NEW YORK – The expression "costs an arm and a leg" dates back at least a century, but it indeed remains relevant in today's inflation-rampant times ... especially if you are planning to attend, eat, drink, or buy any sort of souvenir at the US Open over the next two weeks.
If your stomach and wallet can handle it, and you don't have to take out a second mortgage to afford the trip to Flushing Meadows, this year's cornucopia of food and drink choices at the final Grand Slam of the year is sure to turn some heads.
Let's start with the drinks, where smiling (or annoyed, depending on the time of day) bartenders are situated at battle stations every couple of feet. They're ready to charge your credit card and pour you a popular US Open staple, the Honey Deuce, which is responsible for nearly two decades of fans stumbling and bumbling around the grounds with impunity to the ire of the New York City Police Department.
This mixture of Grey Goose vodka, lemonade, and raspberry liqueur, topped with three honeydew melons that represent tennis balls, will cost you $23. But at least you get the collective glass that comes with the drink.
The United States Tennis Association sold 556,000 Honey Deuces during last year's tournament (and 2.8 million have been sold since 2011, according to Grey Goose). For you math majors, the organization pocketed nearly $12.8 million off that drink alone in 2024, more than enough to pay the two singles champions, who will take home $5 million each for their victorious runs through the tournament.
