Grand Central Terminal is getting a tennis makeover this weekend, as Dunkin' and American Express Gold set up a free pop-up called Game, Set, Sip inside historic Vanderbilt Hall on Saturday and Sunday, timed to the start of the US Open. The two-day activation runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days and offers commuters and tennis fans free samples, games and photo opportunities just as the Grand Slam kicks off in Queens.
The pop-up coincides with the nationwide launch of Dunkin's tennis-inspired menu, which debuts at participating locations across the country on Sunday, according to Time Out. The headliner is Melon Deuce Energy, a nonalcoholic drink blending watermelon-lime and raspberry flavors with lemonade that riffs on the US Open's famous Honey Deuce cocktail. Dunkin' is also rolling out Matcha Point, a matcha and French vanilla drink made with protein milk that packs 18 grams of protein in a medium serving.
Munchkins Get Packed Into Tiny Tennis Cans
For a limited time, customers who buy a three-count assorted mix of Munchkins will receive a limited-edition mini tennis can filled with the donut hole treats, while supplies last at participating Dunkin' locations. The gimmick borrows directly from the real Honey Deuce, whose skewered melon-ball garnish was designed to look like tennis balls floating in the glass. Restaurateur Nick Mautone dreamed up that original pairing of vodka, lemonade and raspberry liqueur back in 2006 after spotting honeydew melon balls at a farmers' market that reminded him of tennis balls, according to The Spirits Business.
That cocktail has since become a genuine cash cow for the tournament. During the 2025 US Open, concessions sold 738,459 Grey Goose Honey Deuce cocktails at $23 apiece, generating nearly $17 million in beverage revenue, per the Observer. Dunkin' Chief Marketing Officer Jill Nelson said the company built its tennis-themed menu and pop-up after noticing how often customers already work Dunkin' coffee and snacks into their tennis routines, whether playing or watching from the stands.
Games, Fast-Passes and a Merch Drop Still to Come
Beyond the food and drinks, Game, Set, Sip includes tennis-inspired surprises, photo opportunities and something called the Gold Court Precision Challenge for visitors to try their hand at. American Express Gold card members get their own perk at the pop-up: access to a dedicated fast-pass line, a nod to the card's longstanding US Open sponsorship that also gets cardholders presale tickets and hospitality lounge access at the tournament itself.
Vanderbilt Hall makes for a fittingly high-traffic stage. The Beaux-Arts space, built in 1913 as Grand Central's Main Waiting Room and restored in 1998, spans 12,000 square feet with 55-foot ceilings and two gold chandeliers, and Grand Central overall sees roughly 750,000 visitors a day, with more than 200,000 commuters passing through Vanderbilt Hall alone. The terminal also happens to sit one stop and roughly 20 minutes by the 7 train from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, where the 2026 US Open main draw runs from Sunday through September 13.
A Bigger Merch Drop Is Coming Next Week
Shoppers who miss the Grand Central weekend will get another chance to buy in on September 4, when Dunkin' releases its Serve, Sip, Swing merchandise collection online at 10 a.m. ET. Created in collaboration with tennis equipment brand HEAD, the line includes orange and pink HEAD x Dunkin' tennis bags priced at $99 each, along with apparel and accessories ranging from $15 to $50.
The timing lines up with a tournament that keeps growing in financial scale. The 2026 US Open set a record total prize purse of $108 million, with $5.5 million going to each of the men's and women's singles champions, up from $5 million per singles winner in 2025, according to Forbes. The three-week tournament is estimated to generate more than $1.2 billion in economic impact for New York City, a figure reported to outperform the combined annual economic contribution of the Yankees and the Mets, which helps explain why brands like Dunkin' are eager to plant a flag in Midtown before the action even moves to Flushing Meadows.
