As the U.S. Open gets underway in Queens, city leaders highlighted efforts to make tennis and major sporting events more accessible to New Yorkers.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani cut the ribbon Wednesday on newly renovated tennis courts at Crotona Park East in the Bronx, a project aimed at expanding access to the sport in a community that has historically had fewer tennis resources.
Residents hope the upgraded facilities will score big with young athletes who love the sport and also encourage people from every borough to play.
The area is home to America’s largest free tennis junior competition. Each year, the Mayor Dinkins Cup draws more than 800 young athletes from across the city.
The court renovations come as the city launches a separate initiative designed to help residents experience the US Open in person. Beginning Wednesday, 1,000 discounted tickets secured by the city were made available exclusively to New Yorkers for $100 each. The tickets include both match and grounds passes for sessions between Aug. 30 and Sept. 8.
City officials say the discounted ticket program is part of a broader effort to bring the cost of major events within reach.
Mamdani said rising costs have left many residents feeling priced out of marquee sporting events.
“What we’ve seen is, like with many sporting events, the cost has continued to increase, and many New Yorkers feel as if they don’t have a chance at being a part of something like this,” Mamdani said.
No surprisingly, the tickets sold out almost immediately.
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