A Serious Tennis Fan’s Complete Guide to the 2026 US Open: Tickets, Tips & More

▸ Returning Visitors: Click Here for Latest Updates!
- June 28: Published fully restructured new version of this post to facilitate navigation, including this PDF 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal — day-by-day ticket options and direct links to check prices and comparison shop on Ticketmaster and Stubhub.
- July 3: Added FAQ: “Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?”
- August 3: Updated details on shade patterns in Armstrong Stadium in FAQ: “Which seats get the most shade?”
- August 27: The NYT reported that the Open would offer limited $25 evening grounds passes for purchase on-site only through Sep 6: “However, they can be purchased only on-site the evening of entry and on nights that Louis Armstrong is sold out (not including resale tickets).” When I asked the US Open box office to provide more details, they wrote: “No unfortunately we cannot confirm availability beforehand, these specific passes are on a day-to-day basis. Evenings grounds passes are only made available day of based on the capacity of the events and the stadiums.”
- August 29: My new chart outlining how scheduling should work beginning in Round 2: “Who Plays on Which Dates After R1?”
- September 1: Fellow fan Carrie reported on the late-night taxi situation: “I had a great experience with getting a yellow cab at the rideshare area by the NY Hall of Science at around 11:30pm the first two nights. NYPD organized the taxis and the taxi line and I waited only a few minutes in line before I was able to get a cab and a fast ride back to the hotel at a very reasonable cost. There were plenty of taxis waiting to pick up folks. This was probably way faster than waiting for an uber, and the police officer organizing the taxi line even made the sure my driver had his meter on when he saw I was a woman traveling solo late at night!”
- September 3: I share observation on the new post-renovation Courtside and Loge sections in my updated FAQ “What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?“
By P.J. Simmons
If you’re a fellow tennis fan planning a trip to the US Open — whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth — I built this guide for you. As a serious tennis player and fan living in NYC, 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.
2026 will mark my 18th time at the 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, StubHub, 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 and practical resources to help you sort through the complexity, understand all the ticket options, and make the best decisions for your own priorities and budget so you have an incredible experience. I’ll continue to update throughout the summer and the tournament. Don’t hesitate to reach out with a question below if you can’t find what you need – I’ll reply as soon as I can.
For my returning friends: Please let me know what you think of this newly restructured and updated version (June 28), which hopefully will make navigation easier and faster for you. Please let me know what you think – I’d really appreciate your feedback!
What Every First-Timer Should Know Before Buying Tickets
Whether it’s your first Open or you just haven’t been in a few years, here are a few things worth understanding before you spend a dollar or make final decisions on when to attend.
Consider taking advantage of incredible FREE opportunities to see world-class tennis and superstars the week before the main tournament (August 23–29)
Before the main tournament begins, there’s a packed week of events at the US Open grounds (“Fan Week”) that offers many opportunities to experience the magic of the Open without spending a dollar on a ticket.
The week kicks off Sunday August 23 with Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. If you have kids, this is a great day to go with lots of interactive games, music, activities.
Then, the Qualifying Tournament (Monday August 24 – Thursday August 27) is an amazing opportunity for serious fans to see major rising players and incredible tennis up close. 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. In 2021, #150-ranked qualifier Emma Raducanu went on to win the US Open women’s singles title – the first Grand Slam champion in history to come through qualifiers. Maja Chwalinska came close to doing the same at the 2026 French Open. Read why Fan Week/Qualies are so special in this excellent piece by Steven Kutz.
Throughout the entire week, there are opportunities to see some of the top-seeded players and biggest stars in unofficial practice sessions (details posted on the practice schedule the morning of).
Note: Fan week also features four special events that require paid tickets: including Mixed Doubles Rounds 1&2 (Aug 25 10am); Exhibition play with Roger Federer (Aug 25 7pm); Mixed Doubles Semis and Finals (Aug 26 7pm); and a “Stars of the Open” exhibition (Aug 27 7pm).
IMPORTANT: TO GAIN ADMISSION DURING FAN WEEK, YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR A FREE FAN ACCESS PASS.
The US Open is much bigger than Ashe Stadium. Get the lay of the land before you make your plan.
Most people think of Arthur Ashe Stadium when they think about the US Open—and understandably so. It’s the largest tennis stadium in the world (almost 24,000 seats) and home to many of the tournament’s biggest matches. But the US Open is so much more than Ashe. Think of it as a massive tennis festival spread across an entire campus. On a typical day during the first week, world-class matches take place simultaneously on Ashe plus 16 other courts.
In fact, some of the most exciting tennis during the tournament happens on Louis Armstrong Stadium (almost as big as the main show courts at Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open with around 14,000 seats plus a retractable roof in case of rain), Grandstand (with 8,100 seats), Court #17 (2,800 seats) and the smaller field Courts #4-16.
Some important basic rules about how entry and seating works:
- Any of the almost 80 ticket options gets you access to the entire US Open grounds — you’ll find every option laid out in the ticket chart below (2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices).
- Once you’ve entered the US Open grounds, you can access unreserved seats (on a first-come basis) in Armstrong, Grandstand, and on every other court except Ashe stadium. Ashe Stadium has no unreserved seats, so you need to buy an Ashe-specific ticket if you want to get in. Armstrong and Grandstand have both reserved ticket options and unreserved seating. Courts #4-17 are entirely first-come, unreserved seating.
- Grounds entry times vary depending on your ticket: A grounds pass or “Day” session reserved ticket for either Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand allows entry when gates first open (usually 9:30am). If you only purchase an “Evening” session ticket for a particular day, you’ll have to wait until 6pm to enter the grounds. Once you’re in the US Open grounds, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
Learn how player and match scheduling works to raise the odds of seeing your favorite players.
Most fans coming to the Open dream of seeing their favorite players in action. But what many first-timers don’t realize is that it’s impossible to predict which players will play on which days, on which courts, or at what time until the detailed “Daily Schedule of Play” is released shortly before the actual match day. So if you buy a ticket to the Open prior to that – which most people do – you’re buying access to matches in a particular round of play, not a guarantee that you’ll see any specific player.
The good news is that having a clear understanding of how scheduling works can dramatically improve your odds of seeing the players and matches that matter most to you. Taking a few minutes now to review these things will put you ahead of the game:
1. Start by getting the big picture of the tournament’s schedule – here’s an overview:
>> You can find a comprehensive, day-by-day breakdown of the schedule and every ticket option here: 2026 US Open Ticket Options
2. Get a sense of what day-by-day match scheduling looks like by reviewing last year’s “Daily Schedules of Play” to get a feel for what types of matches are played on which courts during the various rounds. Keep in mind this is just illustrative: for instance, just because a player was scheduled for certain days or played on certain Ashe Day or Night sessions does not mean you can expect the same for this year!
3. Go deeper: see the FAQ “How can I predict when and where my favorite player will play?” below — it explains how to make educated guesses about who plays when and where.
How to Choose the Right Tickets and Spot Good Deals
One of the most common questions I get every year is some version of: “What’s the best ticket to buy?” The honest answer is that there are many “best” tickets — it simply depends on your priorities and what kind of experience you’re hoping to have. Some fans want the energy of being with 24,000 others in an Arthur Ashe night session. Others are happy spending an entire day roaming the grounds in the early rounds, hopping from court to court. Some want to treat someone special to courtside seats in a final round. Others want the most tennis possible for the lowest price. So the goal is simply to find the ticket that’s best for you.
Below are my top recommendations—followed by a time-saving chart I built to help you compare all the options, benchmark average prices and comparison shop, and make decisions with confidence.
Don’t miss the chance to see world-class players and great matches up close on the other courts beyond Ashe Stadium.

It was awesome seeing Ben Shelton up close for the first time in 2022 on Court #10 in Round 1 (v. Borges)
For my first US Open, I spent about $250 per ticket for a seat in the upper portion of Ashe Stadium for a night match 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 Ashe match, I still felt somewhat distant from the action (it’s a mammoth 24,000-capacity 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, the very cool Court #17, and other outer courts #4-#16). Once you have this experience you’ll likely get 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 –including seeing rising stars before they become household names, and feel the excitement of “discovering” new talent to cheer for. Over the years I’ve seen countless “next-gen” players up very close for the first time on outer courts before they were super famous — including Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Madison Keys, Dominic Thiem, Sasha Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and many others.
While I recommend everyone experience Ashe Stadium at least once, I also can’t recommend more strongly that you make time to explore the opportunities to see thrilling tennis in more intimate settings on the other 16 courts.
On a tight budget but want to see a lot of tennis? Consider going during Rounds 1 and 2, and aim for an affordable Ashe Stadium (or Armstrong Stadium) DAY session ticket — often comparably priced to a Grounds Pass, but a much smarter buy.

Be sure to take in some Doubles action too. Here was Casper Ruud and his partner William Blumberg during Round 1 in 2024.
Rounds 1 and 2 (Sun–Thurs of the main tournament’s first week) are a great chance to get maximum bang for your buck. There’s so much action across the entire US Open grounds, with matches happening simultaneously on 17 courts all day — and some play stretching into the evening. Crowds are heavy but not as intense as Labor Day weekend. It’s one of my favorite times to be out there.
Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the cheapest way into the Open — but often it isn’t. Before you buy one, always compare it against Ashe and Armstrong DAY-session tickets. During Rounds 1 and 2 those are often available for a similar price (sometimes less!), and they give you everything a Grounds Pass does — early entry when the gates open in the morning, the run of the whole grounds — plus a reserved seat and rain protection (both stadiums have roofs). You may end up roaming the outer courts more than sitting in that seat — but it’s there when you want it, and it guarantees you a spot inside if one of your favorites gets scheduled in that stadium. And keep in mind: a Grounds Pass won’t get you into Ashe at all (every Ashe seat is reserved). So if having Ashe be part of your experience matters to you, a cheap Ashe day ticket in the early rounds is often the most affordable way to do it.
And because a DAY ticket lets you stay on the grounds into the evening, you’ll get hours of extra tennis on the outer courts well past 6pm — all for the price of one ticket.
If your budget can swing it, I strongly recommend getting a courtside reserved seat in Louis Armstrong stadium (especially between Sep 4 – Sep 7) and/or in Grandstand (especially on Sep 4 or Sep 5).

Me spotted on Netflix “Break Point” series cheering on Taylor Fritz and Brandon Holt at the 2022 US Open – front row during awesome match on Grandstand
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 applying the same budget towards excellent seats on Armstrong or Grandstand for a couple sessions, I generally recommend the latter.
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 of the old Armstrong stadium… It gave me a memory I will treasure forever. Ever since, I’ve made it an annual tradition to go with friends to get excellent courtside seats in Armstrong during the 3rd Round or Round of 16. In 2019, I got to see 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 – including sitting first row behind-the-server for a match between Auger-Aliassime and fellow Canadian 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 incredible proximity to the players.
If you’ve never done it, consider splurging once on a courtside Ashe seat.

Me caught on ESPN cheering very loudly for Carlitos from front row Ashe (lower left) during 2024 Round 2 (v Botic van de Zandschulp)
After dreaming for years of the possibility, I finally bit the bullet to invest in Arthur Ashe Stadium Courtside seats in 2011 for the first time. It was bliss. Ever since, I’ve made an annual pilgrimage to experience Ashe 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.
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 on Labor Day during the Round of 16 and got to witness Federer perfection from a few feet away. Best money I’ve ever spent.
