The US Open has unveiled a new drink, The Watermelon Slice, and it’s already surpassing Taylor Swift’s favorite cocktail in popularity and price.
The Watermelon Slice can be bought at concession stands for a whooping $39, in line with rising ticket prices for the American tennis major.
The drink will challenge the Honey Deuce cocktail, which has been a staple at the US Open since 2006, with to some fans, it not being a trip to Flushing’s tennis cathedral, without downing at least one of the signature drinks.
The Honey Deuce, made with vodka, lemonade, raspberry liqueur, and skewered balls of honeydew melon, has also been given the seal of approval by Taylor Swift, with the cups they’re served in becoming collectors items, even with the less-outrageous $23 price tag.
The Watermelon slice has two difference kinds of champagne, watermelon juice, an elderflower liqueur, lime and a watermelon wedge, served in a tennis-ball-inspired wine glass.
Celebrities such as Brittany Snow, Meg Donnelly, and Julia Mervis have been seen drinking the new cocktail at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce enjoyed popular cocktail The Honey Deuce at last year’s US Open
Now there is a trendy new cocktail for sale at the New York City event, The Watermelon Slice
Last year, the Honey Deuce was bought at a reported rate of one drink sold every 1.5 seconds.
According to numbers from sports business expert Joe Pompliano, the US Open sold 556,782 Honey Deuce cocktails last year.
Crunching the numbers, that means that despite raising the price by a dollar from 2023, the tournament still sold $12.8million in Honey Deuces.
Celebrities like Swift, Jason Sudeikis, and James Corden have been photographed enjoying the drink in past tournaments.
Swift and Travis Kelce enjoyed the drink at last year’s men’s singles final between Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner, which they attended with Patrick and Brittany Mahomes.
Meg Donnelly and Brittany Snow enjoy the ‘Watermelon Slice’ cocktail at the IHG Hotels & Resorts Suite during during the US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
A-Listers like Brittany Snow, Meg Donnelly, and Julia Mervis have been spotted with them
Tessa Brooks, Payton Purther and Julia Mervis enjoy the ‘Watermelon Slice’ cocktail
Even tennis icon Serena Williams was pleasantly surprised when trying the cocktail.
Now, with challengers from The Watermelon Slice, and from Dobel Tequila, those numbers may have a harder time staying so grand.
Food innovation is also happening at the US Open, with stands from popular New York City restaurants including COQODAQ at the club level.
And then there are some old favorites, like chicken nuggets, which will reportedly account for around 200,000 sales at this year’s tournament, according to USA Today.
For $26, attendees can get the nuggets with three signature sauces and a pickled radish.
