More than 300,000 people flooded a website Wednesday for a chance at just 1,000 discounted U.S. Open tickets offered by Mayor Zohran Mamdani and tournament organizers.
The online lottery went live at 10 a.m., and within three minutes it had drawn a 336,573-person waiting list of hopeful tennis fans seeking the prized ducats for just $100, according to a screenshot obtained by the outlet. The tickets were reserved for New York City residents, though there was no ID requirement simply to join the queue, leaving it unclear whether the massive online crowd was entirely local.
The huge queue drove desperate fans into a frenzy on social media. “267979 people in front of me in the us open ticket line MAMDANI DO SOMETHING,” one fan posted on X.
Another user on the platform aired broader frustration with the mayor’s popular ticket initiatives. “Mamdani, I love you, but you need to stop advertising things so much. I have yet to win a lottery you’ve created. They get so bot-ted up,” the user wrote.
Mamdani promoted the tennis deal with the United States Tennis Association on Wednesday while also unveiling 10 newly resurfaced tennis courts at a Bronx recreation center. “Just as we made it possible for New Yorkers to watch the beautiful game up close throughout the World Cup, we have also partnered with USTA to make 1,000 discounted tickets available for New Yorkers to do the same at the U.S. Open,” the mayor said ahead of the ribbon cutting at the new courts. “Those tickets went on sale about 12 minutes ago, and they’re probably sold out,” he added.
The ticket deal marked the first time the city had struck an agreement to offer lower-cost admission to the U.S. Open. It followed a pattern of similar programs from Mamdani, who in recent months had sponsored $50 tickets for World Cup matches and $15 tickets for a National Women’s Soccer League match featuring Gotham FC.
The tickets grant access to main draw matches running from Aug. 30 through Sept. 8. Winners receive seats at least one of the tournament’s signature stadiums — Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong — along with grounds passes and general admission to other courts. The $100 price point stands in sharp contrast to the resale market, where seats for main draw matches were listed starting at over $250 on Ticketmaster. The discounted tickets are not eligible for resale on that platform.
USTA CEO Craig Tiley framed the program as part of a broader mission to expand access to the sport. “We want as many people as possible to experience tennis and the US Open, and this additional Main Draw ticket access for New Yorkers only strengthens that commitment,” Tiley said in a press release announcing the ticket launch.
Mamdani had previewed the sale on social media the day before it opened. “Set your reminders now, New York! Tomorrow, August 26, at 10 AM: We’re dropping 1,000 discounted tickets to the US Open in partnership with @USTA. $100 each. First come, first serve,” he posted on X, linking to the sale page.
The mayor’s ticket programs have repeatedly drawn overwhelming demand since he took office, with each new offering seemingly attracting larger crowds than the last.
The U.S. Open main draw begins Aug. 30 in Queens.