Before you compare options, get clear on what matters most to you for this particular visit — seeing a favorite player, incredible proximity, atmosphere, the most tennis for your money, shade, flexibility, or certainty. The more familiar you become with the market, the easier it becomes to recognize real value when you see it.
Here are 4 steps to making sure you make your decision with confidence:
- Know the benefits/restrictions of each type of ticket – read “What Each US Open Ticket Type Gets You” below.
- Review the day-by-day ticket options and average prices in the chart below. It will give you valuable context for smart decisionmaking, including up-to-date price ranges of what to expect for every single ticket option plus benchmark ranges from last year’s Open.
- Comparison shop — best done on a computer. For my full step-by-step process — which sites, how to read the maps, what to avoid — see “Which ticket site should I use?” under Before You Buy below.
- Scan the topics below under “Before You Buy — Common Questions” to dive deeper into many important questions that may impact your final decision about what’s best for you.

Before You Buy — Common Questions
▸ Should I buy now or wait? Will prices go up or down?
The frustrating reality is: it depends — and it’s impossible to predict with certainty. Buying US Open tickets can be a bit like investing in the stock market: knowledge and good judgment dramatically improve your odds, but there are always surprises because so many variables are involved.
One thing many first-time buyers don’t realize is that the inventory they see today may look very different tomorrow, next week, or later in the summer. Much of the market is driven by resale, because the USTA typically makes relatively few Standard tickets (“blue dots” on Ticketmaster) available, with most inventory pre-allocated to subscribers — and even Standard tickets are dynamically priced rather than sold at a fixed “face value.” As a result, prices can move in unexpected ways.
Historically, some sessions get cheaper as more resale tickets hit the market and sellers compete, while other high-demand sessions rise substantially. Who gets scheduled on which days, courts, and sessions matters too. Last year (2025), schedulers surprised everyone by putting the blockbuster Djokovic–Alcaraz semifinal in the day session rather than at night — so day prices spiked and night prices dropped.
Resale tickets are almost always available until the last minute, so patient buyers sometimes find great deals — but waiting trades certainty for risk. The best advice I can give: familiarize yourself with typical prices for the sessions you’re considering so you can recognize a good opportunity when you see one. The chart above is built for exactly that — every option, this year’s average ranges, and last year’s day-of benchmarks (for context, not prediction). One clue: if you enlarge the Ticketmaster map and see few tickets, scarcity often signals prices may keep rising; abundant inventory often means more downward pressure.
▸ Will the tournament release more Standard tickets and Grounds Passes?
Sometimes yes — but in a completely unpredictable way. The USTA has historically released additional Standard (“blue dot”) tickets throughout the summer for some sessions, sometimes for surprisingly good seats. There has never been a reliable pattern for which sessions or ticket types get more inventory, and Grounds Pass inventory can fluctuate too. My advice: check periodically, especially in the mornings, but don’t count on it for any specific session.
▸ Will I still get good tickets if everything looks expensive right now?
Usually, yes. One of the biggest misconceptions among first-time buyers is that the inventory available when tickets first go on sale is all there will be. In reality, more resale inventory appears throughout the summer, and the USTA often releases additional standard tickets too. The market keeps evolving right up until the tournament begins — and sometimes even on the day of the matches.
▸ Which sessions are the best deals?
This varies year to year, and some of the best last-minute deals turn up when the lineups aren’t what people expected (last year, for example, a marquee semifinal landed in the day session instead of the night). Still, here are a few sessions that tend to be overlooked and have historically offered relatively good value:
- Armstrong evening courtside, week 1 — exciting under the lights in a big stadium, but demand is lower because many fans choose day-session tickets instead (understandably, since a day ticket lets you in as soon as gates open, so you can catch as much tennis as possible). The trade-off: an evening-only ticket won’t get you onto the grounds until 6pm. But it can be an affordable way to see bigger names from a far better vantage point than the upper tier of Ashe.
- Quarterfinal day sessions — the biggest-name lineups almost always go to the night sessions during the quarterfinals. With many tourists gone and locals leaning toward evenings, day tickets here are often cheaper than the Round of 16.
- Labor Day Ashe evening — historically cheaper than other Round-of-16 sessions, since many tourists have headed home and demand dips. You still get great matches, and it’s a great time to experience Ashe at night.
▸ How do I see the exact location of seats I might buy?
Use the “Map View” on Ticketmaster for any particular session provides the best reference for the exact location of specific seat(s). After you click on the session/stadium that interests you, choose Map View, then mouse over or click any of the dots to see the exact section, row, and seat number. This is also helpful if you’re comparison shopping with Stubhub or other resale sites, whose maps may only feature sections and zones and not individual seats.
KEY SEATING CHARTS AND SHADE MAPS
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM
- NEW 2026 Arthur Ashe Seating Chart
- My NEW 2026 annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Ashe “Interactive Seat Viewer” (updated for 2026) 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.
Update on the Renovated Loge Section
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
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
▸ What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?
A lot. 2026 brings a huge change to Ashe: a major renovation added 2,000 new Courtside seats and removed around 2,800 Loge seats to make room for the expanded courtside area and newly designed luxury suites between the Courtside and Loge levels. Promenade remains exactly the same.
My initial observations after spending a few days watching play from various sections of Ashe in 2026:
The New Courtside
- Courtside seats (even higher rows) remain qualitatively much, much better than Loge and Promenade, which now feel even more remote. Overall, though, courtside feels far less intimate. And more numbers create intense crowds in the “Club Level” corridors (where you get drinks and food).
- Noise levels are worse than ever in the stadium due to the larger numbers of people in courtside and folks in suites, many of whom are drinking heavily and carry on conversations at full voice. All it takes is a few loud conversations to spark a chain reaction: background conversations become white noise, and everyone feels permission to talk loudly.
- Gone are the days when you would be embarrassed for standing in an aisle except during changeovers. The longer stairways — coupled with the highly questionable elimination of the continuous walkway at the top of Courtside — means people take too long to get to their seats.
- The addition of two cordoned-off Courtside rows (“100A-100E”) with walkway behind the umpire chair feels, to be perfectly frank, obnoxious. One the one hand, I applaud the move to put Players’ Boxes into the first row on this side (section 100A) and directly opposite (105AA). And I understand the need to reserve parts of these rows (especially 100G) for VIPs like Billie Jean King and provide special security for them. But selling the rest of these seats to ultra-rich subscribers — many of whom skip matches in favor of hanging in suites or resell the seats at out-of-reach, exorbitant prices — is infuriating to someone like me who has spent hard-earned savings on those seats in the past and literally been moved to tears of joy and appreciation to be in them watching favorite players.
The New Loge
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
I’ll update the FAQ on views from seats as soon as I can with a few more photos, but wanted to share this update in real time (Sep 3, 2026).
▸ Which seats get the most shade?
ASHE STADIUM
The roof creates a huge amount of natural shade all day for many seats. The most shade is in the South and West sections. Next-best is the North. The most sun (to avoid for Day sessions) is on the East side. See my Ashe shade map. I will update this with more details after I’ve experienced Ashe post-renovation in person during Fan Week this year.
GRANDSTAND
Much less shade overall, but South and West are again better because the sun is more at your back. GA seats higher under the overhang — especially the Southwest corner — get the most.
ARMSTRONG STADIUM
Sections 1–8 (South and West) are best overall for shade, with Section 2 the best (in shade all day). Sections 11-16 (East) are the worst and sit in direct afternoon sun (however the top couple of rows are shaded all day due to the overhang from the upper deck). See this basic overview of the Armstrong shade pattern – then see these additional photos showing how various sections are impacted throughout the day. Additional details:
- Section 1 is fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then some rows and some seats in the first 8-10 rows start getting some sun). See this photo.
- Sections 17-18: Fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then lower rows start getting sun. By about 2:15, many of the first 8-10 rows (rows E-O) are getting sun – see this photo and this photo. By 3pm a few more rows in 17 and 18 get sun – see this photo. By around 4pm (not sure exact time) all of 17 and 18 are shaded completely again
- Sections 3-8 (West side/Chair umpire side) is in full sun at 11am, but the shade gradually moves down to blanket more and more rows such that by 12:30pm the top 10 rows (appx) are in shade and by around 1pm all seats are fully shaded.
- The last 2 rows in the lower bowl around the entire stadium stay shaded (under the overhang from the upper bowl).
- Sections 8-11: Rows U and above are always shaded, most other seats always in direct sun.
▸ Which sections and seats have the best views?
Most people consider “behind the server” seats (the North or South ends of the court) the best — and prices reflect it. For first-timers, that’s my top recommendation. It’s the angle used for broadcast: you can follow point construction and see the court from the perspective of the player on your side of the net, without moving your head side to side. Here’s a photo of the same perspective (from higher up seats) in 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 120 in renovated 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. Here’s a photo from Ashe courtside from that perspective.
For Loge or Promenade in Ashe, I generally recommend the lowest rows you can get regardless of location, since Loge — and especially Promenade — are already quite high up.
For Day sessions, factor in shade (West, Southwest, and Northwest get the most relief; see the shade question above). The umpire chair is never a real obstruction, but in very low rows on that side it can be a minor annoyance.
▸ Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?
There are a handful of specific seats worth avoiding in Promenade based on reader reports in the comments over the years and posts on “View from my Seat.” Two recommendations based on every obstruction complaint I’ve ever heard about the Promenade:
1. Avoid aisle seats in Promenade rows A-E (due to large glass safety panels at the bottom of aisle stairways).
At the bottom of every aisle staircase, there’s a clear safety panel (with a metal support bar) to keep people from stumbling over the ledge. These sit at the ends of the rows, all the way around the stadium. If you’re in one of the first several rows (roughly A through E) AND in the seat or two directly beside an aisle, that glass and bar can cut right across your view of the court. Fans report this year after year, always in the same spots: the aisle-adjacent seats in the low rows. A few rows up, or a few seats over, and the problem disappears. The added bonus of skipping these seats: you’ll avoid fans walking up and down the aisles (which they’re only allowed to do in Promenade).
2. Unless you are fairly tall, avoid Row A in Promenade due to the metal safety rail. The front row of the Promenade has a horizontal rail along it. For many adults it’s a non-issue — you see right over it. But if you’re on the shorter side, or bringing kids, the rail can sit annoyingly close to your sightline to the near baseline. My advice for most folks is to avoid the first row altogether. Rows B and C give you virtually the same view with zero rail, and Row A’s extra legroom probably isn’t worth the tradeoff.
Check out photos from other fans of particular seats in Promenade at “View from my Seat.”
Note: I am not able yet to address questions about structural obstructions in the newly renovated Courtside and Loge sections – I’ll update after I’m there this year.
▸ Day session or evening — which is the better value?
For most fans, day sessions offer better overall value. You’ll typically get more tennis, more scheduling flexibility, and grounds access from morning until late evening. Evening sessions often feature big names and a special atmosphere under the lights, but you’re usually paying for fewer matches. Which is “better” comes down to whether you care more about the quantity of tennis or the energy of a showcase night session.
▸ Is a Grounds Pass worth it?
Sometimes — but usually not. Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the best value; often it isn’t. Before buying one, always compare prices for Ashe and Armstrong day-session tickets. If they’re available for a similar price, you get all the same grounds-access privileges plus a reserved seat and valuable rain protection from the stadium roofs.
▸ Should I buy a subscription or multi-session plan?
