US fans flood Ryder Cup galleries as Europe faces 'bear pit' at Bethpage Black
Viagogo data shows 96% of resale Ryder Cup tickets purchased by American fans, with around 50,000 spectators per day expected as Europe faces a hostile New York crowd.
Nearly all Ryder Cup tickets sold on the resale market have been bought by American fans, according to data from viagogo, underscoring the challenge facing Europe at Bethpage Black. Viagogo said 96 percent of resale tickets were purchased by Team USA supporters as the competition approaches this week. With matches due to start Friday, organizers expect about 50,000 spectators per day for three days, a crowd that could tilt the atmosphere in favor of the home side.
The data also spotlight the uncertainty over what share of the overall galleries will be American, but viagogo's figures suggest a dominant US presence in the stands. "The atmosphere in New York has been a topic of huge debate and our figures show just what Team Europe can expect," said Julian Dwenger, viagogo’s international development lead. "We’ve already seen a fiery opening ceremony, with European Captain Luke Donald taking aim at Team USA. There will be a hostile atmosphere for Europe at the Ryder Cup, with ticket data revealing just how large a percentage of attendees will be supporting the USA. There will be around 50,000 spectators per day descending on the course."
On the course, Collin Morikawa tried to shift the mood, calling for "absolute chaos" on Friday. Morikawa said crowds at Whistling Straits in 2021 had still been sizable but the pandemic limited them, and that this week in New York could be even louder. "I'll be honest, I think it's kind of tame so far, Tuesday and Wednesday. I hope Friday is just absolute chaos. I'm all for it," Morikawa said. He added that the rowdy atmosphere could fuel the Americans: "I think every sport uses their home crowd to their advantage, and just because we don't play in a setting like this doesn't mean that we can't use that to our advantage."
Morikawa also cited the Europeans' approach to softening relations, saying Luke Donald's "hearts-and-minds" mission includes signing autographs for local youngsters to smooth tensions. "We really have to tap into that," he said, "watching all these kids, I know they want autographs, but come Friday, I hope they go crazy."
Donald will be under no illusion about the task ahead. European players face a daunting environment on American soil as they attempt to win away from home for only the fifth time in 29 Ryder Cup clashes. The size of the US gallery and the anticipated intensity at Bethpage Black add to the challenge as the teams prepare to tee off Friday.