticket market is already causing a racket. With main-draw action set to kick off on August 30, fans hoping to catch the year's final Grand Slam in Flushing Meadows are facing prices that feel more like a luxury car payment than a day at the tennis.
As of now, the cheapest seat for the opening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium is around $327. That's for the nosebleeds, mind you. Over at Louis Armstrong Stadium, the bargain hunters are looking at roughly $466 just to get through the gates. Even a simple grounds pass—which traditionally lets you wander the grounds, watch practice courts, and catch lower-tier matches—will set you back over $300.
The backlash has been swift and loud. Tennis journalist Simon Chambers took to X to vent, writing, "A grounds pass ticket for day 1 at the @usopen is currently $363. Some might call it market forces, but in simple terms, it’s an outrage." Another user was even blunter: "It’s actually scandalous."
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman also weighed in, pointing out a key contradiction: "The U.S. Open is owned by the USTA which is a non-profit. The idea that a day one ground pass is $363 is absurd. The USTA’s mission is to promote the sport of tennis. How is a $363 ground pass consistent with this mission?"
Fans are equally frustrated. "American sports culture is just getting worse and worse," one commenter declared. Another highlighted a common pain point: "One thing that’s irritating is that the resellers are making so much profit overall, they’ll let this ticket go unused instead of lowering the price." The secondary market is clearly a major driver of the inflation, but that hasn't softened the blow for everyday tennis lovers.
This isn't the first time the US Open has faced scrutiny over accessibility. The tournament has long been a target for debates about who gets in and who gets left out, and the latest ticket controversy is adding fuel to the fire. Some are even drawing parallels to the recent emotional off-court stories that have dominated headlines, suggesting the sport's heart is being priced out of reach.
There's a glimmer of hope for bargain hunters: prices could drop if a big name like Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner withdraws due to injury, which would flood the market with inventory. But for now, the USTA shows no signs of budging, and the opening-day costs remain astronomical.
Will you be at the 2026 US Open? If so, you might want to start saving—or consider watching from the comfort of your couch, where the only cost is your cable bill.