For most serious fans, I don’t recommend it. Most multi-session and first-time subscription plans are only for Promenade seats — so high up in that huge stadium that you’ll watch much of the match on the Jumbotron or through binoculars. It can take years to upgrade to Loge (only available with the very expensive full-series plan). For the price of a full-series plan (well over $2,000 each) you could buy several amazing seats across the tournament — or two excellent seats for the Men’s Final. And there’s always a glut of Promenade Ashe seats on the resale market, so an entire series of Promenade seats can be hard to resell.
▸ Which ticket site should I use? How to comparison shop?
Start with Ticketmaster, then compare resale. My process:
- Consult 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal to learn the average price ranges for the sessions you care about.
- Always check the official Ticketmaster US Open site first — on a computer for the fastest navigation. Use “map view” (click any section), try different sortings, and use multiple tabs to compare sessions. Ticketmaster shows both Standard tickets (“blue dots” — face value, most often Promenade, occasionally Loge/Courtside) and resale tickets (“red dots”). Surprisingly, resale red dots are often the best value, because resellers undercut each other. Tickets stay on sale up to 59 minutes after a session starts if inventory remains, and both Ticketmaster and StubHub make it easy to relist if your plans change (you need a US bank account to re-list on Ticketmaster).
- Compare availability and prices with StubHub and any other preferred resellers to see if you can find an even better deal for comparable seats. Other sites I’ve never had any problems with include Viagogo, VividSeats, SeatGeek, or Ticket Liquidator. I personally no longer recommend TickPick after two very poor experiences. My “2026 US Open Ticket Options” chart linked above links directly to every specific Ticketmaster and StubHub session ticket option.
- Only buy resale tickets that specify the exact Section, Row, and Seat (or seat range) matching the stadium seat maps in this post. Double-check what you receive matches what was advertised; reputable resellers refund a misrepresented ticket (but then it’s on you to find another).
- Never buy off Craigslist or classified sites — too many scams, and NYC law bans “scalping” within 1,500 feet of the venue (effectively everywhere off the subway), with undercover police on site.
- Going with friends? Consider buying a mix of cheap and amazing seats and trading off time in the great one (Promenade vs. Courtside, or across stadiums) — I do this every year. All tickets are mobile-only; if you don’t have a smartphone, Ticketmaster customer service can move yours to Will Call.
- For package deals (tickets + hotel/transport/VIP), trusted options include Championship Tennis Tours, Grand Slam Tennis Tours, and Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.
▸ Are resale ticket sites safe?
Generally, yes — provided you use reputable marketplaces. In some cases resale tickets are actually better values than standard tickets, because sellers compete on price. Before buying, always verify the section, row, and seat numbers, and make sure the ticket is clearly marked for mobile transfer.
▸ How can I predict when — and where — my favorite player will play?
While you can never be absolutely sure whether your favorite player will be scheduled for a Day or Night session (or on which court) until the Schedule of Play is released the day prior to matches, you CAN predict which DATE your favorite players will play if they advance after the Round 1 schedule is announced. Here’s a chart showing which players would play on which days after Round 1 if they advance (based on the pattern from the first two days of Round 1).
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 site 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.
Another 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
- Only the biggest superstars (like Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff) 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).
- 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 almost always scheduled for the night sessions.
- For Men’s Semifinals, we learned last year (2025) never to assume that the biggest starpower matches would be put on the Night session: they shocked everyone and put the Alcaraz v Djokovic match on during the Day session, and Sinner v Auger-Aliassime at night.
How to Get the Most of Your Visit
The night before you go, check the Schedule of Play
1. Download the official US Open Everywhere App (search “2026 US Open Tennis”) for the latest schedule, scores, and live updates. I also recommend SI.com’s tennis page for terrific day-to-day coverage and analysis.
2. Be sure to check the Schedule of Play here (or on the App) to identify the matches that most interest you and build your plan around that.
3. If you are targeting the first match of the day on either Grandstand or Armstrong and if you don’t have a reserved seat, aim to get in line early at either the East Gate (for Armstrong) or South Gate (for Grandstand) so you can be among the first to enter when gates open at 9:30am. Then speed-walk over and grab the best seat you can.
4. If you’re a player, you might be interested in reading my ten ideas for watching a pro match to help improve your own game— some of the ways I challenge myself to watch live tennis more deliberately from the perspective of a player who wants to improve.
Check out the practice courts for close sightings of the superstars
Check the practice schedule here (or on the US Open App) the night before and the morning of your day at the Open. Note: the best time to see top players practice without fighting as many crowds is during the Fan Week (see Tip 1).
Don’t drive unless you really have to — here’s how to get there
My top recommendation is to take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to “Mets-Willets Point.”
It’s super fast (under 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan) and drops you literally steps from the US Open’s East Gate. You can take it from either Moynihan Train Hall (8th Avenue between West 31st-33rd) or Grand Central. Look for “Port Washington” train on the monitors (signage may say “GREAT NECK” or “PORT WASHINGTON” — double-check the train number.) See 2026 LIRR schedule here. Download the MTA TrainTime app to purchase tickets. Important: the Mets-Willets LIRR stop is NOT accessible for fans with disabilities — exit instead at Woodside/61st St and transfer to the 7 train (or just take the 7 to Mets-Willets Point).
The subway #7 train is also a convenient (and the least expensive) option.
Takes a bit longer, but runs 24 hours. Stops include Grand Central. Download the MTA App for train time and routes. If you must drive: See the US Open’s driving directions and parking details. Plan extra time when the Mets are home (Aug 24-30 and Sep 4-6); I recommend arriving no later than 8:30am on Mets’ dates to be on the safe side. A good alternate parking option is the Shops at Skyview – about a 10-minute walk to the East Gate (and you can reserve a spot in advance for a discounted rate here). Consider buying a resale parking pass on StubHub for a specific lots. Fellow fan Harry notes street parking under or south of Highway 495 is viable if you don’t mind a walk.
Thinking of using UBER/ LYFT/ TAXI? They’re great getting out to the Open – but can be a nightmare coming back after a night session.
To the Open, set the destination to “Billie Jean King National Tennis Center” (drops near the South Gate) or “Mets-Willets Point” (near the 7 train, then walk the footbridge to the East Gate). After a night session, be ready for long waits and heavy surge pricing — thousands of people will be trying to do the same. Alternatives: reserve a car service in advance (I’ve used Riverside), take the LIRR or 7 into Manhattan and hail a cab there, or hail under the 7 train on Roosevelt Ave (or use the Curb app).
Consider staying nearby in Queens and walking or biking.
Fellow fan Mark stayed at an Airbnb on Queens Boulevard about 2 miles away: flat terrain, good bike lanes, and bike racks across from the South Gate — “a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute.”
Coming directly from Laguardia?
It’s only a 9-minute cab ride — or take the Q48 public bus to the “Roosevelt Av/Willets Pt” stop (around 30 minutes). You can check your bag at the US Open before you enter the grounds.
More Common Questions - Good to Know Before You Go
▸ What can I bring — and what’s not allowed? (No backpacks!)
Be sure to review this official complete 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
- 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: (in 2025 it was $10 per locker, $20 for large items including suitcases). Bag check for American Express cardholders is discounted (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 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 (and/or lightweight neck gaiter) 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).
- 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.
▸ Can I exit and re-enter the US Open grounds?
DAY SESSION ENTRY TO US OPEN GROUNDS (Gates open usually 9:30 most days, 11:00am Finals weekend)
- With either a Grounds Pass (Day) or a DAY-session reserved ticket in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand), you can enter the US Open grounds as soon as gates open (usually 9:30am, 11am on Finals weekend)
- Enter the US Open Grounds through security with your ticket scanned at the East Gate or South Gate; if you have a reserved stadium seat, your ticket is re-checked entering that stadium. Once you enter the US Open grounds with any ticket, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
- Note: DAY-session reserved tickets for Ashe or Armstrong only entitles you to that seat for the Day-session matches — after which you will have to leave your seat but can remain on the US Open grounds and access general unreserved seating on every court except Ashe (which has no unreserved seating).
- You can exit the grounds and re-enter as much as you’d like before 6:00pm (you can’t re-enter the Grounds after 6:00pm).
EVENING SESSION ENTRY (6:00pm)
- If you only have an Evening session ticket, you have to wait until 6:00pm to enter the grounds.
- If you are already in the grounds and also hold an Evening reserved tickets (for Ashe or Armstrong) for the same day, you do NOT need to exit and re-enter the grounds.
- If you’re in Armstrong for the Day session (courtside or GA), you’ll leave your seat between sessions while they clean, but you can stay in the Armstrong concourse.
▸ What if it rains?
The good news: since both Arthur Ashe and the new Louis Armstrong have roofs, far more fans can keep watching even
if it rains.
The bad news: if you’ve invested in Grandstand seats or just a Grounds Pass, there’s less consolation. Keep in mind weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable and change by the hour — there’s always hope showers pass quickly.
In the rare event of an all-day rainout (or under 60 minutes of play), the session may be rescheduled to the next day and your ticket honored then — or, if you bought directly from Ticketmaster, you may be able to trade tickets for another session this year or next (see the US Open’s somewhat complicated 2026 Inclement Weather Policy).
Worst case, look for the silver lining: you’ll be among thousands of fans you can grab a specialty cocktail with, huddle under shelter, and watch an Ashe match together on the big screen.
▸ Is grounds admission free on the second Thursday (Sep 10)?
One of the best-kept secrets: for years the US Open has quietly offered free grounds admission on the second Thursday of the main tournament (gates usually open 11am or noon; you must arrive before 5pm) — a chance to see the Men’s Doubles Semifinals plus all-star wheelchair players, the world’s top juniors, and standout collegiate players.
If you’re a serious fan — especially a doubles player — this is a day not to be missed.
▸ Food
FOOD: There are a bunch of options on site, but they aren’t cheap! See my chart outlining examples of the food stands by area on the grounds.
- This PDF includes several menus from past Food Village stands. Every year there are some new additions and substitutions, but many of these will still be around in 2026.
- 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.
- Oyster Bar behind Grandstand has killer ceviches and lobster rolls.
- Hill Country BBQ, Curry Kitchen, Fish Shack and Fly Fish are also delicious.
- Restaurants in Queens not on the grounds
▸ What are perks for cardholders?
- AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDERS: Bring your Amex card if you have one! See full Amex Benefits at US Open here. Perks from 2025 likely to be repeated in 2026:
- (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 2026.
- Click here to make a reservation to access the “Chase Lounge”
- Other past perks have included offering cool video+mobile “Chase Charge & Watch” chargers
▸ Recommended places to stay?
This is not an area of expertise for me, but I trust fellow tennis fanatic Melissa, who maintains a great list of hotels appealing to all budgets here.
Fellow fan Mark recommends staying in Queens and biking, based on his experience: “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!”
▸ Grounds access on Finals Weekend?
Grounds Admission tickets usually get issued at some point over the summer for Finals Weekend (Fri-Sun Sep 11-13) on Ticketmaster.
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 a random act of kindness for fellow fans during the tournament. Our tennis community is big, but in a way it’s small — and our passion is infectious; do something kind for someone today, and they’re likely to pay it forward.
For instance, if you’re leaving your great Ashe (or Armstrong or Grandstand) seat for the day/night while matches are still going, as you exit consider consider gifting it to a fan who’s waiting outside the entrance hoping someone like you might offer. Giving someone on grounds your seat when you’re done isn’t as easy as it used to be, given tightened Ticketmaster restrictions preventing transferring after the ticket is scanned and preventing screenshots from within the Ticketmaster app… But with a little creativity and effort you can pretty easily make it happen, and the gesture might create a lifelong memory for someone else. Here’s how:
- Take a screenshot of your ticket in your phone’s WALLET (Ticketmaster will block screenshots from within the app).
