A Serious Tennis Fan’s Top 10 Tips for the 2024 US Open (Tickets and More)
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By P.J. Simmons
As a serious tennis player and fan living in New York City, I feel so lucky that the US Open is in my backyard. I absolutely love the tournament, and find nothing more educational and inspiring for my own game than seeing world-class live tennis. I can’t wait to return to the 2024 US Open tennis tournament, which will take place at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Monday August 26- Sunday September 8, 2024!
2024 will mark my 16th consecutive US Open, and I’ve learned a ton over the years through trial and error about how to maximize the opportunity, find the best tickets and seats on the Official US Open ticket site on Ticketmaster and other reseller sites, and generally get the biggest bang for the buck. Likewise, I’ve learned so much thanks to fellow fans around the world who have shared their own insights since I wrote the first version of this post over a decade ago.
Below are my top 10 recommendations for serious tennis fans like me.
In a rush and need quick answers?
I recommend reading/skimming the entire post in order if you can, but if you’re rushed here are shortcuts to my answers to the most common questions I’ve received over the years:
- How can I make sure I see Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Arena Sabalenka (or any other favorite player)?
- Can you explain the ticket options, I’m overwhelmed!
- Which ticket sites are best? Note: always check Ticketmaster first and click on the “map” view to get the best initial birdseye view of what’s available (standard and resale tix), then compare with other reseller sites like Stubhub.
- Should I buy tickets now or wait? Will ticket prices go up or down?
- What time can I enter grounds with a Day or Night Session ticket?
- What kind of matches (and how many) can I expect to see on certain days (in Ashe, Armstrong, Grandstand, etc)?
- Which seats have the best view?
- Which seats get the most shade?
- How should I get there (subway, LIRR, car, parking?)
Tip #1: Do whatever you can to see world-class players and great matches up really close— which if you’re on a budget may mean bypassing Arthur Ashe stadium in favor of the sixteen other courts where matches are played.
![](https://www.roadto45tennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/US-Open-2022-on-Break-Point-300x225.jpg)
Me spotted on Netflix “Break Point” series cheering on Taylor Fritz and Brandon Holt (yes, I was rooting for both) at the 2022 US Open – front row during awesome match at GRANDSTAND Stadium (not Ashe!)
For my first US Open, I spent about $250 per ticket for a decent seat during early rounds in the famous Arthur Ashe stadium (1/2 way up in the Loge section) so I’d be guaranteed to see at least one Top 10 player live. While it was certainly thrilling to experience the electricity of an evening at Ashe stadium, I still felt somewhat distant from the action (it’s a mammoth 23,700-seat venue) and spent much of the time watching the match on the huge video screen. Moreover, because the tournament prioritizes putting the biggest stars on Ashe over the best match-ups, the matches I saw weren’t terribly exciting.
Since then, I’ve become addicted to the unparalleled thrill of seeing many world-class competitors from a few feet away in epic duels on several of the smaller non-Ashe courts (Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand Stadium (behind courts 4-6), the very cool Court #17, and other courts #4-#16). Once you have this experience you’ll be addicted too. While it’s rare that you’ll see the Top 5 players on those courts, you WILL see other awe-inspiring players in very competitive matches.
A collateral benefit: you’ll be ahead of the curve in seeing rising stars the likes of Coco Gauff before they become household names, and feel the excitement of “discovering” new talent to cheer for. I’ll never forget the first time I saw Milos Raonic blast a tournament record 145 MPH serve from the first row of the old Grandstand. Or, in more recent years, when I saw then “next-gen” players up very close for the first time before they were super famous — like Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Dominic Thiem, Sasha Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov, Borna Ćorić. In 2019, I had the thrill of watching the young Felix Auger-Aliassime v. fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov from the front row in Grandstand. In 2021, I was blown away watching Lloyd Harris for the first time from the second row of Armstrong and know tons of fellow fanatics who had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing rising superstars Jenson Brooksby, Leylah Fernandez and Carlos Alcaraz up close on the outer courts.
Tip for serious players: After watching a ton of pro matches, I started challenging myself to watch more deliberately from the perspective of a player who wants to improve. I wrote down ten ideas for watching a pro match that may resonate with fellow fanatics who not only want to enjoy the drama of the match but also learn from it.
(Adapted from photo in “US Open Transformation Update”)
Tip #2: If you’re on a tight budget, try to attend during the tournament’s first week (Monday August 26- Friday August 30) and purchase relatively inexpensive Ashe DAY session tickets.
An Ashe day session ticket will get you access to all the courts on the grounds in addition to Ashe during the day, then enable you to stay on the grounds to watch matches on all courts except Ashe in the evening (Ashe day/night sessions are sold separately). You’ll get hours and hours of tennis watching for your money, as many matches on the outer courts will go well into the evening. And if you can take a day off from work and go during these first 5 days, you won’t have to battle hordes of fans for access to the non-Ashe venues– whereas things get very crowded Labor Day weekend.
Tip #3: Do NOT buy a “Grounds Admission” pass to save money until you’ve explored whether reserved day session seats in Ashe or Armstrong are also available for around the same price!
Grounds admission tickets (cheaper tickets sold on the tourney’s first 8 days that give access to all the courts except Ashe) can be a good deal, but there are often reserved Ashe Promenade-level tickets (and, occasionally, Armstrong courtside seats) available for nearly identical prices– making them far better deals. Ashe and Armstrong Day Session tickets gives you all the privileges of a “Grounds” pass with added bonuses. In particular, buying an Ashe or Armstrong reserved seat gives you rain insurance, because these stadiums both have roofs so matches cannot be rained out.
Tip #4: Go for quality over quantity.
As a general rule, I encourage fellow fans to budget their time and money in ways that maximize the possibility of a few magical experiences versus a ton of forgettable ones. For instance, if you’re opting between multiple days of cheap nosebleed seats in Ashe’s Upper Promenade versus appying the same budget towards excellent seats for a couple sessions, I generally recommend the latter. (Note: if you’re wondering whether it’s worth it to spend a bit more to sit in the Loge level of Ashe versus the Promenade level, my answer is always yes).
BOX #1: UNDERSTANDING YOUR TICKET OPTIONS & HOW THE SCHEDULE WORKS
See US Open Official Ticket Site for all sessions above organized by stadium.
See Daily Schedule of Play for day-by-day schedule
FAQ: What Matches Can I Expect on Each Court?
To get a sense of what types of matches are played on which courts for specific dates, I recommend reviewing the recent year’s schedules for the specific day(s) you’re considering attending:
–> 2023 Daily Schedule of Play
–> 2022 Daily Schedule of Play
The US Open will likely release the 2024 Tournament’s Day 1 and Day 2 Schedule on its Daily Schedule of Play page and the US Open app on Friday August 23 (start checking mid-day, usually released late afternoon/early evening).
CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED DAY-BY-DAY BREAKDOWN OF THE US OPEN SCHEDULE
2024 US OPEN SCHEDULE
“FAN WEEK” (FREE – See Tip #10 for details)
- Aug 20-23 (Tuesday-Friday): Qualifying Tournament. 128 male and female players compete for the final 32 spots (16 each for men and women) in the singles draws.
- Aug 24 (Saturday): Kid’s Day
- Aug 25 (Sunday): Grounds open, practice day
MAIN TOURNAMENT
- Aug 26-27 (Monday-Tuesday): Men’s & Women’s 1st Round * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe & Armstrong * Monday Aug 26 Ashe Evening session features short Opening Night Ceremony prior to regular matches
- Aug 28-29 (Wed-Thursday): Men’s & Women’s 2nd Round * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe & Armstrong + Doubles 1st Round (outer courts)
- Aug 30-31 (Friday-Saturday): Men’s & Women’s 3rd Round * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe & Armstrong + Doubles 2nd Round, Juniors (outer courts)
- Sep 1 (Sunday): Men’s & Women’s 4th Round (“Round of 16″) * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe * Day session ONLY on Armstrong (11am) * Note: In 2019, Armstrong and Grandstand both featured one men’s singles R16 match (others on Ashe) + Doubles 3rd Round, Juniors (outer courts)
- Sep 2 (Monday): Men’s & Women’s 4th Round (“Round of 16″) Note: Men’s Round of 16 Singles matches on this day will be played exclusively on Ashe and Armstrong, not Grandstand! * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe * Day session ONLY on Armstrong (11am) + Doubles 3rd Round, Juniors (outer courts)
- Sep 3 (Tuesday): Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals (Ashe Stadium only) * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe + Men’s Doubles Quarterfinals (Armstrong) * Armstrong and Grandstand only feature Doubles matches from this point on, so don’t purchase Armstrong reserved tickets for September 7 unless you want to see Doubles.
- Sep 4 (Wednesday): Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals (Ashe Stadium) * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe + Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals (Armstrong)
- Sep 5 DAY (Thursday Noon): Free “Community Day” (Noon)** ** Free grounds access to watch Men’s & Women’s Doubles Semifinals + Wheelchair and Junior matches
- Sep 5 EVENING (Thursday at 7pm): Women’s Semifinals (Ashe Stadium) * Ashe Evening Session ticket gets access to both women’s Semifinal matches
- Sep 6 DAY (Friday Noon): Men’s Semifinal #1 (Ashe Stadium 3:00pm). Note: this is the first year the Men’s Semis will take place in two separate sessions (1 Day, 1 Night) so you need tickets to both sessions if you want to see both matches. * Preceded by Men’s Doubles Final or Mixed Doubles Final (Noon) + Wheelchair and Junior matches (outer courts)
- Sep 6 EVENING (Friday 7pm): Men’s Semifinal #2 (Ashe Stadium)
- Sep 7 DAY ONLY (Saturday Noon): Women’s Final (4:00pm) * Preceded by Wheelchair Finals (Noon) and the Mixed Doubles Final or Men’s Doubles Final
- Sep 8 DAY ONLY (Sunday Noon): Men’s Final (4:00pm) * Preceded by Wheelchair Finals (Noon) and Women’s Doubles Final (1:00pm) + Wheelchair and Junior Finals on outer courts
Here is the ESPN Broadcast schedule (updated link to come)
Entry and re-entry rules:
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- Any DAY session stadium reserved ticket for Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand gives you the same exact privileges as a Grounds Pass: You can enter the grounds as early as 9:30am (or 11am on Finals weekend) and stay on the grounds as late into the evening as you want. However, your Day session reserved seat in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand only entitles you to those reserved seats for the Day session matches (then you have to exit your seats) — after which you can stay on the US Open grounds as late as you want and access general unreserved seating on every court (except Ashe, which has no unreserved seating).
