Tickets for Roger Federer and Mary Carillo's induction into the Class of 2026 sold out on Tixr in less than two minutes, drawing one of the largest crowds in Hall of Fame history to Newport.
Every August, the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) turns its Newport, Rhode Island grounds, a 19th-century casino with grass courts still in play, into a multi-day celebration of the sport's history. This year, it welcomed two new names into its ranks: Roger Federer, the only player elected to the Class of 2026, and sportscaster and former professional tennis player Mary Carillo, honored for her decades behind the microphone. The crowd that filled Newport came from 42 states and nearly 30 countries, some flying in from Japan, New Zealand, Morocco, and the UAE.
Across three days, they moved between a fashion exhibition at a Gilded Age mansion, exhibition matches featuring Federer alongside Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe, an all-day fan festival on the grounds, and a Saturday ceremony on the historic Horseshoe Court.
A Three-Day Celebration, From Marble House to the Horseshoe Court
This was only the second year the ITHF ran Induction Celebration as its own standalone event. Before 2025, the induction was a one-day affair tied to the annual summer tournament. Splitting it off gave the ITHF room to build out a full weekend, from Thursday night through the jacket ceremony presenting Federer and Carillo with their custom blazers, to Saturday's induction.
“With a multiple day event and various ways for fans to purchase from packages to individual tickets, Tixr was able to help us get all ticketing set up in advance and make the process of getting multiple tickets to customers seamless.” – Julianna Barbieri, SVP of Content and Partnerships at the International Tennis Hall of Fame
The ITHF expanded Fame Fest this year around the idea of getting fans "closer to greatness," adding Hall of Famer Q&As, museum access, and the chance for fans to play on the grass courts themselves. Saturday brought a first: a Red Carpet show staged for nearly 4,000 fans in the stadium.
“On site, the feeling on the grounds was electric. In the world of tennis, this was a very unique experience and gave fans an opportunity to see the Hall of Famers and special guests just ahead of the start of the ceremony.” – Julianna Barbieri
How Ticketing Held Up Under Record Demand
Every part of the weekend sold through Tixr, from full packages covering all three days with hospitality access, to single tickets for an afternoon at the Celebrity Pro Classic or a spot in the stadium for the Red Carpet show and watch party.
“To deliver a top-notch fan experience we tried to think through the entire customer journey and the touch points once they arrived on the grounds. We looked to create moments for fans to delight in seeing some of the legends they love coupled with programming that evoked inspiration all while aiming to make the backend process simple which is where Tixr came in.” – Julianna Barbieri
When the event day came, the focus stayed on the fans, with Tixr working quietly in the background the way ticketing should.
“Ticketing was easy and by not having challenges for fans to access tickets or transfer them they were able to spend more time enjoying the events. On site, ticket scanning was simple and easy for our volunteers to check in thousands of customers.” – Julianna Barbieri
With the 2026 Induction Ceremony in the rearview, the ITHF turns its attention to a year-round slate of events and exhibitions, powered by Tixr.
Photos courtesy of International Tennis Hall of Fame - Jamie Schwaberow/Ben Solomon/Joe Faraoni/Clive Brunskill
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