- For Armstrong or Grandstand, simply text someone else the screenshot and it should hopefully suffice.
- For Ashe:
- If gifting to someone already IN the stadium, a screenshot from your wallet should suffice — including if you’re leaving the Courtside/Club level area entrance and you want someone already in Ashe to benefit from your seat (from Loge or Promenade.
- If gifting to someone already in the Open grounds but not in Ashe already: You’d need to walk with them to the Ashe entrance, re-scan your ticket (telling the ticket scanner that you’re letting your friend go to your seat) AND give them a screenshot (which they’ll need to show to ushers or for entry to Club level); OR you’d need to walk with the friend(s) as if you were going to re-enter with them, hand the friend your phone to get scanned, then have the friend discreetly pass the phone back after they are “in” (then just turn around as though you changed your mind about entering themselves at this time).
I’ve gifted a lot of tickets over the years, and it always feels wonderful.












Hi PJ – As many have commented, thank you for compiling this information! I plan on going to the Open on either Sunday or Monday of Labor Day weekend this year (i.e., session 13, 14, 15, or 16). Like most, I would love to see Federer, but understand it’s hard to secure that. I have a few questions for you, and hope you can help me out with my decisions. 1) For Sunday (9/3) or Monday (9/4), would you prefer to see Day or Evening matches and on which day? I’m leaning toward a Day session, as it seems like… Read more »
Incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for offering such detailed, clear, and useful information!
You’re very welcome, Mohamed! P.J.
Hello PJ, First of all, thank you so much for all the information in your post and, maybe even more valuable, in all your very thoughtful responses. I am 24 years old from Brazil and never traveled abroad, and as a tennis player, I always got my inspiration from RF. I’ve been working and putting some money together for the last year, with the only objective of going to a grand slam in 2017. So thank you very much for helping me and others achieve our dreams. That being said, I will be going to NY probably August 26th-27th, and… Read more »
Hej PJ, This site is sick! Thx for all the information you have provided here. I have used ’em all to book the tickets I needed. I’m currently based in the Middle East and it will be my first time to watch the US Open! Federer and Djokovic are my boys….such a bummer that I won’t see Djokovic this year but I’m still excited to see Roger play! I will be in NY on Aug 31 and September 1 so I have booked the following tickets, pls tell me I have made the right choices: Aug 31: DAY Session –… Read more »
Hey Willy, thanks so much – and yes, looks like you did great with your tix! I share your disappointment about Nole 🙁 The Men’s SF day is absolutely amazing (and unfortunately so are the prices). If I could choose one session to go to the entire tournament, it would be that one: you get to see both matches plus as an added bonus the Mixed Doubles Semi (I love dubs, and really enjoy watching mixed). I’ve gone to the Women’s Final several years and it has been hit or miss, simply because they only play three sets and sometimes… Read more »
Thx P.J.,
I ended up buying additional ticket for the Women’s Finals in addition to the tix I have previously purchased.
But now I am contemplating on seeing the MEN’s SF matches as well since it is possible that Nadal and Federer will meet in the SF. Should I buy a ticket now or should I wait and watch closely?
Too bad we won’t see Nishikori as well this year. Which matches are you attending, it’ll be cool to see you around!
Willy
Hey Willy, that’s great. If you’re sure you’d want to go to the semis regardless of who’s playing, then you might consider I’d grabbing one of the standard price Loge seats in sections 134 or 102 now (or a standard Promenade seat, there are some available there too). Otherwise you may want to hold off to see if both make it through to at least 3d round. I’ll be there all day Sun (Ashe) and Mon Labor Day (Armstrong Day, Ashe Eve), plus Thurs Sep 8 to support wheelchair players on Ashe (see last box above). Would be great to… Read more »
Hej PJ,
I’ll hold off and see what happens in the early rounds.
Unfortunately, I will be in Montreal that Labor Day weekend and won’t be back til the Men’s SF day, if I decide to get tickets. Won’t you be watching the W/M Finals?
Quick question, can you resell via Ticketmaster a ticket purchased from TicketLiquidator?
Hey Willy, sounds good. I’ll be watching Finals on TV this year – I’ll be at the tournament Friday evening Sep 1, Sun and Mon Labor Day weekend, and Thurs day Sep 7 for wheelchair. You should have no problem posting a ticket purchased from another source on Ticketmaster Ticket Exchange. Let me know if you do, my impression is it should be just fine. P.J.
That’s too bad but I guess you’ve been to a lot of US OPEN Finals anyway.
Cool, i’ll try to resell and let you know!
I’ll see you on Sept 1 evening then LOL 😛
Willy
Hej PJ, How you doin’? I have just returned from my New York trip and I must say that the highlight of the entire trip was my first US OPEN experience! I got to see incredible matches from amazing players. The MEN’s finals was kind of boring but still OK. I’ve enjoyed the Women’s finals better because I really like both Sloane and Madison. Watching the players practice was also a lot of fun! I got to see Venus, Federer, Nadal and other players really close, so exciting! It is also worth mentioning that I have enjoyed the matches on… Read more »
Hey Willy, thank you so much for this great summary of your experience and for the kind note, I really appreciate it and am so glad you had a great experience!! P.J.
Hi PJ:
Great information. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. This will be my first time at the US Open and it can be a little intimidating without these tips. Couple of quick questions:
Generally speaking, where would you say is the best area to sit in Ashe: baseline, corners, half court…? Also, what is the deal with row N in the Loge section? Appears to be behind a railing or wall and tickets are significantly lower than even one row ahead. I cannot find any info on this.
Thanks!
Suzanne
Hey Suzanne, my pleasure, thanks for your thanks 🙂 Generally speaking, for most people it would be behind the server or corners. However if you see a ticket at your budget that is much much closer in another area, it’s generally worth getting that. If you go on the side, look at my annotated map re: shade (choose West side over East when possible to maximize shade). Row N is wheelchair accessible seating – so when you purchase they ask that you confirm you have a need to sit in those seats for yourself or someone you’re with. Cheers, P.J.
Just realized I will be in NYC on Aug 28th and have changed my flight home to the 29th for the chance to see Venus play on Monday the 28th. Do you have any historical knowledge on if she usually plays at 11am or the 7pm? What stadium would she likely play in in the 1st round?
Hi Mo, please see this backgrounder on who plays where when: http://www.roadto45tennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Who-Plays-When-Where-at-US-Open.pdf Best, P.J.
Thanks for all this awesome information! Hoping to watch the finals this year (hoping to see federer!). Given budget constraints (and having to fly over from michigan!) im probably going to go with the cheapest ticket – which over the last week have been 270-300 usd for seats high up in the promenade but behind the server. Any advice on 1. When to buy resale tickets. Seems like they change often so i am checking frequently but if they are only going to go up from here maybe i should pull the trigger soon? 2. Buying and reselling if I… Read more »
HI Raghav, 1. It’s just so hard to say (see response I just wrote to Sujiv re QFs). I personally would venture to guess prices for men’s finals will stay around the same as they are until end of round of 16, at which time they may go up or down depending on who is looking strong and may make it through… I always encourage people NOT to buy Promenade tickets unless they plan to use them or they are willing to take a loss if they have to resell them – even for finals. P.J.
Hi PJ
I am looking to get tickets for one of the first couple of days once the schedules are released. We will want to see some of the big names and therefore are thinking of going for the day pass with Ashe entry. Is this something that is easy to get the day before once the schedule comes out?
Also, I am aware that we would get kicked of Ashe at around 6 however, if there are empty seats are you able to get back into Ashe without a reserved ticket?
Thanks
Hi Karen, probably – and if not will be easy to get a cheap Ashe Promenade seat for about the same cost the day before too (which I always recommend in any case). No, you can never sneak back into Ashe even if there are empty seats – they clear the stadium between the two sessions. P.J.
Thanks for the information. It is our first visit to the US open and want to get the most out of our time there.
Karen
Thanks so much for such a informative website. It has really made it easy for me to take so many decisions. I am coming in from India just to see the US open. I am hoping to see the quarterfinals /semis and hopefully the finals too. I am choosing to spend a bit on loge seats for the QFs and then go for the promenade seats for the semis/finals. It is difficult to predict which QF Roger will play in so I am planning to see all 4 of them. Do you think I should buy the QF tickets now… Read more »
Hi Sujit, thanks so much for your very kind words. It’s so hard to say, always a bit of a gamble. I encourage you to take at least a week to get really familiar with the range of prices currently being offered for different seats, then make the call next week when you feel like you can recognize a good deal when you see it. I think your gut is probably right: evening QF ticket prices probably will stay around the same as they are now or go up slightly, whereas day sessions might decline during the event once it… Read more »
Thanks for your response, PJ ! I went crazy monitoring the tix for a few days and then put the demons to rest and bought whatever best I could for all the QFs thru to the finals. For QFs I just waited for row C/D/E loge tickets to pop up at a price which seemed ok and grabbed them. For Semi/Finals I went for promenade, again the best rows I could. I managed the day QFs less than $250 and evening ones $350-$425 row C/E. The two links of the ticketmaster and the exchange sites were the most helpful. I… Read more »
Hey Sujit, great to hear it – every year I go through a very similar process, and finally pull the plug once I know I’m within a range that’s reasonable. Sounds like you made excellent choices. Now you can just focus on getting excited! P.J.
PJ,
Do you know if e-tickets are upgradable?
Thanks
Leonardo, really good question. Nothing clear on the website about that specifically. Let me call the box office on Monday and I’ll ask… P.J.
Did you have any luck? I also have a doubt, I bought tickets from Ticketmaster Exchange and was given the e-tickets, but when I entered my US Open AccountManager it told me that my way to access the event was via a Ticket printed by the box office. Should I be worried?
Hey Leonardo, sorry for the delay. Regarding upgrades for e-tickets, the short answer is that no one really knows right now. I called the main US Open ticket office, and they said “you should call Ticketmaster.” I explained that this was something handled by the US Open box office itself during the event, and they said “we aren’t the box office, you’ll have to check back once they open closer to the event.” I called Ticketmaster and they had no clue. I am confident that they will consider e-tickets for upgrades, because that is the majority of tickets this year… Read more »
Thanks man, I´m flying from Costa Rica just for the tournament, I´m on a budget so every detail on your tips was really useful. I´m expecting to see Roger Federer and I think this is my only opportunity, so I´m crossing my fingers to get to see him and I don´t even care if it´s on his first match.
Me da mucho placer escucharlo! Que lo disfrutes! P.J.
Dear all,
A few Standard (face value) Loge tickets (row M & N though)just popped up for Men’s Semi-Finals on Friday 09/08, if it’s what you are looking for, grab them fast!
P.J.,
Just out of curiosity, is there a limit for how many times a ticket can be resold on Ticketmaster Exchange?
Scott
Hey Scott, not that I’m aware of! PJ
Hi P.J.