- To enter the US Open grounds, you must pass through security then have your ticket scanned at either the EAST GATE or SOUTH GATE (see map above).
- If you have a reserved seat in a stadium, you’ll have your ticket re-checked upon entering that stadium.
- If you have tickets for Day and Evening sessions (Ashe or Armstrong) on the same day, you will NOT need to exit the US Open grounds and re-enter again. Your ticket will be checked as you enter the stadium.
- If you are in Armstrong for the Day session (either Courtside reserved or GA seating), you’ll need to leave your seat between Day and Evening sessions as they clean up. However, you may stay inside the concourse area of Armstrong (the inner-stadium areas with food stands).
** I took the photo above at the 2016 US Open from a corner courtside seat in Ashe watching the Nadal-Pouille round of 16 match on Labor Day.
Tip #5: If your budget can swing it, I strongly recommend getting a courtside reserved seat in Louis Armstrong stadium (especially between Aug 28 – Sep 2) and/or in Grandstand (especially on Aug 30 or Aug 31).
Louis Armstrong (14,053 seats) and Grandstand (8,125 seats) are the other two main show courts after Ashe Stadium – and they offer a much more intimate experience. A reserved courtside ticket for either can give you access to thrilling matches and players up close that you’ll never forget.
The first time I did this in 2010 I saw an unforgettable marathon slugfest between David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco from the FIRST ROW BASELINE! I had arrived that morning at 11am and left around 11:30pm at night, leaving my seat only twice for a total of about 9 minutes for rapid-fire bathroom breaks and to grab snacks so I wouldn’t want to miss a second of the action. Ever since, I’ve made it an annual tradition to go with friends to Armstrong during the 3d Round or Round of 16. In 2019, I got to see 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini crushing balls in the Round of 16 on Armstrong from the second row (and my phone exploded with texts when my friends and I were spotted on ESPN frequently cheering for him). I’ve had similar transporting experiences in Grandstand over the years – most recently when I sat first row behind-the-server for a match between Auger-Aliassime and his Canadian buddy Denis Shapovalov.
Both stadiums also feature general admission seating on a first-come basis, but getting good GA seats can be tough and involve long lines for the higher-profile matches — so having a reserved courtside ticket gives you the dual benefit of skipping long lines plus plus incredible proximity to the players.
![](https://www.roadto45tennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2019onESPNIMG_8042-copy-scaled.jpg)
Me caught on ESPN cheering for Matteo Berrettini from 2d row Armstrong during 2019 Round of 16 (v Rublev)
BOX 2: WHERE TO GET THE BEST DEAL ON US OPEN TICKETS? SHOULD I BUY NOW OR LATER?
Individual face-value tickets will go on sale on or around Monday, June 3rd (exact date TBA) at 9AM ET on the official US Open Ticketmaster site. Before then, many Ticketmaster and other resellers like Stubhub are offering resale tickets for purchase, put up for sale by US Open Subscribers trying to sell their tickets (in many cases for a steep premium). My most important advice:
DO NOT PANIC BUY AND RUSH INTO A DECISION ON OPENING TICKET DAY (JUNE 3) — and don’t gamble on expensive resale tickets before June 3 unless you are a seasoned US Open ticket buyer! Without knowing better, too many first-time buyers panic during the frenzied opening day of ticket sales, not knowing that better options often become available in the weeks/months AFTER tickets go on sale June 3.
THE GOOD NEWS: if you’re willing to exercise patience and do a little work, there are always good deals to be found throughout the summer – right up until the actual day of matches! This is because:
- (1) Increasing numbers of sellers post their tickets for resale throughout the summer, and sellers competing for buyers often lower prices as we get closer to the start of the US Open;
- (2) USTA ends up releasing more standard price tickets as the summer goes on (inexplicably, at random times). I have on many (many!) occasions found better seats on the resale market for around the same price (sometimes even less) as standard no-fee seats. For example: in 2022 on Ticketmaster for the Day 1 Ashe DAY session there was a FRONT ROW Loge Resale ticket available for $281 ($327 with fees), while a Standard ticket in the third row of the adjacent section was going for $347 ($372 with fees) – see this screenshot (from August 17 2022).
Before buying, I recommend reading this entire post carefully to understand all the available options, explore the resale market to get a sense of average for sessions/seats that interest you, and prioritize what’s most important to you… THEN you’ll be in the best position to get the best seats and experience for your budget.
- Note: There will be a pre-sale for American Express cardholders the week prior — however beware that the inventory during the Amex pre-sale is always very limited (I am cardholder and have never once in 15 years found the quality seats I’m looking for during the pre-sale). If you’re looking for upper Promenade Ashe seats or higher-row seats in Armstrong, the pre-sale is as good a time as any to purchase. However, one of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen people make over the years is to buy a ticket in a panic during the pre-sale, then realize they could have found better options — either regular tickets after all individual tickets go on sale, or on the resale market over the summer.
Below are the sites that will give you access to the BEST INVENTORY of available tickets (both face-value and resale). Before buying, be sure to compare options and prices.When searching, try sorting by price, section, row… Take your time, get a good sense of what the prevailing price for what you want, and when you spot a good deal, grab it!
1. ALWAYS (!) first check the official Ticketmaster US Open tennis tournament site. I strongly recommend looking on a computer/web browser for fastest navigation and the best options for viewing availability (be sure to use the “map view” of individual seats by clicking on any individual section, try sorting lists in different ways, and use multiple browser tabs to compare across various sessions).
- This site features both (1) any standard tickets (non-resale, face value) that may be available (shown as “blue dots” on the detailed seat map for each session – most often only in Promenade, but occasionally pop up in Loge and Courtside sections throughout the summer); and (2) resale tickets (shows as “red dots” on the detailed seat map for each session).
- Surprisingly, resale tickets (red dots) can often be the best value: resellers often lower their prices to around or below face value as they compete with other resellers to attract buyers.
- Tickets remain on sale for 59 minutes after a session begins as long as tickets remain (e.g., if an Ashe Day session begins at Noon, tickets remain on sale until 12:59pm). For Men’s Semi’s in 2019, Ticketmaster kept sales open for standard seats only another 3 hours beyond that (which were in most cases about double the cost of what was available on the resale market).
- Both Ticketmaster and Stubhub make it very easy to put your tickets back up for sale if your plans change or you decide you want to switch days or tickets later.
- You must have a US bank account to put your tickets up for resale on Ticketmaster.
2. In addition to the above, it often pays to check Stubhub or other reseller sites like those below to see if you can find an even better deal for comparable seats.
If you search on both the official US Open Ticketmaster site PLUS one of the sites below to compare, you’ll get tremendous visibility into what’s available and the range of prices on the resale market. Most of these sites keep selling tickets after a session begins for several hours (versus Ticketmaster, which stops selling 59 minutes after the session begins). Trusted reseller sites include:
- Stubhub – Always worth checking in addition to Ticketmaster given very large inventory of resale tickets (some sellers list here exclusively)
- TicketCity – Very good interface and customer service
- SeatGeek – Helpful option to display price with fees while searching
- There are many other resale sites, some of which may have inventory beyond what’s available in the sites above and also have strong buyer protections (including VividSeats, Viagogo and Ticket Liquidator)
- Be sure to compare your options after all service fees are displayed, which may not appear until you get to the final order summary page.
3. Check out the exact location of individual seats for tickets in each stadium before buying them. Learn how and see seating charts and shade maps here.
4. Do not buy off Craigslist or classified sites!
I’ve heard tons of stories over the years of folks who got scammed or had to go through considerable hassle to obtain tickets. Not worth the risk. Also know that NYC law prohibits reselling “scalping” 1500 feet away from the venue (which is effectively everywhere off the subway at the US Open), and they have undercover police on site cracking down on both sellers and buyers.
5. If you’re going with a friend(s), consider buying a combination of cheap and amazing seats.
This way, you can split the cost and trade off time in the great seat. E.g., you could trade time in seats in Promenade vs Courtside, or between stadiums (in Ashe vs a reserved seat in Armstrong or Grandstand). I do this every year with my best friends.
Note: all tickets (including through Ticketmaster) are offered as MOBILE ONLY tickets (i.e., “Your Phone is Your Ticket”) – which requires having a smart phone with internet/wifi capability.
- If you do not have a smart phone (either iPhone or Android) and you purchase through Ticketmaster, they WILL help you – but you’ll have to contact their customer service directly and have them make an exception and transfer your tickets to “Will Call” pick up location on site. If you don’t own a smart phone and are purchasing resale tickets during the tournament, I’d recommend buying exclusively through Ticketmaster and not taking chances with other resellers.
- Questions? See US Open’s detailed instructions (with screenshots) on how to access and manage your mobile tickets.
Finally, if you want to explore package deals (combining tickets with optional hotel, transportation, VIP perks, etc), there are several trusted options including Championship Tennis Tours, Grand Slam Tennis Tours, and Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.
Tip #6: If you’ve never done it, consider splurging once on a courtside Ashe seat — if possible after the 2nd round of play when matches start getting more competitive.
After dreaming for years of the possibility, I finally bit the bullet to invest in courtside seats in 2011 for the first time. It was bliss. Ever since, I’ve made an annual pilgrimage to experience Courtside with a few close friends at least once. What most people don’t understand about the mammoth Ashe stadium until they’ve been in person is that even Loge seating is fairly high up because (a) the stadium is very vertically oriented (seating is on a sharp incline) and (b) there are two levels of suites above Courtside before the first row of Loge even begins. So when you’re down in Courtside, you feel like you’re in another world. The feeling of being that close to greatness in Ashe’s electric atmosphere is pretty amazing. If going for a courtside seat, keep in mind that Row E is first row in sections 1-6, 31-40, 65-67; and Row F is first row in sections 7,9,11, 26, 29, 30, 60 63, 64, 41, 42. If courtside is out of your budget, aim for lower Loge rows A-C when possible.
