The US Open hoped to sell 800,000 Honey Deuces this year at $23 a pop. Here's the economics behind why a cocktail became the real story of the US Open.
I'm glad you brought that up because I almost went that route, but I didn't know if conspicuous consumption really fit neatly here. Is it really a status symbol if 800,000 other people are doing it over the same three-week period?
I had a similar conversation with someone a few weeks back. I understand the price spike a few years back, as everyone was spending their pandemic savings.
Thorstein Veblen would be proud, or maybe watch on in horror!
I'm glad you brought that up because I almost went that route, but I didn't know if conspicuous consumption really fit neatly here. Is it really a status symbol if 800,000 other people are doing it over the same three-week period?
i think live sports in general is facing a little bit of an affordability problem. We were all capring about it during the world cup, and here is The Guardian carping about it a couple weeks ago (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/30/us-open-ticket-prices-usta-resale-affordability).
I'm sure people have figured out how to do these events on the cheap, but I would say thats the exception, not the rule.
I had a similar conversation with someone a few weeks back. I understand the price spike a few years back, as everyone was spending their pandemic savings.
I do not understand how top-level events are still so expensive. How are people still paying thousands for a game: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmedina/2026/06/07/nba-finals-ticket-prices-at-msg-cost-more-than-most-super-bowls/
prices love being sticky!!!