We are going to be near NYC so we are going to see what we have seen on TV. It will be just for the final day and need to get there by car so we bought a parking ticket for LOT F. Do you know what address should I put in my GPS to get in that parking lot. Also if we need to take a bus to get into the venue and back. We are going to have fun and enjoy it. Thanks for your help
Hi Gretel, the GPS address to the general area is “122-02 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368” – but not sure about exact address for each lot. Here’s a detailed map: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/1/15/2017_uso_transportation_map-1.pdf Generally, the train is your best bet over the bus (LIRR or 7 subway train). However if you are looking into buses, it’s the Q48 bus goes directly to CitiField/Mets-Willets and is only about 5 min from Laguardia Airport. The stop on the MTA website is listed as ROOSEVELT AV/WILLETS PT BL STATIO. You can transfer to the Q48 from the: Q12, Q15, Q15A, Q17, Q20A/B, Q25, Q25-Ltd, Q26,… Read more »
Hi again P.J 3 years ago in 2014 it was my first time and i succeeded buying ground admissions for middle sunday 31/08/2014. Bought them the 02/08. This year middle sunday is the 3th of september. And we are the 27/07 i don’t find standard tickets any more. Only resale tickets more expensive. Same for Arthur Ashe day session. I don’t want to spend more than 100$ because i want to buy tickets for 3 other days. So now it’s too late to find standard tickets for the weekend? Or i can wait more? At box office could it be… Read more »
Hi there, correct – there are only resale General Admission (GA) tickets available now for that Sunday. Not sure whether they will release more closer to the event – really no way to predict. But I wouldn’t count on it… And across the board, GA seats are much more expensive this year than in 2014, so I’m not sure how much under $100 face-value GA seats would be even if they show up. There are some upper Promenade resale seats in Ashe available for a bit less than the average cost of resale GA tickets – probably your best bet.… Read more »
Thanks PJ
You’re so kind to give Quick answers
For the prices of GA it is cheaper this year than in 2014 for the first days
But you are probably right it Must be contrary for week-end I paid in 2014 81$ fee included.
And weird thing saturday is even more expansive
PJ thanks one more Time for your advices
My pleasure – and yeah, the prices go up substantially for Labor Day weekend GA – that’s when the demand is highest. P.J.
PJ, just an update on what I’ve got:
Earlier, I found 2 Grandstand tickets for Sat, Sept. 2nd, in Section 6, Row M, for $180 each.. I just realized that’s behind the umpire’s chair- is that an issue, or are these good seats?
Just tonight, I found several standard tickets for the Ashe Evening session for the same day (FYI to those searching) in Loge Section 105, Row L, for $175 each. Are these a good deal as well?
Should I be satisfied with these, or should I keep looking?
Thanks for everything!
Hello! My brother and I are trying to get tickets for the Mixed Doubles and Men’s Semis. Does the ticket cover all 3 matches?
Yes!
P.J.,
Have you ever been to Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day or know someone who has? Is it really just for kids or adult can have some fun as well? My wife’s a huge Federer fan and since he is participating this year, do you think it’s worth to buy tickets just to see him? Would it be weird if we go without kids?
Scott
I love this question! But I don’t really know the answer… I will check with some USTA friends. In the meantime, another reader might have some thoughts… Will get back ASAP.
Hi Scott, I’ve been to Arthur Ashe Day (as an adult a couple times) and I can tell you that there are a TON of kids around the entire US Open that day. That being said, there are also a lot of great players practicing on P1-P5 courts as well as on Armstrong/Grandstand during that Sun. Also, if you do like to see fun exhibition matches with Rafa/Roger in it – it is guaranteed that at least one (probably both) of them will be inside. They do trick shots and make fun commentary as they are “mic’d up”. They also… Read more »
Thanks JC!
JC,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! My wife would be thrilled if there’s exhibition matches featuring Federer. One question though, what’s the difference between $50, $25 & $10 Standard tickets if it’s first-come first-serve, If my wife’s main goal is to see Federer, will purchasing $50 ticket give us the best experience/chance? Thank you!
Scott
If you want courtside tickets, those are ~$90, Loge starts at $25, but all else is in the Promenade. I was able to get into the front rows of the lower Promenade and thought it was a fun experience. Seeing Federer live in person is a goal for many fans – my favorite place to watch him includes checking out his practices during the end of Qualifier week but the last couple years he has practiced privately behind the locked doors of Ashe. If you’re lucky enough to see him on Armstrong, you’ll be in absolute Awe (as it’s only… Read more »
JC,
Thank you again!
Hopefully, we will get lucky this year!:)
Scott
I love Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day! It’s really best if you don’t have kids. There are crowds of kids lined up for activities on the numbered courts (except 17.) But there are fun practice sessions with the top pros on the stadium courts (including 17.) And seating is open, so you can get courtside. The pros will pair up, so I’ve seen Murray and Lopez on 17, Federer and Fish on Armstrong, etc. Sometimes pros will have a hitting partner. The mood is light, coaches are on the court. It’s fun and different. And free! Tickets are for the concert… Read more »
Awesome, thanks Meredith!
Meredith,
Thanks for sharing! My wife’s main goal is to see Federer (up close) if possible, does that mean we should go for the exhibition in Arthur Ashe? If we end up going, I will definitely check out the practice sessions!
Scott
Honestly, I’ve never been into Ashe for Kids’ Day. I’ve only ever gone to the practice sessions. From past AAKD videos it looks like you can get pretty close, but those tix are expensive. The cheap $10 tix are GA and will be far up.
There’s no guarantee, but as a fellow Fed fan I plan to get there early and hope that he has a practice session scheduled for Armstrong, Grandstand, or 17. You can usually get pretty close.
Meredith,
I see…I will let my wife know what our options are and let her decide then.
Thank you!
Scott
Hi PJ, thanks a lot for the useful information! Quick advice: I’m looking at the 2016 schedule and I notice that on Thursday R2 mens, seed 2 and seed 3 played the same day during the day, therefore I would be inclined to buy a Ashe day ticket for thursday. Do you think that’s a situation that could repeat this year? I’m a Rafa fan but would also love to see Federer. Also, I could always look the day before and try to exchange them for Friday I guess (I’m travelling from Peru but have a US account). Thanks a… Read more »
Hi Augusto, a couple clarifications about how the draw works: (1) The men’s #1 seed and #2 seed always play on different days (and are played at opposite sides of the draw). Either the #1 or the #2 seed may end up playing on day 1 or 2 (and then they will play again 2 days later… e.g., if men’s #1 seed plays Monday, he will be schedule again for Wed). For the past three years, the men’s #1 (Nole all three years) has played on day 1, but in 2013 the #2 seed (Nadal) played on day 1. (2)… Read more »
Thanks for the incredibly prompt response PJ! Good clarification. Then it seems possible that Nadal (2) and Federer (3) would play on the same day then, right? In 2016 Murray (2) and Wawrinka (3) played on Day 4 during the day (although perhaps one of them would play in the evening). I’d like to secure tickets now and perhaps then try to exchange instead of waiting and maybe risking the price going up. Does that sound reasonable?
Yup! FYI you’ve inspired me to post something more detailed on this whole issue of who plays when/where… Will work on it 🙂
Awesome, thanks!
Waiting for that post, P.J.! No pressure or anything!
I’m coming to the US Open for the first time–would love to see Fed live–like so many others. I’ll be there Aug 29, 30 or 31…wish I knew which session to purchase and when. So confusing!
Here you go! http://www.roadto45tennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Who-Plays-When-Where-at-US-Open.pdf
Hi Augusto, I am in a similar state. Rafa fan but want to watch Roger too.
I just wanted to warn you that given their form, if they play well in Canada and Cincinnati, they could become 1 and 2 seeds. Murray was a Finalist at Cincinnati last year and will likely drop points there given his current form. So, take that into consideration too 🙂
Hey Augusto, I prepared this short backgrounder with some historical data on “Who Plays Who When (and on which court)” Let me know what you think. P.J>
Hey PJ! Once again you are the best, can’t imagine all the people you have helped for so many years, you are such a great guy!!! I have a couple of questions… (1) In relation to bringing a bag with us, I have read in the comments something about lockers and being able to leave your bag inside a locker, but going back and forth for something you might need doesn’t sound that good, is bringing a bag a good idea? (2) Items that I may need, i.e. mobile phone, sunscreen, camera (gopro, Samsung 360º, professional camera like Nikon or… Read more »
Hola Juan, mil gracias por los comentarios tan amables – te agradesco mucho! (1) I usually bring a small drawstring sport bag (google “drawstring bag” to see what I mean) and carry it with me all day. Note: While I wouldn’t recommend others take this risk (because it’s technically not allowable), I sometimes bring this all folded up (it folds into something that looks like a teeny bag that would hold some sunscreen or minimal items), then put that little folded up pack within a small plastic shopping bag with a few other items in it (e.g. sunscreen, my camera,… Read more »
Hey PJ!
Thanks a lot for your answer, Im not sure I understood (just the part of the bag). So just to clarify, you have two options. (1) Bringing a drawstring bag with the permitted stuff in. And option (2) is the bag that can be folded up (teeny bag) and then inside a plastic shopping bag would come this teeny bag with all the other permitted stuff.
I think the option for me would be the drawstring bag since I already have one.
Well and once again thanks for all your help!
I’ve seen so many selfie sticks get confiscated and left at the gate. I wouldn’t want that to happen to your tripod. No metal or glass bottles. You are allowed to bring an unopened bottle of water. I always freeze one the night before and on a really hot day at the Open it’s great to have it on your lap. There are water fountains around if you want to refill during the day. (The alternative is really expensive Evian.) I don’t think they allow metal/aerosol cans of sunscreen either–only plastic! I always bring a thin towel or scarf to… Read more »
Awesome Meredith, thanks!
My pleasure!
These posts are getting me excited about the Open. Also excited to go watch some WTT on Court 17 this Friday! Will be nice to be on the grounds and get even more excited:)
Awesome! And I love WTT – so intimate, so cool. P.J.
Hi P.J.! Thanks for the great tips! Similar to some of the people here, this is my first time in the US Open. I’ve been planning to watch the Grand Slam tournaments and thought that I would start with either this or the AO (since I’m from the Philippines). I’m planning to watch on the 5th (for both the morning and evening sessions). I originally was planning on just lower promenade seats but reading through the comments here, I am thinking of maybe getting a loge seat in one of the sessions. Would you recommend that I get the loge… Read more »
Hi Maria, great to hear from you. I personally would do Promenade for day and Loge for evening. — Promenade will give you more shade during day (see my recommendations above re: which sections get most shade!) — You will no doubt see a “star” both sessions because it’s QF, but they will probably put the bigger star on evening (no guarantees, but that’s usually how it works… And if it’s Federer, almost certainly he’d be scheduled for evening) — It will be much much more fun to “upgrade” and treat yourself in the evening after a day in Promenade…… Read more »
Me an my husband are planning on travelling from Canada to the US Open for the first time… but can only stay for a couple of days. We were wondering what would be the best time to come: Is the opening night really worth seeing? Is it a full concert or just a couple of songs? We love doing the back courts, and watching some doubles will definitely be a priority.
What do you suggest?
HI Marta, if you like Shania Twain then maybe worth it (details) – not a full concert, just a few songs. It’s cool to see the ceremony, but if tennis is your priority I wouldn’t necessarily prioritize this. I would definitely suggest getting a day Ashe session ticket for whichever day you choose during the first week so you can catch as much tennis day and night as possible on outer courts and have “rain insurance” with the Ashe ticket just in case. See last year’s schedule (see 2016 schedule above in my post above) for examples of what you’d… Read more »
Hi again, Quick question. On the GS interactive viewer why are section 1 seats labelled “limited view” seating?