Here’s a video I shot of Federer from the front row in 2011, the very first time I sat courtside at Ashe. I found a great deal on a resale ticket (baseline section 58) for Labor Day during the Round of 16 and got to witness Federer perfection from a few feet away. Best money I’ve ever spent.
BOX 3: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the questions I get most often, along with important stuff I wish I had known myself before buying tickets the first time…
FAQ #1: How can I predict when (and on which court) Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz, Medvedev, Gauff, Sabalenka, Swiatek or my other favorite player will play? Will they play Day or Night Sessions?
The short answer: you have to wait until the Day 1 schedule is announced to have any clue – there is no way to predict prior to that. In 2023, once the Day 1 schedule was announced, we knew that the Men’s Bottom Half and Women’s Top Half of the Draws would play beginning DAY 1 (with the opposite halves beginning on Day 2) – so we then could predict which DATES your favorite players will be scheduled through quarterfinals: Players scheduled on Day 1 will play again on Day 3, 5, 7, and 9 if they advance; players scheduled on Day 2 will play again on Day 4, 6, 8, and 10 if they advance. To see how it worked in 2023, see box “2023 US Open: When Will My Favorites Play?”for details.
HOWEVER, there’s never any sure way to predict whether players will be scheduled for DAY or NIGHT sessions. Officials try to spread the wealth and be fair to players by alternating players between Day and Night sessions. Contrary to popular belief, they do not always schedule the biggest stars at night. The one exception to this is Quarterfinals, when biggest stars (or most anticipated match-ups) are usually scheduled for the night sessions.
One thing you can count on is for the US Open schedulers to defy crowd predictions ever year, with decisions that resist generalizations. Many a fan has been heartbroken after spending a lot of money on expensive seats based on erroneous predictions. Case in point from the 2020 and 2019 US Open tournaments:
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- In 2020, Serena’s 1st Round match (on Day 2) was a DAYsession; 2d Round match (Day 4) NIGHT session; 3d Round match (on Day 6) DAY session; 4th Round match (on Day 8) DAY session again; Quarterfinals (Day 10) — a DAY session yet again!
- In 2019, Serena’s 1st Round match (on Day 1) was a NIGHTsession; 2d Round (Day 3) NIGHT session; 3d Round (Day 5) DAY session; 4th Round (Day 7) DAY session again; Quarterfinals (Day 9) NIGHT session
- Also in 2019, Djokovic was scheduled for 3 consecutive Ashe Night sessionsand Federer for 3 consecutive Ashe Day sessions (Days 3, 5, and 7).
To be absolutely sure you see your favorite player, consider waiting until the schedule is published the day prior (start checking frequently early afternoon, usually out by 5:00pm), then immediately go to the official Ticketmaster US Open page (or other resale sites like Stubhub) to grab a resale ticket. This strategy requires, however, that you monitor the ticket situation closely in the days prior and are prepared to act immediately when the schedule is announced. Also, if you see tickets becoming scarce and prices going up in the days prior, you may conclude it’s worth taking a chance and purchasing based on an educated guess.
One sure way to see your favorite player up close is to watch them when they’re scheduled for practice on the practice courts. See Tip #9
To see real examples of what kinds of matches get scheduled on which courts for specific days, look at previous years’ schedules:
–> 2023 Daily Schedule of Play
–> 2022 Daily Schedule of Play
LEARN HOW TO MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES ABOUT WHO PLAYS WHEN/WHERE
On the THURSDAY before the main tournament begins (August 22, 2024), the “Draw” is revealed: Singles players (128 men and 128 women) are split into two equal “Halves” of a “Men’s Singles Draw” and “Women’s Singles Draw,” each half of which will play on alternating days through quarterfinals (Day 1-10). The #1 and #2 seeds (based on ATP and WTA rankings) are placed in opposite halves of the draw (so they will play on different days). The #3 and #4 seeds are also placed in opposite halves of the draw and in different quarters from the #1 and #2 seeds. Spots for winners of the Qualifier Tournament will be indicated as “Qualifier.”
- Once the US Open announces which halves of the draw will play on Day 1 versus Day 2 (which they do on the Thursday or Friday before the main tournament begins) you CAN then predict the DATES your favorite players will be scheduled through quarterfinals: Players scheduled on Day 1 will play again on Day 3, 5, 7, and 9 if they advance; players scheduled on Day 2 will play again on Day 4, 6, 8, and 10 if they advance.
- Only the biggest superstars (like Serena and Rafa) are sure to be scheduled on Ashe – others might be scheduled on Armstrong, Grandstand, or field courts. Schedulers have been known to put even the #1-ranked player in the world on Armstrong or Grandstand, as they did in 2021 with then #1 Simona Halep during Round 1 (on Grandstand) and then #2 Aryna Sabalenka (Armstrong). See my chart (click to enlarge) for illustrative examples of who has been scheduled on which courts.
- There’s never any sure way to predict whether players will be scheduled for DAY or NIGHT sessions. Officials try to spread the wealth and be fair to players by alternating players between Day and Night sessions. Contrary to popular belief, they do not always schedule the biggest stars at night. The one exception to this is Quarterfinals, when biggest stars are usually scheduled for the night sessions.
FYI: A fun way to get your head around the draw/brackets — and potential match-ups — is to enter the official US Open “Million-Dollar Bracket” contest. Each submission that correctly picks all 127 matches in the men’s singles bracket will share from a prize pool of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). It’s also a great way to become more familiar with some players you may not have heard of yet but probably will soon.
FAQ #2: How do a see the exact location of seats that I might buy (in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand)?
- Go to Ticketmaster, click on any session for the stadium in question, choose Map View, then mouse over or click on any of the dots to see the exact section, row and seat #.
- See all the seating charts below
- Note that for Ashe Courtside seats, each lettered “row” (e.g. “A” or “H”) actually stands for two rows: e.g., “Row A Seat 5” might actually be in the second row, Row C Seat 6 is probably 6th row). Courtside Sections 48-49, 52-63 and 66-67 go actually have two rows of “AA” seats followed by rows A-H.
- Also take note of where the umpire sits (you’ll see a little chair icon on each map — and avoid courtside tickets very close up in sections right behind or next to the chair (please note: the umpire chair is never a big obstruction, but it might be a minor annoyance to some).
- To make matters more complicated… first row for Behind-the-Server seats Courtside begin with E or F: Row E is first row in sections 1-6, 31-40, 65-67; and Row F is first row in sections 7,9,11, 26, 29, 30, 60 63, 64, 41, 42.
- In short, check out the detailed Seat Map on Ticketmaster view before buying to see the exact location.
KEY SEATING CHARTS AND SHADE MAPS
Arthur Ashe Stadium
- Arthur Ashe Seating Chart (view from above)
- Official Ashe Stadium Seating Chart
- My annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Ashe “Iteractive Seat Viewer” to give you a sense of what view is like from specific seats – which from my experience tends to make seats look like they’re closer than they actually feel when you’re there, but helpful nonetheless.
Louis Armstrong Stadium
- Louis Armstrong Stadium Seating Chart (Official)
- Louis Armstrong Chart (with my annotations)
- Armstrong Interactive “View from Seat” Map
- My annotated Armstrong Stadium SHADE map
Grandstand
FAQ #3: When should I buy? Will sessions sell out if I wait too long? Will prices go down or up over the summer? What are average prices? What’s a “good deal”?
The frustrating reality is: “it depends.” Buying tickets for the US Open can be like investing in the stock market: knowledge and judgment dramatically raises the odds of a good decision, but there are always surprises due to the number of variables involved. Standard (non-resale) Ashe tickets usually sell out fairly quickly (except for Ashe stadium’s “Promenade” section, where there are usually quite a few available throughout the summer). However, there are almost always resale tickets available until the very last moment because thousands of fans post their tickets for resale. You can almost always get tickets closer to the tournament – and you may end up finding a phenomenal deal if you are patient. However, waiting longer to purchase requires you to have a higher risk tolerance than those who’d prefer the certainty around making arrangements sooner. Resale ticket prices can vary significantly, especially closer to the tournament. Prices can plummet when lineups are predicted to be lackluster… or they can skyrocket if fans speculate that certain marquee players (like Federer) will be scheduled. In 2017, after it became clear that both Federer and Nadal would be scheduled on the same days throughout the tournament, prices spiked sharply for the days they’d be scheduled if they advanced and dropped significantly for the opposite days. Then, after Federer got knocked out in quarters, prices for semis and finals declined quite a bit. The best advice I can give is to familiarize yourself with average prices on Ticketmaster for the days/sessions you are considering over the course of several days so you can recognize a good deal when you see one and spot the trends.
See my chart showing the 2021 price ranges for regularly priced “standard” tickets. If you find resale tickets within these price ranges or less, that’s one sign of a great deal – especially as average ticket prices were significantly higher in 2023.
FAQ #4: Which seats get the most shade?
For Ashe: The roof creates a massive amount of natural shading all day for a large number of seats. The sections that get the most shade are in the South and West sections of the stadium; Next-best for shade are in the North. Sections with the most sun (to avoid for Day sessions) are on the East side. Click on the photo/map below for details. For the new Armstrong: Situation is similar to Ashe, now that there’s a roof. In short, Sections 1-8 are best for shade. West-side sections (Chair Umpire side) get the most shade; and when not in shade, at least the sun is at your back. Rows K and above (approximately) are shaded soonest (by about 12:30pm), then the sun gradually moves down to cover all rows by about 2:00 pm. East-side sections get the least shade and are in direct sun most of the afternoon. However, Rows T and above (approximately) get shading all day. South sections (behind-the-server) get more shade than North sections: South sections start out almost entirely shaded until about 1pm, then the sun starts wrapping around clockwise, such that sections 17-18 end up losing shade mid-afternoon. See photo/map below. For Grandstand: There’s much less shade overall, however South and West sections are similarly better because sun is more at your back. General admission seats that are higher under the overhang, especially Southwest corner, get the most shade.
FAQ #5: What happens if it rains?
