The U.S. Open is just over a week away, and "thanks to second-market websites like StubHub, eBay and others, you can still make your way onto the historic grounds" at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn., but it is "going to cost you a lot more than the $110 or $125 face value," according to Matt Mullin of PHILLY.com. Due to the small size of the course, the "number of spectators allowed in each day has been limited to 25,000." With Merion's proximity to Philadelphia, N.Y. and DC, it is "easy to see how low supply and high demand drove up the prices." The venue is "a bit undersized to handle an event like this, and ticket prices are reflecting this." Secondary-market ticket prices this year are "putting previous Opens to shame," as average Thursday tickets this year cost $285 compared to just $71 last year at S.F.'s Olympic Club. Sunday tickets this year on average are $330 compared to $122 in '12 while a weekly pass is running at $1,400 compared to just $841 a year ago. Mullin: "It may not compare to the Masters when it comes to ticket prices, but Merion is giving Augusta a run for her money" (PHILLY.com, 6/2).