Hey John, I believe it’s television crew/cameras. PJ
Hi P.J I am in France and want to come to Us open. I am lost about the entering stadium with tickets. On site usopen.org, in Tickets FAQ, about Buying tickets, in the question ‘Does Ticketmaster ship internationally’: there are 3 choices , especially Ticketfast delivery, that i used 3 years. I had my tickets in my ticketmaster account and i could print them. But when i try to buy tickets, i have only 2 choices: Mobile and Will Call. That could mean that i will not be able to print them. But what happens if i have no mobile… Read more »
Hi there, yes correct – I need to make a point of this in the text of my blog post. They have changed policy this year: no more PDF printed versions of ticket will be accepted. Only options: mobile with barcode, or delivery or Will Call option with actual hard tickets. I think there have been so many scams over the years of people selling PDFs more than once via Craigslist etc. that they finally are cracking down. You will have to either plan to have your mobile with you (I’d recommend downloading the tickets in advance in case of… Read more »
If you have an I phone , you can save the tickets in advance into your Apple wallet. I’m coming from the UK and was also concerned about the cost if mobile data etc to keep logging in to the tickets!
Great point, Julie – thanks!
Thanks a lot P.J.
So people without mobile the day of the venue, must go to will call office?
Unfortunately not an option for most individual ticket holders (sounds like you can see that option, so you are an exception). Those who expect not to have a mobile must choose the mail delivery option of actual tickets, just like the old days… See here for more details.
Sorry PJ there is not the choice : delivery of actual tickets.
When i try to buy GA for 28/08: i have the screen:
Delivery
USA Canada Other Country
When you click on USA :4 choices,
when you clik on Canada 2 choices
when you click on Other Country: 2 choices
1)eTickets – FREE
Go Mobile
Your phone’s your ticket. Locate your tickets in your account – or in your app. When you go mobile, your tickets will not be emailed to you or available for print.
2)Customers in Other Countries: by Will Call
No additional charge
Got it. So yes, you’ll either have to plan to bring a mobile phone and download tickets in advance or choose the Will Call option. P.J.
Thanks for the very helpful info.
It’s my first visit and would like to know if the evening Ashe ticket of August 28th gives you access to the official opening ceremony? Also does the opening ceremony start at 7pm before the matches?
Hi Frances, sure thing. Yes it does – and usually starts at 7 before the matches. Double-check your ticket prior, but 99% sure it will start at 7pm again this year. P.J.
Hi PJ, thanks again for all the information. Quick question, have you bought tickets from ticket liquidator before? prices for men’s semis seem cheaper on that site but that’s before fees and one can’t see what their fees are. Also is it reliable and will I get the tickets on time being from South Africa?
Hi Tshepo, I have and always had a good experience – however I personally have only bought tickets on Ticketmaster or the official Ticket Exchange for the past couple years because (1) as I mention always worth checking Ticketmaster throughout the summer to see if new “blue dot” regular face-value tickets appear; (2) it’s very very hard to find resale tickets elsewhere that beat the price on the Exchange after you factor in other site’s fees; (3) the official sites are always totally reliable and it’s incredibly easy to transfer tickets to others by simply entering their email address in… Read more »
Got it. Thanks Bud.
Sure thing!
Hi P.J. Just an update that I managed to pick up men’s semis tickets. Section 105 row F for $691 each on ticketexchange. Thanks for all the help.
Awesome, and sure thing! P.J.
Hey PJ,
There’s currently single ticket in Grandstand on Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Sec 13, Row O, Seat 12 for $300. It’s pretty tough to find single tickets but this location looks pretty great. You think it’s a good one to jump on or be patient for a while?
Thanks for your help!
Dan
That’s a pretty sweet seat, 3d row behind the server – I have sat in that section before. It will be hard to beat that price. There will probably be others that pop up before the tournament that aren’t as good but cost a bit less (although probably not behind server seats). It just depends how much that particular seat appeals and if it’s within your budget. It is a good deal for that particular seat and a great day to be in Grandstand. P.J.
PJ, in your experience, do standard price tickets get released for Labor Day weekend to this late, or do you think that is pretty well done?
Hi Bill, not a ton, but I have seen them. Just looked at status now and saw a couple in Ashe on Saturday — 331D, 134L. If you’re willing to keep checking back, it’s worth being patient – there will always be resale ticket around the same prices as being offered now. PJ
Hey PJ,
I just found Ashe Loge tickets in section 105 row B for Monday, September 4th night session for 210 dollars each.
Is this a good deal?
Hey Leonardo, yes that is. There are also several upper loge blue-dot face-value tix available – but I’d personally go for Row B above them. P.J.
Great blog! I am ready to buy tickets for 2017 US Open and have read your blog in detail however I am still not sure what to buy. We are only able to attend one day and based on your comments I was thinking September 5th: 11 am at Armstrong Stadium and then 7 pm at Ash. So I am ready to buy two sets of reserved seat tickets. My husband is like you die hard tennis fan and wants to see as many matches and also experience an atmosphere at the stadiums. We arrive to NY on Sept 4… Read more »
Hi Lara, if you intentionally want to watch the DOUBLES QF in Armstrong (which would interest me a lot), then yes that’s a good strategy. Deals for Armstrong on Tues Sep 5 are great because there all singles matches after R16 are played on Ashe. Be sure to check my detailed schedule above and also the link to the 2016 schedule to have a clear sense of what you’ll see before you buy. P.J.
Great stuff here! Do you have any recommendations if I go myself? Looking for one ticket seems to be harder.
Hey Jason, it’s usually an advantage for the buyer – those trying to resell single tickets usually have to offer at a lower price because most people try for 2+. I have gone by myself to many sessions over the years. Only advice: wait until you see a good deal for one pop up. One will! P.J.
Hey Clelia, thanks! Which shady website did you use? Unless it was Craigslist, I wouldn’t worry too much – it’s probably legit. 1) For the day session on Wed Sep 6th, gates will open at 9:30am. If you get there at 9:30am the lines shouldn’t be bad at all – unlike prior, there won’t be people lining up to try to run to grab GA seats at Armstrong or Grandstand or Court 17… 2) I would just bring in a large plastic water bottle and plan to refill using fountains 3) Well “freezing” was a bit of hyperbole on my… Read more »
Hey PJ thanks a lot for all the info as usual. The “shady” website is mytickettracker.com (actually this website is not the one where I bought the tickets, which is toptickets.us, after the purchase I received an email redirecting me to the first website I have mentioned. They sent me 2 e-tickets for the quarter finals, apparently purchased on Ticketmaster but the layout is completely different from the one I have received directly when I bought the tickets myself, hence my perplexity. Also, there are terrible reviews for my ticket tracker online. Let’s see what happens when I’m at the… Read more »
Hey Clelia, well I’m hopeful that all will get sorted with your tickets and I suspect they will deliver – but yes, that site does have a truly insane 30% service fee on tickets. For access to the grounds during the day, you need a Day session ticket (for Ashe, Armstrong, Grandstand). If you have an Ashe evening session ticket, you can’t enter the grounds before 6pm. Let me know how it works out! P.J.
Hi Graham, while I can’t promise 100%, it’s generally easy to get Grounds Admission tickets for Mon-Thurs of the first week just before the tournament. But as I recommend in my post above, often times you can get an Ashe seat for the same price (or even sometimes less!) – which in addition to giving you full grounds access also gives you an opportunity to get into Ashe if you want to see a particular player or if it rains. Always check that first – you might never set foot in Ashe, but might as well if it costs the… Read more »
Hi
This will be my first trip to the US Open and I noticed that it says that it says no “Flags, banners or signs” is this actually enforced as there are always some present do people just sneak them in?
Hi Rose, I have definitely seen a flag or two over the years (always up in the Promenade section!)… so I think some people do sneak them in. Not that I’m encouraging it! 🙂 P.J.
I’ve never brought anything in myself, but I’ve seen some. I think they are mostly concerned with sticks/poles (that could cause injury) and blocking people’s views. I don’t think they would confiscate anything of a reasonable size, but… As the saying goes: hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Well put! 🙂
Hi
What an incredible blog of all things US Open. I am looking to purchase seats in Ashe in the 300 section. What section is the best in regards to sunlight? Better to sit behind the player, side view or diagonally? Thanks so much for your time. I live in Florida so I go to the Miami Open every year and have seen Federer close up as we have a small stadium, but I know the NY atmosphere can’t be beat. Just want to spend the day and see great on Sunday Labor day weekend.
Hi Evelyn, thank you! See my annotated Ashe map and avoid the areas in grey on the East side of the stadium – they are the last to get any shade. The shade starts in the South and wraps around west. When you’re watching from the 300 sections, I personally think the most important thing is to find the row that is closest… That high up, you don’t have to worry about turning your head side to side to track the ball. All things being equal, I’d choose a behind the server or diagonal seat view. P.J.
Hey PJ, Thanks for this awesome blog and your responses to my previous comments in helping make the most of our US open experience! I’ve been able to grab Loge seats for Arthur Ashe on Saturday, Sept. 2 and super excited about that 🙂 Hopefully we get to see Roger in 3rd round action. Fingers crossed!! Unfortunately, there has been a change of travel plans for me on Sunday, Sept. 3 and I have one reserved grandstand stadium seat for that day in Section 16-A that I no longer need. I’ve listed the ticket for sale on Ticketmaster at a… Read more »
Hey Shaurya, thanks so much for your very kind words – so glad it’s been helpful! For your GS ticket on Sunday, I really don’t think you’ll have a problem selling that – just be prepared to wait a bit. Let me know if you still need a buyer as we get closer. And yes I’ll be there on Sun/Mon Labor Day and will try to pick a meet up spot – would love to meet you and several others I’ve met through this blog in person! P.J.
Thanks for your reply, PJ!! Sure, I’ll keep you in the loop if my ticket remains unsold as we get closer. As I said in my original thread, I’d much rather prefer a tennis fan on this blog getting a chance to watch the action at a discounted price rather than the reserved seat going unsold. I’ll be at the USTA complex for a little bit on Sunday. Let me know if you decide a meet up spot and I’ll make a point to swing by before heading out. Quick question – Have you visited the Chase Lounge at the… Read more »
Hey Shaurya, sounds great. In all my years I’ve never once stopped in the Chase Lounge even though I’m a Chase customer – when I’m at the Open I’m pretty hard core about the tennis, and am usually glued to my seat or running to another stadium to catch another match. I’m also usually with a gaggle of friends… But it does look like a great setup. Also this year they’re offering what look to be very cool video+mobile chargers (see “Chase Charge and Watch here). If you go in this year let me know what you think! P.J.
Fantastic website. Thank you for all of the wonderful tips!
Thanks Luke, really appreciate you taking the time to say thanks! P.J.
coming from canada, and i just thought i want to see federer play at a slam before he retires, trying to do it cheap. so my question is, if i wait until the draw is out, i assume all tickets will be only resale and will be marked up from face value? if i bought extra tickets could i sell them outside the venue or something (cant be a reseller since im from canada)? all i know is i want to see fed play a match and thats pretty much it, for as cheap as possible. also, if im up… Read more »
what im getting at is could i buy a bunch of cheap tickets and then just “scalp” any tickets i dont want to use? id buy 2 tickets to 4 round of 16 sessions and 2 tickets to 4 quarterfinal sessions if i could resell them either online or on site easily once i find out when federer plays. this and visiting a shaman in the jungle are currently the only 2 items on my bucket list.
another note…i think they do top half i.e. 1 and 4 on the first day, and bottom half on the second days, if this is the case, federer will be ranked 2 or 3, almost guaranteed not 1 or 4 going into the us open, in which case i can avoid buying tickets for the sunday (R4) given he will be playing on the second set of days.
could i open a us bank account through rbc here in canada, they do some sort of cross border banking, this way i could resell easier and not have to scalp.