The good news: Now that both Arthur Ashe and the new Louis Armstrong stadiums have roofs, now up to 37,771 more fans each day will be able to see matches even if it rains. The bad news: if you invest in great seats for Grandstand or simply buy a Grounds Admission pass, there isn’t much consolation. Keep in mind that weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable and can change on the hour (I have literally been at Flushing Meadows when my iPhone said it was raining and it wasn’t). There’s always hope that showers will pass quickly. In the highly unlikely event of all-day rain out or under 60 minutes of play (which happened to me unforgettably in 2012 on the day I treated 6 friends to pricy Armstrong front row seats), the session may be rescheduled until the next day and your ticket may be honored then — or, you MAY be able to trade in tickets through the US Open for another session this year or next year if (and only if) you purchased directly from Ticketmaster (see the somewhat complicated US Open Inclement Weather Policy). In the worst case scenario, I recommend looking for the silver lining: you’ll be surrounded by a ton of other fans with whom you can grab a US Open specialty cocktail, huddle under a shelter, and watch an Ashe match together on a big screen.
FAQ #6: Should I buy a subscription or multi-session ticket plan?
For most serious fans, I don’t recommend it. Most multi-session plans for Ashe (and first-time subscription plans) for are only for “Promenade” seats — so high up in that huge stadium you’ll end up watching a lot of the match on the Jumbotron or through binoculars. It could take years to get the chance to upgrade your seats to Loge (only available if you purchase the very expensive full-series plan). For the full series ticket plan price (well over $2,000 each) you could buy several amazing seats for multiple sessions over the tournament (or 2 excellent seats for the Men’s final). Finally, there is always a glut of Promenade Ashe seats on the resale market, so if you buy an entire series of Promenade seats you may have a challenge reselling any you don’t need.
FAQ #7: Which are the best sections/seats with the best views?
The vast majority of people would consider “behind the server” seats (i.e., those on North or South ends of the courts) to be preferable — and prices generally reflect this. For first-timers, this area would be my top recommendation.
- This is the vantage point they use for filming for broadcast, because it enables you to follow point construction and see the court from the perspective of the player on your side of the net.
- From these seats, you’ll never have to move your head side-to-side to follow the ball.
- FYI: seats in these sections start several feet higher in these seats than sections on the side (this is why these rows begin with higher letters E instead of AA or A).
- Here’s a photo of the perspective from higher up seats in the new Armstrong. Here’s another photo from Ashe courtside front row.
Corner sections are also widely considered to be highly desirable — and for good reason. They carry many of the same advantages of the above, with the added benefit you can see the player on your side of the net from the front as their hitting the ball not just the back. Here’s a photo from the new Armstrong from that perspective.
As a serious player myself, I personally love sitting courtside as close as possible in lower rows of sections where seats are practically on the court, perpendicular and near to the actual baseline (e.g., section 58 in Ashe) because it gets me physically even closer to the players and more on the same level. Sitting in the lower rows, I feel even more like I’m on the court with them. I feel the speed of the game. In these seats, I personally enjoy watching one player at a time sometimes to see their footwork, how they prepare for the next ball, etc. I took the video of Federer I included in my post from this perspective (from section 58). Here’s a photo from Ashe courtside from that perspective.
When considering Loge or Promenade seats in Ashe, I generally recommend prioritizing seats that are in lower rows regardless of location— simply because Loge (and especially Promenade) are already quite high up to begin with. For Day sessions, I strongly urge folks to factor in potential shade benefits (seats on West side, SouthWest, and Northwest tend to get the most shade relief). See FAQ #4 above. With regard to the umpire chair, it really is never an obstruction but may feel a bit of an annoyance to some if you’re sitting in very low rows on that side — simply because you may not always have a complete view of the player on the other side of the net. See this photo for example. I personally don’t mind this for reasons I mention above, and this is ONLY an issue when courtside in very low rows.
Tip #7: The night before you go
Check the app or click this link for the detailed daily Schedule of Play for the following day’s schedule and make your game plan so you can beeline directly to the court where the match you care about will happen (including, potentially, the practice courts– see Tip #8 below). You should also download the official US Open Everywhere App (search on app stores for “2024 US Open Tennis”) to track the latest schedule, scores and live updates. If someone you really want to see will play on Grandstand or Armstrong, get to the grounds as early as you can so you can be among the first in line when the gates open at 9:30am then speed-walk to those stadiums and grab the best seat you can. Check out the day-to-day coverage at SI.com’s tennis page, which is always terrific.
Tip #8: Check out the practice courts for close sightings of the superstars
Check the practice schedule the night before (and morning of) to see when/where players are practicing (you can also see it on the official US Open App).
Note: the best time to see top players practice without fighting crowds is during the free Qualifier Tournament and week before the main tournament (see my Tip #10 below).
Tip #9: Do not drive unless you really have to. Especially if the Mets have a home game.
Option 1: Take the subway #7 train (see 7 train schedule here, runs 24 hours, PM times in bold, see stops here, which include Grand Central). Note: you no longer need a MetroCards for the NY subway– you can simply TAP YOUR PHONE AT THE TURNSTILE if you are set up for tap-and-pay..
Option 2: (FASTEST, only 15 min from Midtown NYC): Take the LONG ISLAND RAILROAD (LIRR), which departs from Penn Station from the new “Moynihan Train Hall” (entrance on 8th Avenue between West 31st-33rd, directly across from Penn Station). to the “Mets-Willets Point” station (the signage will say either “GREAT NECK” or “PORT WASHINGTON” – double check the train number before boarding). Look for the “Port Washington” train on the monitors to find the right track. IMPORTANT: The LIRR stop at Mets-Willets is NOT accessible for fans with disabilities — so anyone with disabilities should exit the LIRR at Woodside/61st Street Station then transfer to the 7 train (or just take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point Station).
- To purchase LIRR tickets:
- Download the very easy-to-use NEW MTA TrainTime App. Within the app, click “Trips”, then at the top fill in From “Penn Station” and To “Mets-Willets Point” then see all the upcoming train options. Click the train you want and select “Buy” and it will show options for one-way or R/T. Ticket(s) will then be in your “wallet” in the app for you to use whenever you like; you just have to press “activate” right before you board your train of choice.
- Alternatively, you can also buy a ticket at Penn Station in the Moynihan Hall using an ATM-like ticket machine (or at the window). But the app is way easier.
- For return trips from the Open, you’ll need to show your ticket at the US Open’s LIRR entrance (top of the ramp near the East Gate) — the individuals checking tickets can also sell you a one-way return ticket if you need and you can use a credit card (tip: you do NOT need to line up at the ticket window!!).
- Here was the 2022 LIRR schedule until September 5 (check back for 2023 version)
- Here was the 2022 LIRR schedule beginning Wednesday September 6 (check back for 2023 version)
- If you fly into Laguardia (LGA) you can take the NYC “Q48” public bus from Laguardia to the US Open – only about 5 minutes away (the stop is listed on the MTA website as “ROOSEVELT AV/WILLETS PT BL STATION.”
If you must go by car…
- See the US Open’s driving directions and details on parking lots.
- On any of the dates below when Mets are playing home games, be sure to reserve a parking spot here. I can’t recommend this more strongly.
- Monday, Sep 2 2024
- Tuesday, Sep 3 2024
- Wednesday, Sep 4 2024
- Friday, Sep 6 2024
- Saturday, Sep 7 2024
- Sunday, Sep 8 2024
- Recommend putting in GPS “Citi Field” to get you to the general area – if parking isn’t available at Citi Field, there should be traffic cops around to redirect you
- US Open recommends using “Grand Central Parkway exit 9E or Whitestone Expressway (678) Exit 13D.”
- You’ll see signs and be directed to available public parking ($25 for cars).
- Citi Field will be the primary lot (“Yellow Zone” parking) except when the Mets are playing at Home (see the Mets home schedule). On those dates, according to the US Open you’ll be “directed to guest parking lots 1-6” (which the map confusingly labels as A-H– sorry I can’t provide any more clarification on this!).
- If you must drive on a day the Mets are playing, ARRIVE AS EARLY AS YOU CAN – like around 8:30am if possible – to avoid major hassles.
- The entrance to Citi Field parking is located at 126th Street and Shea Road, Corona, NY. GPS address to that intersection is “126 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368.
- Consider buying a parking pass on Stubhub to lots A, B, or C (which are closest). Here’s the detailed transportation map showing parking lots.
- Fellow fan Harry pointed out: “If you are willing to walk a bit, street parking underneath or south of Highway 495 is a viable option.”
- Uber/Lyft/Taxi TO the Open:
- You can have the driver put in “Billie Jean King National Tennis Center” if you want to have them drop you near the SOUTH GATE. If you’re aiming for the EAST GATE, try putting in “Mets-Willets Point” as the destination – this will take you directly to the spot on Roosevelt Avenue where the 7 train lets people off, then you can just walk up the stars and across the foot bridge to the East Gate. But that option MAY not be available if they are blocking off traffic, which they occasionally do.
- If considering a taxi or Uber/Lyft home after a night session, be prepared for a long wait, hassles, and a very (very) expensive ride with surge pricing. Getting an Uber/Lyft after an evening session when literally thousands of others are trying to do the same can be a nightmare. I tried it in 2016 as an experiment and here’s what happened: (1) Had to go to designated “zone 3” pickup area for cabs and users– a long walk from the South Gate near the globe (trying to meet them by the 7 train at Roosevelt is really tough given heavy traffic); (2) three Uber drivers cancelled on me after accepting before I finally get one; (3) Surge pricing was in effect, with a ride that should have cost $45 being quoted over $120.
- If you must hire a car back home after a night session, you might try the following instead:
- (1) Reserve a car service pickup in advance. I’ve used Riverside and they’re always reliable (and they have an app as well) – but you can find many other car services in NY if you Google.
- (2) Take the LIRR or 7 subway train into Manhattan (or to another local stop like “Junction Blvd”), then call Uber or a hail a cab
- (3) Try to hail a cab on the street just under the 7 train (Roosevelt Ave); or download the “Curb” app for NYC taxis and hail one that way from that location.
