Tennis’ final Grand Slam has officially invaded the Big Apple and will come and go in a New York minute. However, fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the action without breaking the bank are in luck, as U.S. Open ticket prices are fairly lower this fortnight than in recent years.
According to Ticket Club data, U.S. Open ticket prices across the board have dipped slightly in 2018 compared to last year. This week marked the grand opening of the new Louis Armstrong Stadium, the tournament’s second-largest court. Despite the new construction, which includes a state-of-the-art retractable roof, passes into Armstrong are collectively the lowest on average since 2014.
Average U.S. Open Ticket Prices – Louis Armstrong Stadium (All Sessions)
Labor Day weekend prices are down as well, a surprising stat given that the tournament has historically thrived off the overlap of the holiday. Average entry into Arthur Ashe Stadium for both day and night sessions on Saturday have been on the steady decline since 2015, while Sunday tickets are witnessing a yo-yo effect year over year. Labor Day itself is projected to slash prices over $50 on both Ashe and Armstrong Stadiums compared to 2017 averages.
Average U.S. Open Ticket Prices – Labor Day Weekend
So what exactly is the reason behind the pricing dip? The rather unusual draw may be the key driving factor, as more marquee matches are pegged to take place in earlier rounds rather than towards the tournament’s conclusion. That certainly was the case on the very first day of play, when 2016 men’s champion Stan Wawrinka went up against No. 8 seed and reigning ATP Finals champ Grigor Dmitrov, a match that on paper suits at least a fourth-round billing.
Things get much more interesting into the third round, as several blockbuster men’s and women’s matches are in the cards. No. 2 seed Roger Federer could face off against Aussie young gun Nick Kyrgios, who has a powerful game and unconventional tactics that could give the Swiss superstar a much tougher test than he anticipates. A battle of former U.S. Open champs is possible this round as 2009 winner Juan Martin Del Potro could see 2012 champion Andy Murray across the net, though the quality of the match is up for debate as Murray remains on his comeback trail from hip surgery.
However, the biggest talk of the tournament thus far is the potential blockbuster third-round clash between Venus and Serena Williams. Fans are always in for a treat when the two take the court, although the last time they faced off in a Grand Slam was in the championship match (at the 2017 Australian Open, which Serena won in straight sets).
Should the draw pan out as expected, Murray/Del Potro and the Williams sisters could go head-to-head on Friday, presumably in front of over 20,000 fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Such buzzed-about matches don’t necessarily change the lower-prices trend either, at least with Ticket Club. Check out the minimum price of entry for Friday’s day and night sessions among competitors below.
“Get-In” U.S. Open Ticket Prices – Third-Round*
| Date/Time | Court | Ticket Club | StubHub | Vivid Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31 / 12 PM | Arthur Ashe Stadium | $145.00 | $165.00 | $168.00 |
| August 31 / 7 PM | Arthur Ashe Stadium | $83.00 | $95.00 | $98.00 |
*prices accurate as of Wednesday August 29
With plenty of drama and excitement (not to mention savings) in store, you won’t want to miss the U.S. Open. Browse tickets here.