Shawn, a couple clarifications about how the draw works: (1) The men’s #1 seed and #2 seed always play on different days (and are played at opposite sides of the draw). Either the #1 or the #2 seed may end up playing on day 1 or 2. For the past three years, the men’s #1 (Nole all three years) has played on day 1, but in 2013 the #2 seed (Nadal) played on day 1. (2) Similarly, the #3 and #4 seeds always must play on different days and are played at opposite sides of the draw, in different quarters… Read more »
Hey Shawn, (1) Yes, probably all face-value seats will be gone by that point. But if you act immediately when the draw comes out that Friday for a 1st round session, you should be fine – and will probably end up paying less than if you buy tickets for 4 sessions then try to recoup your $ for sessions you don’t attend. It is really hard to resell Promenade seats for early-round sessions. (2) New York state law (not just US Open) prohibits selling of tickets at any price within 1,500 of an event. That basically means nowhere even close… Read more »
thanks for the replies! ive now got tickets for most R16 and quarterfinals matches on ashe, got most of em for face value (upper bowl, north and south ends, pretty much all in the very middle sections, so very good alignment for viewing). do you see me having any issue reselling them through ticketmaster? so what i ended up doing is opening an american savings account through RBC, so i can now resell them straight through ticketmaster.
Hey Shawn, hard to predict for sure but should be fine! P.J.
Hello PJ, thanks for the insightful article… I went to the US Open last year for Round 2 with Arthur Ashe Day tickets. It did rain for the first 90 minutes but the Ashe ticket came in as great insurance as you recommended. This year I want to shake things up a little and maybe go to watch the 3rd round or the 1st round, but I am still open to seeing another 2nd Round. I am looking to pull the trigger on tickets this weekend but am having trouble deciding when to go. The 3rd Round Ashe day ticket… Read more »
Hey Scott, sorry I’m a bit confused by your comment about the number of matches typically on Ashe during 3d round… There are usually only 2 women’s matches plus 1 men’s match scheduled each day session in Ashe during R1-3 (last year there was an exception on day 3 (R2) when they had 2 men’s plus 2 women’s – I wouldn’t count on that being repeated. There are many matches each day happening on all the courts (including Armstrong and Grandstand, but also #17, #7 etc) all throughout R1-R3. I always try to throw in a night session in Ashe… Read more »
Sorry if my comment was a bit confusing. I only buy the Ashe day ticket as insurance but do not frequent the stadium during the day because I love the outer courts and being close to the action. My budget is quite limited to one day session and MAYBE one cheap night session. Also, I poorly phrased my initial comment, but I meant to say more competitive matches with slightly higher quality players facing each other (as in low seeded players in high teens and mid twenties facing off). R2 last year was great, but I am unsure if I’d… Read more »
Hey Scott, got it! It’s really such a personal preference decision – and some luck. I personally always skip R1 when pressed for time. R2 and R3 can both have super competitive surprising awesome matches and duds… I’d check last year’s schedule and make a decision based on which match-ups would have appealed most to you. P.J.
Hi, just to alert people here who want to see the Men’s Singles Finals.
Standard tickets for Men’s Singles Finals are now available for 225 USD each (Lower Promenade).
@ PJ: any idea why so many Standard tickets became suddenly available? I wish I had waited for a while before purchasing Upper Promenade seats for almost 300$. I have now purchased the standard tickets (better view and lower price) and am hoping to find a seller for the earlier tickets that I bought.
Hi Sarat, just checked and unfortunately they are no longer there. Every year, we see the release from time to time (inexplicably, no rhyme or reason to timing) of face-value “blue dot” tickets on Ticketmaster (note: not all blue dots are face-value, some are “premium seating package” seats). Why? It may be they were being held by USTA (kind of like “house seats” at a Broadway show) and are no longer needed; or that they were once “Premium tickets” that didn’t sell at the exorbitant premium those tickets usually charge… no one really knows. In any case, this happens throughout… Read more »
Is $300 including fees a good price for Ashe 123 Row G on Labor Day Sunday? Or is it possible to do better (or at least not any worse) by waiting? I see other prices in loge not too much higher than these so maybe patience would pay off
Hey Bill, it’s pretty good but won’t hurt to wait and keep monitoring, as you may be able to get a few rows closer for the same price if you wait (probably not too much cheaper). As another reference point, I was able to score face-value tix yesterday that randomly popped up in 101 Row C for Sun EVENING for #265.50 including fees. P.J.
SUPER blog, really appreciate the great skinny on every aspect of the event for us first-timers! Huge help, great work!
Thanks Nancy! Much appreciated. I keep learning myself, thanks to so many people sharing their experiences! P.J.
Nancy, THANK YOU so much!! P.J.
Hi PJ, this is SO informative and useful – thank you so much for putting this together! I was wondering if it would be okay to book tickets as soon as the Order of Play is out? I just want to see Federer and I don’t want to book 4 sets of tickets (2 days * 2 sessions). Right now, with a month to go, I see that there are still a lot of tickets available. Do you think it’ll sell out before the tournament starts? Looking at R1/R2 matches, and I’ll be booking just the one ticket. In case… Read more »
Hi Alvina, thank you for your thanks! Yes, that’s actually what I suggest folks do who are interested in particular players like Fed (see Box 3 FAQ 2) – just be prepared to act very quickly once order of play is announced. There are ALWAYS tickets on the resale market for every session available until the last minute – the only variable is price. You can be sure that resale ticket prices for whichever session Federer plays in will go up significantly and quickly. I do not recommend buying all sessions in hopes of reselling, particularly for early rounds and/or… Read more »
Thanks a million! This gives me hope 🙂
Do you have any idea as to where Federer might be staying? Or how to find out?
Sure thing! No idea on where Fed is staying… I think in recent years he (and other Wilson-sponsored athletes) have been spotted at the W Hotel (Lexington Ave) – but I would put a lot of money on a bet that he will have a private residence somewhere away from media and crowds… P.J.
Think he has his own floor in the Carlyle near Central Park upper east side
Thank you Andy!
For fans that want to see Roger , best thing to do is go to the atp finals in London in November and book tickets for the round robin matches , an afternoon session and evening session for the 2 days before the Last Saturday and Sunday , Roger has already qualified and barring injury will definitely be there. You will be guaranteed to see him in all his glory
Great advice, Andy. I’m almost certainly going to go (finally!) to the ATP finals in London in 2018 myself- can’t wait.
Can u tell me a date for when the us open box office will open to sell tickets?
Hi Maria, usually one week before – date not yet announced. You can call the main box office at 718-760-6363 or check usopen.org closer to the tournament to get the exact date. Not sure why you’d want to buy tickets at the box office though, unless you’re trying to upgrade? P.J.
Avoid some/all of $27.50 fees for 2 Ticketmaster tickets?
(answer to “Not sure why you’d want to buy tickets at the box office….”)
Great point, thanks so much – I didn’t realize that they waive the service fees at the physical box office (presumably only on standard, non-resale tickets if they’re available..). If that’s the case, the fee that’s avoided will depend on the cost of the tickets: for example, right now Ticketmaster charges $8.50 in fees on a $75 ticket, and $15.50 on a $145 ticket.
Hi PJ! I don´t know if you remember me haha. I wrote here months ago asking for suggestions. In the end, after watching Federer good level my friend and I went all in and just bought airplane tickets (from Perú) for semis and final! I´m checking the exchange market in Ticketmaster and there are not very good deals IMO. I just want to know the following: 1. What range do you consider good prices for good loge seats (rows A-F)? So I know when would it be right to pull the trigger. I want to buy them at least 2… Read more »
Hello Sebastien,
I’m sure PJ will have some more insight here, but I thought I would reply as I have been doing the same research.
My family was able to buy row B seats for $1200 including fees in the loge. I have been monitoring regularly for a month now and have not seen any row A-C tickets this cheap. However, it looks like you can find deals on row E/F seats for around the same price.
I foresee ticket prices increasing as long as Federer is in the running.
Hey Andrew, thanks for sharing your experience! P.J.
Thank you Andrew! That gives me some reference. Yeah, I´m thinking of spending 700-800 for good Loge Seats. I think for rows A-C that will be impossible so I hope I can get something on rows D-F.
Hope you can Help me with some insight from your experience too P.J 🙂
Hey Sebastian, every year is different… but prices this year are quite high given excitement about so many great players playing this year – especially Federer. This year I would expect prices to stay quite high unless both Federer and Nadal get eliminated before semis. Given the conditions, the following are pretty good deals for lower Loge on Ticketmaster and provide a good reference point if you research other reseller sites: 132 Row G (7th row) at $834++ 104 Row F (6th row) at $880++ 124 D (7-8) $995++ As always, please take this as only a guess… but I… Read more »
Thanks!
Just one question:
Those prices that you are putting include fees?
Hey Sebastian, no sorry – by “++” I meant plus fees… P.J.
Ok, thanks P.J!
Just bought tickets on section 104 row E for $730 plus fees!
I hope it was a good decision haha
EXCELLENT choice – great deal!
Hi PJ, Thanks so much for your work and write-up. Just spent the afternoon reading this and went ahead and bought 4 granstand tickets for the family. However, I bought it for memorial day, where upon reading your comment section – I’ve learned that only doubles matches are played here on the memorial monday. I was quite upset as we want to see a mix of singles and doubles matches. Is this the case every year, that on the actual Memorial Day Monday, only doubles matches are played? I’ve went back to 2015 and 2016 and it does indeed seem… Read more »
Jason, I feel terribly that I didn’t emphasize that in my main post. I just adjusted the wording both in the body and on the schedule at a glance to make it more clear. Going to reach out to you by email too… P.J.
Hi,
This is a great post and you definitely helped me picking up tickets (I’m flying from London, UK). I’m going to both kids day and the first day (28th August). 🙂
Would you definitely recommend to go te day before for free access to practice? I have to say I’m so excited !!
All the best,
Julie
Hey Julie, great to hear it! I do think it’s worth spending some time out there on practice day. It’s free, and a good time to get familiar with the grounds and courts, shops, etc so you can focus exclusively on tennis on the 28th… And you may get to see some big names practicing up close, which is really cool! P.J.
Hi, P.J.
My wife and I have been attending US Open for the last two years following your tips, once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH! We will be going during the labor day weekend this year, I know it’s hard to predict the price trends but in your opinion, will the prices go up or down going forward? I am just wondering if now is a good time to pull the trigger or should I wait until it gets closer? THANK YOU once more!
Scott
Hi, P.J.,
By the way, we are looking for decent loge seats.
Scott
Hey Scott, you’re so welcome! Really really hard to say. Personally, I take my time every year until I see a good deal on something specific I want – there are always some desperate sellers closer to the event. This year, I pulled the trigger early (a couple weeks ago) on four second row courtside Ashe evening tickets for Labor Day (for me and three die-hard friends who are serious players/fans) for $570 each (including fees) because I know from experience getting second row for that price is not easy. Will something else cheaper but just as good pop up… Read more »
P.J.,
Thanks for your prompt reply and input, I see there are a few pairs of loge tickets for evening session on Exchange are around $400 (including fees), which is tempting but I will take your advise and keep looking for better deals.