- If you’re lucky enough to be driving a Cadillac to the Open, you’ll get complimentary parking (Cadillac replaced Mercedes-Benz in 2022 as a major sponsor)
Alternatively, consider staying in Queens and biking! Fellow fan Mark shared his experience in 2019: “We packed our bikes and stayed at a nice AirB&B on Queens Boulevard, a little over 2 miles from the stadium. Queens has a great network of dedicated bike lanes and a friendly attitude toward bikers, and best of all – the terrain is flat! Once at the grounds, there are bike racks across from the South Gate entrance and in front of the security tent that handles baggage claim. It is a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute for anyone that so inclined!”
Tip #10: Take advantage of these amazing FREE opportunities to see incredible players up close:
- AUG 20-25 FREE “Fan Week“: If you’re a serious fan, don’t miss the FREE qualifying tournament Tuesday August 20- Friday August 23, the week before the main tournament begins. 128 of the world’s best male and female players (whose ATP and WTA rankings were just shy of qualifying automatically for the US Open) will compete for the final 32 spots (16 each for men and women) in the singles draws. Last year’s US Open women’s singles champion Emma Raducanu became the first in history to win a major after playing in the qualifiers – a reminder this is an amazing opportunity to see major rising players! It’s also a great opportunity to see top-seeded players on practice courts.. Read why Fan Week/Qualies are so special in this excellent piece by Steven Kutz.
- Gates open at 10:00am. You must arrive before 5:00pm to enter.
- Qualifier Tournament matches start at 11:00am
- Official practices (of main draw players) start earlier. However, fans won’t have access to any player practices scheduled before 10:00am, For practices on Ashe, you need to register for a Fan Access Pass to access practices in Ashe (which you can do via the app).
- To understand how players qualify to play in the US Open and why qualifiers matter, see this explanation by Laurence Shanet
- Watch top seeds (including Federer) practicing during this entire “Fan Week. Check the practice schedule here (also available on the app) the day before/ morning of to see when your favorites are scheduled to practice.
- Click here to register for a “Fan Access Pass,” which gives you certain perks (including access to special preferred seating for some practice sessions). Note: the Fan Pass check-in is located by the East Gate on the left.
- FRI AUG 23:
- US Open Media Day at 11am ET on Ashe Stadium, with players answering questions. Fans must register for the event via Fan Pass.
- SAT AUG 24: “Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day:” (9:30am – 4:00pm) If you have kids, this is a great day to go– lots of interactive games, music, and activities.
- SAT-SUN AUG 24-25: Go see top players practicing up close by taking advantage of free access to the US Open grounds the day before the main tournament begins to watch practice sessions – it’s one of the best-kept secrets that the grounds are open to the public all day.
Box 4: What to Bring and What NOT to bring (Backpacks not allowed!)
Be sure to review this list of prohibited items before going!
To help clarify some common confusions:
- You CAN bring a drawstring bag (click here for example) but NOT a backpack with two straps
- You CAN bring a digital camera with video capabilities (however they do NOT allow “Video cameras or recording devices”, which includes GoPros)
- You CAN bring a plastic or metal water bottle 24 oz or less to refill on site (but NOT anything glass!)
- You CAN bring a fanny pack: but if you do you’ll still need to go through the “with bag” security line
- You CAN bring sunscreen in lotion form only, NOT aerosol cans
- As of 2022 according to the US Open bot on the website: “Outside food or beverages (excluding alcohol) CAN be brought into the US Open grounds, but must fit into one sized bag. There are no exceptions.”
- There is storage outside both East and South Gate entrances if you need it: $5 for small items, $10 for large items (even suitcases OK). One item per ticket holder. Bag check for American Express cardholders is FREE (1 bag per card).
Be prepared to wait in a potentially long security line if you have any bag at all (i.e. an enclosed object that doesn’t fit in your clothes), whereas you can breeze through a separate express line for those without bags.
Before Leaving, Don’t Forget…
- Download your mobile tickets from to your mobile wallet (e.g. Apple Wallet or something like WalletPasses on Android)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen (lotion not spray)! If you forget, La Roche offers free samples just inside the EAST gate entrance.
- A backup phone charger (e.g. a Mophie) if you have one – although there are Chase-sponsored free chargers on site.
- A lightweight white towel to protect exposed skin from sun or to sit on when in unreserved seats, which can get hot and uncomfortable.
- Reusable plastic water bottle (to refill using any of the many water fountains). Evian is $6 for a small so bring your own!
- If taking subway (7 train), fill up your subway Metrocard in advance for your return trip in advance if taking 7 train so you don’t have to wait in long lines; If taking LIRR (my favorite) you need to get your ticket before boarding
- A small umbrella if rain may be in the forecast
- Dress in layers as it can get hot during the day and occasionally chilly at night
- Contacts wearers: A very small bottle of contact lens solution in case you get something in your eye
- FYI: There are two entrances to the grounds: (1) the main entrance, the “East Gate,” located near the Subway/LIRR; and (2) the “South Gate” entrance near the iconic World’s Fair “Unisphere” (globe) – see map above. While lines tend to be shorter by the South Gate, the wait may end up being about the same because there are fewer attendants and metal detectors.
Box 5: FREE ADMISSION ON SECOND THURSDAY (September 5)!
DOUBLES SEMIFINALS (Men’s & Women’s) Plus the World’s Top Wheelchair, Junior, and Collegiate Players
Gates open at 11:00 AM
One of the best-kept secrets is that you can usually enter the US Open grounds for free on the second Thursday (gates open at noon, must arrive before 5pm) and see the Doubles Semifinals plus all-star wheelchair players, the world’s top juniors, and incredible collegiate players.
If you are a serious tennis fan, particularly if you’re a doubles player, this is a day not to be missed.
Among the world-class wheelchair players to watch for:
- Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid, who in 2021 completed the Grand Slam for the first time in wheelchair tennis history.
- The world’s #1 in the “Quad” (quadriplegic) division (ranked #1 in singles and doubles), American David Wagner. Born in 1974, David became paralyzed from the mid-chest down at age 21 when he was playing frisbee on the beach and a wave tossed him head-first into the sand. With only thirty percent function in his hands, David plays by taping the tennis racket to his hand. And by all accounts he’s a super cool guy besides being an extraordinary athlete .
A FEW MORE RECS
- I agree with every word of “Here’s How to Have the Best Time at the U.S. Open: Tips, Tricks and Transportation“ by the brilliant Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim. Note: if you haven’t yet seen Wertheim’s 2018 Strokes of Genius documentary on the Federer/Nadal rivalry, RENT IT! It’s one of the best documentaries on anything I’ve ever seen, beautifully capturing so many of the unique aspects of tennis that make us so passionate about our sport.
- Bring a backup phone charger if you have one. However, there are several re-charging stations, but after all the photos and video you take with your phone and use of Wi-Fi you’ll run out of juice quickly.
-
FOOD: See my new chart outlining most of the food stands by area.
- See my new PDF with all the menus available I could get for 2022 Food Village stands, using photos I took last week during qualies. II’ll update next week when they’re all open.
- Korilla BBQ is one of my favorites, but lines are usually among the longest.
- Poke Yachty is absolutely delicious and lines move quickly because they’ve nailed their system.
- Hill Country BBQ, Curry Kitchen, Fish Shack and Fly Fish are also delicious.
- FIELDTRIPlooks amazing (haven’t tried yet).
- Restaurants in Queens not on the grounds
- Need an affordable hotel room? Fellow tennis fanatic Melissa maintains a great list of hotels appealing to all budgets, starting at $25 per night.
- AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDERS: Bring your Amex card if you have one! See full Amex Benefits at US Open here. Perks from 2023 likely to be repeated in 2024:
- (1) Amex Card Member Lounge on the 2d Level of the Amex “Fan Experience” (where anyone can also play a “Glow Tennis” mixed reality interactive game and get a complimentary manicure with tennis themed nail art).
- (2) Centurion Suite in Armstrong (Exclusive to Platinum and Centurion Members). Book in advance on Resy
- (3) Book complimentary court time in NYC area at over 500 tennis and pickleball courts and unlock special access to peak reservation times when using your Amex.
- (4) Check your bag for a reduced fee at East or South Gate
- (5) Get a one-time $20 statement credit when you spend $100 with your enrolled card at participating US Open merchants
- (6) Get a free earpiece/radio to hear ESPN match commentary
- (7) Skip lines and grab concession items quickly (checkout-free shopping) at the Amex Shop in South Plaza .
- CHASE CUSTOMERS? Check this Chase site for updates on perks for 2024.
- Click here to make a reservation to access the “Chase Lounge”
- Other past perks have included offering cool video+mobile “Chase Charge & Watch” chargers
- Sign up for the “Fan Pass” on the app to be entered into a sweepstakes and track your activity on site. Scan your personal barcode at various stations around the event to collect “badges,” which can redeem for prizes.
- Do your shopping for US Open gear early in the tournament – stores run out of the popular sizes fast.
- $25 Grounds Admission tickets will be available for Finals Weekend (Fri-Sun Sep 6-8) on this Ticketmaster page. Note: these grounds ticket options are not yet showing up on main Ticketmaster pages displaying the other stadium ticket options. You can’t access Ashe with these tickets, but you can walk the grounds, see juniors and wheelchair finals, and watch Ashe matches on the big screens.
FINAL TIP: “PAY IT FORWARD” WHEN YOU CAN!!
If you have the opportunity, consider performing a random act of kindness for fellow fans during the tournament. Our tennis community is big, but relatively speaking, it’s small… Our passion for our sport is infectious; do something kind for someone today, they’re likely to pay it forward. Last year, a reader emailed me saying he had an emergency and couldn’t go to the tournament but had amazing New Grandstand seats – he asked if I knew anyone that would really value them for free so they didn’t go to waste. I was able to share with a fanatic who’s in town on a budget, who as you can imagine was elated. In past years, I’ve gifted a lot of tickets myself – and it always feels wonderful. It takes seconds to “transfer” tickets from Ticketmaster/Ticketmaster Exchange to others simply by putting in an email address.
