Prior to Serena Williams’ final match, U.S. Open ticket prices have increased
Tickets to see Serena Williams play are in hot demand as she gets ready for her final U.S. Open before retiring.
According to the U.S. Tennis Association, more tickets were sold on Aug. 9 when the tennis champion announced her impending retirement than had been sold over the previous seven days combined. The competition begins on August 29.
“We are now basically sold out for Monday (Opening night), Tuesday and Wednesday nights,” a USTA spokesperson told CNBC.
Williams’ announcement of her retirement occurred so close to the start of the tournament that it is unlikely that it would have attracted extra sponsorships, which are typically set far in advance. The USTA refused to provide financial predictions for the renowned Queens tennis tournament.
Stubhub, a secondary ticket reseller, reported that average daily ticket sales in dollars have more than doubled and that daily ticket sales have more than tripled. The well-known ticket marketplace reported a 40% increase in sales as a result of Williams’ revelation.
“U.S. Open demand continues to pick up as we approach one week out from the start of first-round action. We encourage fans to get tickets now if they want to go, since legends like Rafael Nadal or Serena Williams advancing in play can have a big effect on demand,” spokesperson for StubHub Adam Budelli reveals.
Prices for the US Open have increased 34% on the ticket marketplace TicketIQ since Williams announced his retirement. Prices have also increased recently for this year’s Women’s Final, with the average ticket rising as high as $1,289.
“The $1,289 list price is also the most expensive Women’s Final we’ve ever tracked, 37% higher than the previous most expensive, the 2019 Final, which was also the last time Serena made the U.S. Open Final,” TicketIQ said.
“Despite odds makers putting Serena as just the 13th most likely woman to win the 2022 US Open, ticket sellers are pricing the finals as if she’ll be there,” TicketIQ CEO Jesse Lawrence told CNBC.
In her career, Williams has won the U.S. Open six times, with the most recent victory occurring in 2014. She recently suffered a heartbreaking loss to Britain’s Emma Raducanu in the first round of the Women’s Tennis Association event, the Western & Southern Open, in Mason, Ohio.
“I’m unsure if I’ll be prepared to win New York, But I’m going to try.” Serena Williams remarked on the competition in the Vogue magazine article announcing her retirement.
After decades of concentrating on tennis, the tennis legend, who will turn 41 next month, says she is ready to focus on expanding her family. She has a 5-year-old daughter named Olympia and is wed to Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian.
Serena Williams has accumulated over $94 million in lifetime winnings, which is twice as much as any other female athlete, and 23 grand slam trophies during the course of her illustrious career, the second-most of all time behind Margaret Cour. She has also played a significant role in introducing girls and African Americans to the sport.
The tennis pro is thought to be valued around $260 million by Forbes.
“I started playing tennis with the goal of winning the U.S. Open. I didn’t think past that. And then I just kept winning,” she wrote in Vogue.
CNBC