Scott
Hey Scott, are you checking on main Ticketmaster site? Click the map to see seat-level view. Look for blue dot tickets (not Premium). Here are some great deals I just saw for Sat night Labor Day weekend:
Face-value: 131 M seats 22 and 23
Resale: 132 row C
P.J.
Hey, P.J.,
You really go above and beyond, even check ticket prices for your “followers”. That’s very kind of you, you really don’t have to do this. We are actually looking to catch some fourth round actions so that would be Sunday 09/03 & Monday 09/04, right? I will just keep monitoring the prices on both Exchange and main Ticketmaster site. Your help is much appreciated!
Scott
Hey Scott, thanks! I enjoy it and do what I can when work isn’t too crazy… 🙂 Yes, Sep 3-4 are fourth round (R of 16). Let me know how it works out. P.J.
P.J.,
I just saw some face value ticket for Arthur Ashe 09/03 evening session released on Ticket Master Main Site for Section 101 Row C @ $265.75 per ticket (fees included), should I go for them?
Scott
YES! Are you getting just 2? Let me know because I want to grab the other 2 you don’t get! P.J.
P.J.,
I got them! 4 left!!!
Scott
Sweet! Will grab 2 for myself now and look forward to meeting you that night! 🙂 P.J.
Looking forward to meeting you in person as well! Just realized I replied to the wrong thread yesterday:P, quick question here: For 09/03 Day session Arthur Ashe, which one would you recommend? Last row of Loge (face value $225 per ticket plus fees) or 2nd row of lower Promenade (face value $150 per ticket plus fees)? I am still monitoring if there’ any standard tickets pop up but just curious which one would you personally choose? Thank you!
Scott
Hi Scott, I’d definitely (myself) go for last row Loge over anything in Promenade. You will almost certainly have an opportunity (especially during a day session that Friday) to sneak up at least a few rows WITHIN YOUR SECTION to empty seats until any actual ticket holders show up (there are ALWAYS empty seats) – you’re not supposed to, but people routinely do and most fellow fans understand. Just be prepared to move FAST if people come as a courtesy to them and everyone around you. You will not have this opportunity with a Promenade seat because there are ushers… Read more »
I see…. I will focus on loge seats then.
Thank you!
Scott
P.J.,
I was just randomly checking and saw there were a pair of standard tickets popped up for 09/08 Men’s Semi-Finals Lower Promenade Section 302 Row F (face value $240 per ticket plus fees), I did not grab them right away and they were gone a few minutes later, do you think it’s worth to pick them up if this kind of tickets ever pop up again? I might just take a day off and go.
Scott
Absolutely. Any regular-priced ticket for men’s semis or finals in Lower Promenade is a sound investment. If you decide not to go, should be absolutely no problem reselling – possibly for significantly more (esp section 302 behind the server). P.J.
How about Lower Promenade Section 320 Row D (face value $260 per ticket plus fees), they just popped up! There’s no shade though, not sure if my wife would be okay with that…
Yup, that’s a good deal for semis. P.J.
PJ, do you know what the standard non resale prices were for promenade and loge?
Yes, for Men’s Semis this year, listed non resale (face-value) ticket price range is as follows (you can see the range for any particular session on Ticketmaster by clicking the session then looking for “Price Range” just under the date and time at the top of the listing):
Promenade: $160-300
Loge: $170-1000 (I’ve never ever seen face-value Loge tickets listed for Semis available anywhere near $170)
Courtside: $2,000-3,200
Do you think face value 326 G for Sunday Labor Day is good investment?
Only if you’re sure you want to go to that session and that’s hitting the upper end of your budget. If so, I’d probably do 323G for $15 more per ticket – 5th row in that section vs 7th row in 326, and behind the server. P.J.
P.J., You are still going to the 09/03 Sunday night session in Ashe, right? Unfortunately my wife and I will not be going since Federer & Nadal will be scheduled for the day after so I am going to list the ticket for resale and get the tix for 09/04 Saturday day & night session as my wife’s main goal is to see Roger & Rafa. I guess we will meet up next time then. There could still be interesting matches on Ashe though, I see on the Men’s side there could be an all American match between big John… Read more »
Hey Scott, yeah going tonight then all day/night Sun and Mon. Super excited. Have a great time tomorrow!! PJ
P.J.,
A few Standard Loge (Section 101, 113 & 118 Row L & M) tickets just popped up for Men’s Semi-Finals ($600 plus fee each),would you grab those tickets? I got the Lower Promenade for that day but is thinking maybe I should upgrade? What would you do if it were you?
Scott
Where are you sitting tonight P.J.?
Hey Lor, well it’s a little embarrassing… I was invited by a USTA official who I know through Tennis Congress to join her in the President’s Box. My first time and needless to say I’m over the moon excited about it! How about you? PJ
That’s very nice. They should hire you as an ambassador for the sport!
Thanks David!
Hi Sarat, (1) no obstruction in any promenade seat; (2) about the same. PJ
so now it will be interesting to see what happens to prices for the US open – surely demand will be high with expectation that Federer and Nadal will do well. I am studiously checking the rankings and points on offer before the US open as I would love for Federer and Nadal to stay as 2nd and 3rd, as I have semi final tickets and that means they would meet at that stage and that would be a dream come true! But I think it’s more likely that Nadal will be 1st by the time it comes around –… Read more »
Very cool, Lee – I share in your excitement!! 🙂 P.J.
Looking forward to meet you as well!:)
Scott
Oh my gosh, that’s awesome!!! Congrats!!! I am in Section 56, Row H. I was going to go alone tonight but I convinced my sister to come with me. I got her a ticket in Section 43, Row J. So we’ll be alternating between those two sections, haha.
That’s very cool she’s coming too! I’ll be wearing a blue suit and tie (it’s section 2 on the map) so maybe we can at least wave to each other! I’m so psyched… PJ
Hi PJ, I found your website very helpful!! I’m traveling from Medellín, Colombia with my wife fot the second week of the tournament. We’ll be arriving the 2nd of September to NY. I have to be on a Federer match 😀 :D, would you please suggest us what is the best choice? We were thinking on going that saturday to the cheapest ticket, which one will it be? Then try to watch the quarterfinals with Federer. For what I read here, we’ll have to wait until the day before the match to buy the tickets. How much would be the… Read more »
Hola Alejandro, me da mucho placer que sea util! For Saturday, I’d recommend getting an Ashe Promenade section ticket (both as rain insurance and in case someone amazing like Federer is playing): Just looked quickly – best deal I could find on Ticketmaster is Sec 326, Row B, Seats 13-14 $189.00 ea + fees. With fees that’s only slightly more than a Grounds Admission pass, but well worth it for the peace of mind in case it rains and opportunity to see at least one big name that day. For Federer strategy, yes, I stick to my recommendations in Box… Read more »
Hi PJ, when you said this: <> Did you mean Sep 5 and Sep 6 instead? Also, another curious question? Why are the prices higher for the second day? I thought it is equally likely that the good players would be there on one of the two days. FYI (since many people seem to be asking about QF), these are the seeds of the players who had their QF matches (last three years): 2016: seeds 10 vs 24, seeds 6 vs 2 happened in the morning seeds 1 vs 9, seed 3 vs (unseeded) happened in the evening 2015: seeds… Read more »
Yes, great catch, thank you! Just edited the comment with corrected dates. Love your analysis of past few years day v eve sessions, thanks so much. As for your question about prices on day 2 of quarters, no idea! It may be purely psychological – purchasers may not be following schedule carefully and think buying another day later will get them a better match. I can guarantee if Federer ends up playing on the first QF night the situation will be reversed 🙂
Hi PJ, there is another surprising trend I noticed (with Arthur Ashe). Among the four corners of the stadium, one of them seems to be in more demand than the others. It is the one with sections 101-108 and 301-308. Any particular reason (such as shade or autographs or view)? I thought the left and right halves of the stadium are symmetric.
Also, may I know why one end of the stadium doesn’t have the Upper Promenade?
Hey Sarat, not sure – 104-108 and 304-308 actually get less shade so generally less desirable. The South side of the stadium has no upper promenade because there’s a viewing deck for press at the very top instead. P.J.
Hi PJ. What if I bought both evening session tickets for the QF, and after figuring out which day does RF play, put on the resale market the other ones? Is that a feasible strategy?
Thank you 😀
Hey Alejandro, I just learned a couple days ago that Ticketmaster requires you to have a U.S. bank account to put up tickets for resale on Ticketmaster Exchange. I’m not sure about other reseller sites – you may want to research carefully before pressing “buy.” P.J.
You are awesome!! Such fast replies!! Thank you very much!!!
Con mucho placer!
In 2015 I bought 2 tickets from stubhub and sold one of them through Ticketmaster. Some weeks later I received by post a check that I could cash in in my bank in Switzerland, for a $15 fee. It seems this is the way it’s handled if you don’t have a US bank account.
I’d love to go this year but it’s hard to justify flying over the Atlantic when you have a newborn at home!!…I just hope Federer will go again next year!
(By the way thanks PJ for the page, it’s awesome).
Ismail
Hey Ismail, thanks for your thanks – and congratulations on your newborn! That’s great to know about your 2015 experience – my only caution to others is that the Ticketmaster site now explicitly says “You must have a US bank account to sell tickets for an event in the US.” So if anyone has questions regarding their particular situation, I’d recommend they submit a question on the Ticketmaster Contact Us page and get an answer in writing before making any assumptions. P.J.
Hi PJ, first of THANK YOU so much for thispost, I am trying to plan a quick trip to the Open for my mothers birthday surprise – she is a life-long tennis fan and will be so excited! Question for you, we are going to do the least expensive Ash tickets during the day on 8/30 as I know she will want to see the doubles on the back courts for most of the day and these are the same price as the grounds tickets. For the night session, do you think there is a big difference ($200 total) between… Read more »
Hey Katie, my pleasure! Great strategy for the day. For night session, yes there’s a very big qualitative difference between any section in the Loge (100s) and Promenade seats (300s). What most people don’t realize is Loge is already higher up than they might appear on a seating chart because between them and the Courtside seats are two decks of suites. So Promenade seats feel pretty remote. Not a huge difference between first row Promenade and last row Loge, but substantial difference between anything mid-Promenade and Loge. Also, if you’re in an upper Loge seat you can easily sneak up… Read more »
ABSOLUTELY!!!
For a one time event at a night session in Ashe, pay for the BEST ticket you can afford. The charm of the night session used to be the open air stadium, on a cool night with the stars above, and the crowds roaring at times. Now with the roof installed, the seats up high are shielded from the sky, the sounds are muffled and delayed, and there’s no wind so it gets very stuffy. Pay up for the 100’s or courtside if you can afford it for a one time event. Your mom will drool over it.
Nicely put, Jeff!
Hi PJ,
Thanks for the advice, I upgrade and got the good night seats. One more question: I see from your below posts that there are lockers, but they are outside the grounds. Is there rentry to the grounds throughout the day? The lockers may be a great solution to leaving bags outside, but I want to make sure we have access to this throughout the day as needed.
Thanks!!!
Hi Katie, yes absolutely – they will give you something or a stamp to permit re-entry. It’s a bit of a shlep to the lockers, so I’d just urge you to try to plan such that you don’t need to go back more than once. P.J.
There is a luggage drop outside the gates on the bridge from the subway to the venue. You have to check it there. And that is available for pick till the end of the matches at night. Not sure if there is a charge now or not. But even if there is, it’s worth it.