BOX 6 (INDEX): OUTLINE OF COMMON QUESTIONS AND IMPORTANT LINKS
This post has gotten long over the years to include many more details, so I’ve created the outline below with shortcuts to help you find what you need more quickly. Click below for shortcut links to key topics and FAQs I get most often:
CLICK HERE FOR OUTLINE OF COMMON QUESTIONS AND KEY LINKS
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS: How to Get the Best Deal? Which sites can I trust?
- Where to get the best deals on tickets? See Box #2
- Read my full advice for getting best deals on tickets (Box 2)
- What are reliable ticket sites?
- Ticketmaster – Official site – always check first then compare options on reseller sites. It also includes most resale tickets from the official Ticketmaster Exchange (resale tickets are shown as red dots on seat maps, standard non-resale tickets are blue dots)
- Official US Open Ticket Exchange (Official reseller site – also check this site for comparison purposes as it includes ALL verified resale tickets on the exchange. Confusingly, there are some verified resale tickets here that don’t show up on the main Ticketmaster site because they may not be available for immediate delivery– which is why it’s worth checking in addition to the main Ticketmaster site.
- You may want to see if you can spot any other exceptional deals on Stubhub, SeatGeek, Ticket Liquidator, or other resellers.
WHEN SHOULD I BUY? WILL PRICES GO UP OR DOWN?? What are average prices?
- When should I buy my tickets– now or closer?
- Will sessions sell out if I wait too long?
- Will prices go down or up?
- Should I buy a subscription ticket plan?
- How can I recognize a good deal?
- What are average prices?
- (NEW posted July 23, 2021): See my Chart listing 2021 prices for standard (non-resale) tickets as a point of reference to what may be a “good deal,” noting that sometimes better resale seats are available for the same or less than standard prices.
I WANT TO SEE SERENA AND RAFA! Which tickets should I buy?
- How can I be sure to see Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal (or Novak Djokovic, Sasha Zverev, Naomi Osaka, Sloane Stephens, etc)? See FAQ #1
- Can I predict when my favorite player will play on a specific day or night? See FAQ #1
- How does the draw influence when players are scheduled? Do rankings affect the draw?
WHAT TIME CAN I ENTER WITH A DAY OR NIGHT SESSION TICKET (and how long can I stay)?
- Once you enter the Grounds of the US Open (through the East or South Gate), you can stay as long as you want and access non-reserved seating in any stadium (except Ashe, the only stadium where every seat is reserved and requires a ticket).
- If you enter with a Day session ticket, you can stay on grounds all night and access unreserved seating in any all stadiums (except Ashe), including Armstrong general admission seating for night matches on first-come basis.
- If you have a day and evening ticket the same day, you will NOT need to exit the US Open grounds and re-enter again
- If you have both Day and Evening session for Ashe on the same day, you will need to exit and reenter Ashe Stadium (they clear the entire stadium between Day and Evening sessions)
- If you were in Armstrong for the Day session (either Courtside reserved or GA seating), you will need to leave your seat between Day and Evening sessions (as they clean up). However, you may stay inside the concourse area of Armstrong (the inner-stadium areas with food stands).
- See Box #1 (Ticket Options Explained)
WHICH SEATS ARE BEST? BEST VIEW? SHADE?
- Which sections have the best view?
- “How do a see the exact location of seats that I might buy?
- Related: See my annotated Seating charts (including some shade maps) for all stadiums (including New Armstrong)
- “Which seats get the most shade?“
- Related: Annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Related: Annotated Armstrong Stadium SHADE map
CAN I BRING AN SLR CAMERA, BACKPACK, FOOD, WATER BOTTLE, ETC?
- Can I bring…
- An SLR camera with video capability? YES
- A plastic water bottle? YES, just not glass bottles – and they must be 24 oz or less. They can be plastic or metal.
- A backpack? NO, but you can bring a drawstring bag
- Food? YES, in “limited quantities” (they don’t define limited). “No sealed packages of any kind”
- See Red Box #4 above (“What to Bring and Not to Bring”) and review official list of prohibited items here
DAILY SCHEDULE OF PLAY/ PRACTICE SCHEDULE
- 2024 Tournament Schedule – See my “Schedule at a Glance” in Box #1 (note: official tournament schedule is here but more vague)
- 2024 Daily Schedule of Play – Note: The schedule for Day 1 (and possibly Day 2 too) is released on the Friday (or sometimes even on the Thursday) before the main tournament begins.
- 2024 Practice schedule
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BRACKETS
- See full Men’s Draw (bracket) and Women’s Draw (bracket)
- I prefer the more easy-to-read ESPN version of Men’s Bracket and ESPN version of Women’s Bracket
WHAT IF IT RAINS?
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS? SUBWAY OR CAR OR LIRR?
- See Tip #9 above
- 7 train subway schedule
- 2019 LIRR special schedule for 2019 US Open through September 2
- 2019 special schedule for 2019 US Open September 2-8
- Detailed transportation map showing parking lots
- Q488 bus from Laguardia Airport (5 min away)
HOTELS?
US OPEN POLICIES, RULES, AND OFFICIAL GUIDE
GOT A QUESTION OR COMMENT?
Please submit below and I”ll reply ASAP (although it may take some time before I can reply before I can given my demanding real job!)
P.J.
Hello, Is there are similar website to this for Wimbledon?
Hey Linda, funny just replied a moment ago to someone asking the same… I haven’t done a thorough enough job researching to know which sites are best. But here are a few I found in my notes that may be helpful:
https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/wimbledon-tennis-championships-our-top-tips
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10-things-no-one-tells-you-before-you-go-to-wimbledon/
https://www.perfect-tennis.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-wimbledon-tickets/
Let me know if you find any other sites you’d recommend if others ask!
just can’t thank you enough!!!!!
You’re so welcome!
Hi P.J. Thank you for your wonderful site. I’ve been using it for years to enjoy the US Open. I just today won the Wimbledon ticket lottery and bought tix to Centre Court! First time ever 🙂 Do you have any tips for Wimbledon or know of a comprehensive site like yours? Thanks again!
Hey Michelle, thank you!! And sorry for the delayed reply – work has been super demanding. That’s amazing news about Wimbledon, congratulations!!! I had the best time when I went. I didn’t spend enough time there to gain any particularly valuable insights and haven’t done a thorough enough job researching to know which sites are best. But here are a few I found in my notes that may be helpful:
https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/wimbledon-tennis-championships-our-top-tips
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10-things-no-one-tells-you-before-you-go-to-wimbledon/
https://www.perfect-tennis.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-wimbledon-tickets/
Hope you have an amazing time and would love to hear back on your experience!
Hey PJ, I’m just starting to plan my 2024 trip and noticed that SeatGeek already has some tickets available. Are these legitimate ? And if so, what is the underlying source for these “early” tickets ?
thanks for the great info , Ken
Hey Ken! Yes, they are most likely legit: the source is subscribers who already know their exact seats. Even if they don’t actually have the barcodes to transfer yet, they can do a “promise to deliver by” a certain date. I have occasionally found great deals well before tickets go on sale to the public, but generally advise against buying on the resale market until after public sale begins because there’s so much more competition among sellers after more tickets get posted. PJ
FYI, subscribers are currently able to access their tickets as well as transfer/sell them if that gives people any additional comfort. Also, the men’s final this year is scheduled for 2PM which is a much earlier start then past years
Thanks, Frankie!
I remember some people asking if the souvenirs were marked down in the last days of the Open. They are now on sale on US Open website (I got an alert) and they’ve announced the dates for 2024 (Aug 26-Sept 8 main draw).
Folks- I already bought my airfares/airbnb to the Australian Open-Melbourne and will be there from Jan 2-till Feb 2. This is my 1st time and I am so excited. Here my info- bought airfares at $1300- flying out (from Seattle ) on Dec31–that the cheapest fares you can get as nobody is flying on that day. I have seen airfares as high as $4K. Airbnb- only $65/nite and near the Melbourne University-good food and easy to get to tennis courts Tickets–as usual- get the ground prices as there will be many matches. The formula is the same as the US… Read more »
Great info. Appreciate it. Any specific advice for singles finals tickets different from what you say above? Thanks
Hi John, huge apologies for the delayed reply – had crushing work demands in the fall and just catching up on post-2023 US Open blog stuff now (sorrrrry!). Unfortunately no special insights for finals apart from the above. The frustrating reality is that it’s just really really pricey to attend and always a guessing game about when to pull the trigger on purchasing because the market is so speculative. PJ
Thanks for the wonderful advice, which my wife and I used extensively for our first trip to the US Open this year. It was intended as a bucket-list have-to-do-it-once thing, but we spent the flight home discussing how we now intend to go somewhat regularly in the future. Two of our amateur observations: 1) We couldn’t agree more with your quality-over-quantity advice. We had various seats for several sessions in the main arenas, and while the good seats were quite expensive, sitting courtside was generally more enjoyable than sitting higher up. (Although higher-up seats for Djokovic-Djere gave a wonderful perspective… Read more »
Erik, I’m so embarrassed and sorry it took so long to reply to this! Work was super intense this fall and I had to stay super focused, only getting back to the blog now to catch up (sorrrry!). Thank YOU for this kind note and for sharing these 2 great observations! Hope you get back regularly, and wishing you a great 2024 ahead! PJ
Thanks so much for this site! How does one get tickets for next year, via the Open site, not later via Stubhub etc resales? Thanks!
David, I’m so sorry not to reply sooner, was focused on intense work stuff this fall and only getting back to the blog now to catch up (sorrrry!). Your best bet is to mark your calendar for the date in early June when it’s announced that tickets will go onsite on the Ticketmaster – including the Amex pre-sale. See my Box 2 for context, though – Amex pre-sale inventory is really limited and the first day sale is always a mob scene so you need to be really targeted and informed about what would constitute a good deal for what… Read more »
Thanks PJ!!
Thank you again for all of your information and guidance! I brought my 85-year-old mom to NY the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and we got to see some amazing matches, including Alcaraz v Evans. Your advice really helped make the whole experience truly wonderful.
Melody, I’m so embarrassed and sorry it took so long to reply – had crushing work demands post-Open and needed to focus, only getting back to the blog now to catch up (sorrrry!). Thank you so much for taking the time to write this note – I’m SO happy to hear you had a great time and the advice helped!!! PJ
hi another question for you and thanks for your great site. If I wanted to see the women’s doubles final live today, could I do it, w/o having to buy an Ashe ticket for the men’s final, i.e. is there a grounds pass or is it free for the first 11am WD matches, prior to the men’s final?
Anthony, huge apologies for missing this when you originally posted and for the seriously belated reply! You would have needed an Ashe ticket to enter Ashe for the Women’s doubles match – but once in you could have sat just about anywhere because the doubles finals are not well attended). Sorry again for the delay!
So exciting. And I’m told I made tv tonight in second set haha.
Gotta get a screenshot!
I have tickets to see the men’s open final Sunday night. I see the grounds open at 11am, what time would you suggest arriving at the grounds? First time at the US open as well.
Hey Milos! Gonna be an exciting day. Depends a lot on your interests… If it were me, I’d get there by 10:45 so I could get in right at 11, run into the “Fan Experience” (just across Armstrong right after you enter the East Gate) and play in for some of the live ball drills on the full-sized court. Then I’d head into Ashe where there will be general seating for the doubles final (and grab behind the server seats for the best vantage point). Please don’t miss this: doubles is so awesome at the world-class level! After that go… Read more »
Thank you so much for all the info. Before finding your page I knew next to nothing about the US Open. After reading this a few times I was hooked, scored myself a ticket at Arthur Ashe on Labor Day and followed your lead to have a wonderful and memorable lifetime experience. Again, thank you for all the details, everything you said was spot on and so helpful.
THANK YOU Louise! I am so so happy to hear it!!!
PJ you made tv tonight at 5-all 15-30 in the first set after the long rally that Alcaraz won! I was hoping Alcaraz would win… 😢
Thanks Maura!! Yeah, I was definitely showing my loyalties last night and it was a tough loss. But wow the level of play was off the charts. And that point — followed shortly by the other INSANE one at the net— was just blissful to watch.
Yes let’s go PJ….what a match!!
Thank you for this!! Heartbroken a MNR the result, but hoping Carlitos felt the huge love from so many of us. What a total thrill to be there – my first semis in person, a dream come true!
So cool to see you among the energy of insane quality tennis! Found your page a few years ago and have been learning since about the best ways to enjoy the open with better and better seats. Hope to be able to make it to a semis as well some time in the near future. Really felt like Carlitos was about to push it to a 5th but amazing poise from Meds. Looking forward to many more matchups between them!
So great to share the passion! And me too 🙂
Great article! Have a question that I did not find an answer to- how does one go about buying Courtside tickets to Ashe or Louis Armstrong for face value? I haven’t seen these tickets go on sale directly by US open
Hi Karan, thanks! For Ashe, it’s really just a matter of relentlessly checking over and over from the day tickets go on sale to the actual match day… they get released unpredictably for certain sessions and there’s just no way to know when/how many/ for which. Yesterday for instance a large number were released in the AM for the first men’s semifinal – but none for the PM. For Armstrong, it’s the same situation — except there are opportunities to purchase subscription tickets before individual tickets go on sale (unlike for Ashe, where only Promenade-level subscription plans exist). For earlier… Read more »
Big closeup on ESPN of you celebrating a crazy point. Enjoy the match and thanks again for everything!!!
Hey Marty, so cool you noticed! Was a dream to be there!
I have been attending the US Open since 2013 when the Tshirts were only at $14.99 and now they are $60+ and bottle of water is $8 Tips: Bring a drawstring bag- put your water bottle water and bring pastries!! Wear loose clothing…always hot and humid! Buy buy buy the tickets during the months of May,June,July– buy buy and if your don’t need them you can always resell them. I bought all mine at $69each…the cheapest at AA so I can just get access to the stadium…..that all I care because there are so many good matches outside of AA.… Read more »
Thank you Chris!!!
Enjoy semis!
PJ Simmons’ blog on the US Open is an absolute game-changer, and I can’t thank him enough for making our trip with my 15-year-old son Hayden truly epic! 🎾 I was feeling pretty overwhelmed about the whole ticket-buying process and which stadiums to choose, but PJ’s expert advice and template were a lifesaver. Following his guidance, we ended up with tickets to Arthur Ashe, Armstrong, and the Grandstand, where we got to witness some of our favorite players in action. But it wasn’t just about the seats; PJ’s tips led us to meet incredible people, fellow tennis fans who shared… Read more »
Shawn, I’m overjoyed you and your son had such a great experience and grateful I could play a small role in helping!! Thank you so much for the kind words and appreciation!
Thanks for sharing all of this! This was super helpful for my first time at the Open!
Hey Dillon, thank you so much, so happy to hear that!!
Just got back last night after 2 days and can’t thank you enough for all the time and effort you put into helping others have a wonderful experience as well. The info you provided was invaluable for a newbie like myself.
Any suggestions for reselling tickets, besides ticketmaster, for tonight’s women’s match that were bought in error?
Thanks again for all the tips and tricks!
Hey Megan, you are so welcome and I’m so grateful to you for the kind note of appreciation – means so much! I’d definitely post on Stubhub in addition to Ticketmaster, as it’s the #2 go-to for most folks in addition to TM. I’d also keep an eye on the going rates and adjust the asking price competitively if you can to really stand out from the crowd.
Hey! I have a specific question. How late can I enter the grounds this weekend/Friday with a grounds pass since I’ll be coming after work? Is there some cutoff time?
Hi Kenneth! Yes needs help to be before 6pm.
Hi PJ, I skipped this year sadly for a variety of reasons. I have some questions, what’s the news on bringing in food this year?
Also some tournaments like Madrid have started scanning access to several courts after scanning at gate, which is a nuisance, anyone know if they scan enter at grandstand and Armstrong? I think they scan at Ash?
Thanks for the good info!
Hey Stefan nice to hear from you! This year they are allowing one bag of outside food. And still no scanning of tickets at individual stadiums once inside the grounds.
Thanks PJ, hope you enjoy the rest of the tournament
Reading on Twitter the Djokovic Shelton will be on ashe day session. Have you heard anything?
I ask Because if Alcaraz v Medvedev is at night, assuming it is Alcaraz, I want to sell my ticket.
Thx
Last night Cliff D said day and McEnroe just did too – so sounds like it will be Novak/Shelton day…
I thought I heard ESPN say night but you’ve heard otherwise. I know nothing is guaranteed.
I guess maybe everyone’s assuming that Djokovic will win and everyone can see him in the finals.
I think the roof will probably be closed on Friday since they’re talking about thunderstorms, so Djokovic will be fine without the sun.
And yes now ESPN just said night (Novak). This isn’t the first time I’ve heard commentators make premature calls on scheduling only to be contradicted by the final decision!
Your ears are better than mine cause I’ve been listening to ESPN since the match finished and I didn’t hear anything. Guess we’ll wait and find out!
Actually just rewound the tape and it was totally filled with non sequiturs and very confusing. First they showed a graphic that implied Carlos/Meddy would be up first; then Chris Fowler said something like “last champion here of course (i think referring to Carlos)… then you’ve got that match at night… Djokovic….” Then McEnroe interrupted him for the interview.
So still not 100% sure. And lesson learned over and over: never make any sure bets until you have seen written confirmation from @USOpen!
Oy vey!! 😂😂
Schedule out. Novak day; Carlos evening.
Yes!
https://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/schedule18.html
Thanks!
Just grabbed the cheapest night session out there since prices may rise (and then likely come down once resellers cant sell their inventory). Once the match starts, prices may drop more, but I don’t feel like waiting and not knowing.
Are you going?
Sadly no, I have tickets to Squeeze and Psychedelic Furs in the evening so have day session (but might try to sell and watch on tv with AC haha had enough of this heat and humidity). I have to juggle tennis with FIFA South American qualifiers starting and the Rugby World Cup over the next few days!!
I have Day tickets, wanting to see Alcaraz, not Carlos. What kind of ticket do you have?
Hi Jose, assume you mean you want to see Alcaraz not Novak? There have been some conflicting statements by announcers and via ESPN, but at the moment it appearsthat Carlos/Medvedev will be scheduled for the night session. However this has NOT yet been reported officially by US Open. Keep checking the US Open Twitter (X) account and the US Open app or schedule page on main website for official confirmation today (hopefully very soon).
Thanks, PJ. Been reading updates to your article for a couple of years now. Excited to finally make it.
Thanks Jose!
I also have a day ticket. Also want to see Alcaraz Medvedev Seems we both want the same thing!
Lol sorry, misunderstood.
Hi—this is an awesome cache of great information. I wish there was one for each open. Thank you!
Thank you!
hi PJ, I’m sure you’ve seen the coverage of US Open fans singing Nazi songs, and shouting out of control drunk slurs. I love your site, and use it every year, and am only commenting to ask that you use your platform to speak out against such vile hate. Thank you.
https://news.sky.com/story/us-open-german-tennis-star-alexander-zverev-stops-match-after-fan-sings-hitler-anthem-12955354
Abhorrent indeed, Sara. It was a relief to see the officials at the event take quick action and kick the offender out promptly.
Can’t thank you enough for this guide. We sat in Armstrong reserved in the shade all day for the round(s) of 16. The only piece I would add and we had great luck with walking to the ride share location and grabbing a taxi. Friendly NYPD helped us. Unlike the first night an hour for the 10minute lyft to arrive.
Hey Sam, Thank YOU so much for your kind note! And great to know About your success with the taxi at the ride share location!
PJ I forgot to mention that this was our first time it was our gift to my mom (a bucket list item she’s 82) and this guide is invaluable….truly the best! I tell everyone about it.
I am SO incredibly happy to hear it was a great experience for you all – warms my heart to think of your mom enjoying such a meaningful time with you!! Every year I feel like I experience the Open with fresh eyes both through folks like you who share their passion and through the newbies I bring as part of an annual tradition of my own… it only fuels my passion more for tennis and for the Open. Thanks for letting me know!
P.J. do you have Venmo or PayPal?
I deeply appreciate the sentiment (!), but you’ll make me happiest if you treat someone to a great tennis experience someday who would otherwise not have the chance and just help spread the love and passion!
That’s awesome and if I most certainly will. Maybe a group of us can pool a few $$$ to help?
Awesome!
Do the shops have discounts on the last day of the tournament?
Thank you.
Hi KayKay, haven’t seen anything like that in past year – anyone else?
LOL at discounts. Big no. Some years you will find a stack of unsold USO programs for the current year in the tennis center in the weeks after the tournament has left. Free for the taking.
Hi KayKay, haven’t seen anything like that on the grounds in past year – but the online store (via usopen.org) often does have discounts following the tournament.
That’s right; only online afterwards (and not all merchandise). Even on the last day or two of the Open, they often don’t have all sizes, etc.
We were at the open on labour’s day and the information you provided is invaluable to anyone,especially first timers like ourselves.
We had ashe daytime tickets but also got to Armstrong evening session as well as grandstand and court 17 in-between.
Not to mention getting in early and see alcatraz practice.
Amazing thank you so much
Kevin, absolutely awesome to hear this – and really really appreciate you letting me know. THANK YOU!
We always get reserved seats in Amstrong but then often leave those seats to catch a great match elsewhere. The problem is trying to get back into Armstrong when there’s a GA mob outside waiting to be allowed in for those upper level seats. Any secret we’re missing to be able to get back into that venue quicker? Thanks – and great article! Jan, Kansas City
Hi Jan! With reserved tickets you should be able to bypass that mob/lines for GA seating at the other gate (there’s a Gate A and B). I haven’t faced this issue myself, so wondering if other readers had similar experiences this year??
Just go right to the front of the line by one of the gates (or the elevators) and they’ll let you right in if you have reserved. That’s the point of reserved; no waiting to get to your seats.
The “mob” is to access the upper deck unreserved seating. Show your ticket to the folks in the front and you will get in.
We managed that but it was not pretty. People didn’t want to let us through – even as we explained and showed our tickets to those waiting. Next time we’ll try the other gate. Thanks.
Heading to the Open now! Can’t wait for the doubles action. Shelton, Townsend, Pegula (twice), Coco and Azareka. If anyone has extra tickets for loge or courtside going unused let me know today. Hearing some can’t make it due to extreme heat. 347.237.6159.
Amazing doubles action. 5pm and only two matches done since 11. Unbelievable quality
😂
Shelton now
For Saturday 9/9 its GA for the mixed doubles finals match as long as you have an Ashe ticket right?
Hey Corey, assume you are asking if there is there open seating in Ashe for that match if you have an Ashe ticket? Officially no – but unofficially, I’ve seen in past years they are very lax about letting people sit wherever because so many people don’t show up until the women’s final match.
FYI to the others scanning your amazing blog.
Each day a smattering of standard tickets get released periodically for matches- including Semis. I’ve been seeing this b/c I check every 10-15 minutes. (OCD much?!)
They get snatched up fast by resellers but if with luck, it’s possible to get a Loge semis ticket in an upper row for just under $500.
They may be less $ on the day (depending on the draw/schedule), but it’s nice to lock one in for an non-reseller price.
Thanks as always for awesome work you do!
Thank you Courtney!!
“ it’s possible to get a Loge semis ticket in an upper row for just under $500.”
Sitting anywhere in the Ashe loge is a very unpleasant tennis watching experience. Paying $500 to sit there is insanity.
PJ- just a quick, sincere thank you for all of this. I just finished two days with my son. We’re from South Carolina, so it was a big investment and trip for us. Your site has been a go to “pre-read” for me for four months, and almost a daily refresh as we got closer to the event. Your advice is well thought and spot on. Thank you for doing this…it really made an impact and is much appreciated. We had a great time.
Adam, I can’t thank you enough for taking time to write such a kind and thoughtful note. It really means so much to me and I’m so gratified to know it was helpful and that you had a great experience! Thank you again!! PJ
Hi PJ – We had a ticket snafu at Armstrong last night that I’m not sure is a common occurrence or not, but maybe offers some tips we’ll be carrying into next year. We had R16 courtside tickets and planned to stay all the way through into the evening (as it’s one of the rounds where Armstrong tix are no longer day-parted, fantastic value). We came and went throughout the day, but after 6pm our tickets disappeared from Ticketmaster and the US Open app. Frustratingly, there is also no way to pull up previous purchases, so it just looked like… Read more »
Hey there, THANKS so much for sharing this experience – so sorry you had to deal with that, but really really helpful to others who might face similar circumstances down the road, as this is the first time I’ve heard of such a glitch. So glad you ultimately got back in!
This must have been a strange glitch, and an example of why you should add your tickets to your mobile wallet. In the wallet, they disappear no earlier than 24 hours after the event.
Hi PJ,
I’m curious if you’ve had any success with buying in person tickets from the ticket office. I live in the city and I could head over tomorrow morning and see if they have tickets available for the night session. Or do you think I’d find better prices by watching the resale websites closer to the event?
Thanks for your insight,
Dov
Hi Dov, the box office only has the same inventory as you see online – so if you don’t see any standard (blue dot) tickets on Ticketmaster, then they won’t have them at the box office. If they do, you’ll save the Ticketmaster fees (which are fairly modest on standard tickets). However, also note the box office doesn’t sell any resale tickets. Be sure to keep checking Ticketmaster starting early in the morning and throughout the day as standard tickets do occasionally get released (and usually get purchase quickly!) PJ
Is the community day on this year? I don’t see any information on the us open website
Yes! Gates open 11am-6pm, details here.
How safe is the area near US Open? I’m supposedly staying at a place few minutes from A. ASHE? Based on your excellent posts it sounds like catching a taxi/UBER will be a headache simply to drive 10-20 minutes away. So I was thinking of just walking since I’ll probably get to my place faster walking than waiting in long lines for a cab. I do recall many years ago going to a Mets game/Yankees and surroundings at night did not feel safe. Please enlighten me, I’m from Chicago and open minded but late at night I definitely try to… Read more »
Hi Carmen, it’s a great question and I unfortunately can’t give any kind of definitive answer. Like so many cities, some blocks feel fine and are heavily trafficked, then another block feels less safe. Sorry not to have much more to offer on this one!
All about where you go and your comfort level. The path way between parking in Mets and the bridge over to skyview parking toward flushing (Chinese area) was well policed and travelled by fellow open watchers when I went home around 1130PM. What area are u in? Corona a little more questionable.
Carmen, I am a lifetime New Yorker, and I don’t scare easily. But as a woman, I don’t take unnecessary risks. The area around Ashe isn’t great, though I don’t know where you are walking to, other than near the grounds and the airport as you wrote though those two locations are over an hour’s walk, so if you are near both, then you will be walking at least 30 minutes. I would not feel safe walking more than a few blocks late at night in an area such as this if I didn’t know it well. | There may… Read more »
As someone said, it’s about your comfort level. It’s probably fine if you have big city smarts but why risk it? I’m female and walk around NYC late a lot (mainly Brooklyn and Manhattan) but am not sure I’d walk in Corona after midnight if I wasn’t sure already of the streets. You might consider taking the subway (if closer to your hotel) either all the way or a stop or two and getting cab/Uber from there or walking just from the nearest stop rather than all the way from Ashe? If you do walk, walk on the bigger streets… Read more »
PJ and fellow tennis aficionados – THANK YOU for all the tips. Although I do feel pretty lucky and fearless to be from a great BIG CITY like my beloved CHICAGO, I will take the safety tips noted below from all of you and especially from fellow BIG APPLE NYERS! THANK YOU ALL – I’ll just take UBER from US OPEN to it – turns out area is EAST ELMHURST (don’t know if its = Corona or better). Fact I am asking this question should already be a red flag I shouldn’t be walking – thanks again for reminding me… Read more »
Hi PJ. I visited US Open last year (2022) and had time of my life; I got lucky to watch Rafa up close following your tips.
Coincidently I am visiting NYC on the Championship Weekend and have time on Sunday to watch the Men’s Finals. Tickets are sky rocketing.
Hi Nishant, so glad to hear you had that great time last year! There are $25 grounds admission tickets available on Ticketmaster for Sunday. I would wait until the last minute if I were you to see if any less expensive tickets emerge as sellers compete to sell. And in the unlikely event that Novak or Carlos don’t make it through, prices would almost certainly decline a little.
Excellent idea and I will follow your lead and wait.
One last question. Worse case if I don’t get a ticket to Ashe (fingers crossed hopefully I will), then is $25 ticket available at the gate or on Ticketmaster/your link?
Hey Nishant, great! You can get on Ticketmaster here (it’s actually $28, sorry!) or at the box office on site. PJ
Thank you so much for this amazing guide!!! I have a Grounds Admission ticket for the day of the men’s final. Do they only show it on the big screens on the grounds or also at the Armstrong Stadium? Would be great… Thank you in advance for the response!
Hi Emma, you’re most welcome! They will almost certainly be showing on the screens both outside Ashe and outside Armstrong (I’m 99% sure but not 100% sure). Enjoy!
I have QF day session, but I’m only interested in men’s match. Can I go later and skip women’s match?
Hi Jana, yes indeed.
Hi, From JFK with carry on to us open ,which is my best option? Can I paid in advance a locker?
Thanks in advance
Hi Carmen, I’d grab a cab or Uber from JFK – it’s only about 15 minutes. You can check your carry on when you arrive at either the South or East gate, not need to make an advance reservation.
Thank you for the write up! One question, I have the Ashe night session ticket, once gate opens at 6pm, can I enter Louis Armstrong and catch the final match there?
Hey Louis, you’re welcome! Yes you can – so long as there are seats and lines aren’t too long to get in.
hey will there be a second quarterfinal this year for mens singles 9/6? i don’t see it online anymore scheduled…
Hi Rachel, yes QF matches are always played on the Tues and Wed of the second week – 1 men’s/ 1 women’s per session. PJ
thank you for the quick response, you’re god send! how are you enjoying the tournament this year compared to previous years?
You’re most welcome! I’m loving it, thanks. So excited to see SO many talented young players working their way up, and to see so many fans excited about them after years of people telling me “I only care about seeing Federer, Nadal, Novak, and Serena.” The crowd energy has been fantastic. Hope you have a wonderful time!!