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.












PJ,
Would you say that Monfils vs Goffin on Saturday would be on Louis Armstrong or Grandstand? The two seeds makes it seem like the type of match they’d put on Armstrong, as well as the lack of other seeded players… but Goffin’s been relegated to the lower courts so far, and Monfils just played his first match on Grandstand yesterday. What do you think?
Hey Paul, I always get nervous about making predictions that may influence what people purchase… With the caveat that I’m guessing, my strong bet would be they are on Armstrong given the other match-ups for that day. P.J.
Many thanks for all of your helpful tips, PJ! My brother and I went for the first time today and had a remarkable time, and I just wanted to thank you for providing a thorough guide that helped us confidently navigate a busy day at the Open. My goal for next time: to watch more doubles! Loved the experience of seeing fast reflexes up close. Thanks again, and enjoy your time at the Open this year!
Hey Kent, thank you so much for taking the time to write! I’m so stoked to hear that you watched some doubles and saw how awesome world-class doubles play is up close. It’s one of the most underappreciated aspects of the Open and I really appreciate you sharing that perspective. Thank you again, and safe travels home! P.J.
I bought some Saturday day Ashe sears and can no longer attend. I’d love to save someone some fees . Feel free to contact me imda1best @ gmail
Hello! I just emailed you about these tickets. Hopefully you receive it!
I am attending the US Open for the first time this Saturday and I may have waited to long to buy my tickets!
The cheapest Saturday day session and grounds pass tickets are going for about $200. How likely is it that I can pick up cheaper tickets at the ticket office on Saturday morning, or from nearby scalpers? Do I have to arrive extremely early? How much would they be?
Hey there, yeah Labor Day weekend is really tough – huge amount of demand. And with so many incredible players in the top half of the draw playing Saturday, demand is even higher. Sorry to say it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to find cheaper tix at the ticket office – they will basically only be selling what you see online on Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner of the tournament. If you are sure you want to attend no matter what, you might want to head over there and keep checking on your phone on the way Saturday morning: prices… Read more »
Hi PJ, This guide is amazing! Thank you for taking the time to better the US Open experiences of many. I periodically check this discussion board for updates, but I’m still a bit confused on the ticket policies: (1) I am attending on Tuesday day session (9/5), but was considering staying for the Ashe night session if the prices dropped or new tickets became available shortly before 7pm. Would I be allowed to buy a mobile ticket online from ticketmaster at 5 or 6pm from within the grounds of the tennis center? (2) I have close friends who have 2nd… Read more »
Hey Andrew, thanks and great questions! 1. Yes you can buy from your phone anywhere until 6:59pm for any 7pm evening session– at 7 they close online sales. 2. Yes absolutely! Anyone can transfer a ticket after a session begins, they just cannot resell a ticket after a session begins. PJ
In a case like that, would it be sufficient (or maybe even better) to just hand off the little paper print out? With a transfer, would you then need to go to a gate person and have them print it out for you?
Hoping to luck into some tickets like this for Monday…
Thanks very much P.J! Awesome blog.
PJ – Looking to get to the open for the first time on Saturday – I’ve been reading this daily over the last week for info – seriously indispensable information you’re providing here!! Can’t express how much more comfortable I am going because of this – thank you so much. Okay – so from your suggestions, pretty sure I’m looking to get some reserved seats at either grandstand or temp louis armstrong for Saturday 9/2. Leaning toward grandstand mainly because the stadium looks to be a nicer experience for a first timer (and unrelated, but I’ll be standing the entire… Read more »
Hey Anthony, thanks so much – so appreciate hearing that! With the caveat I haven’t been in person yet to see the Temp Armstrong (I have tix Monday)… I have been looking closely at the layout on video, and the temp Armstrong does not look at all like it has the feel of the old Armstrong. I’m sure the new Armstrong will be amazing, but not sure about the temp one. That said, I did go to the New Grandstand on multiple occasions last year and love it. And Saturday will be a great schedule, 3d round for the top… Read more »
Be sure to get your seat cushions for Armstrong hard aluminium benches all seating same all way round very small and intimate court though.
If anyone has a (cheap) spare ticket for tomorrow (1st sep) daytime on Ashe please let me know! Have flown all the way from London, was so excited to see Murray play, absolutely gutted when he pulled out, but Edmund is on Ashe so would be good to cheer him on!
Thanks for your blog, v useful info!
PJ I arrive tomorrow at NY and i go straight to the US open from the airport, thanks to your tips I got tickets for Ashe at night… Also we are hoping to see Federer on Sat, but I have to wait until they tell us he plays in the day or night… Thank you again!!!
Hey Fernando, awesome – welcome to NY!! As I’ve mentioned to others, my hunch is that Federer will be scheduled for Saturday night IF Nadal wins his match tonight (although no way to know for certain). P.J.
They usually try to alternate the center court match times for the best players. Federer played the day session today. He will play Feliciano Lopez on Saturday, probably night session. Nadal is playing tonight, so if he wins, he will probably play the day session.
You’re website is great!! I keep coming back.
I know the official schedule for Saturday won’t be released until tomorrow (Friday) between 4-6pm, but if you Google Federer it says he will be playing Lopez Saturday 9/2 at 11am. Does that mean he will be playing the day session on Saturday? Can I trust Google? I’m wondering if I should get the tickets now before they go up any higher. Thanks!
Hi Sheng, thank you! Unfortunately the Google algorithm that is generating that schedule has caused a massive amount of confusion. No, do not trust those times; trust only the schedule when it is released here or on the App by the US Open. (FYI – before the Day 1 schedule was released, Google listed all 128 players playing 11am matches on Monday, which obviously was wrong – but it stayed wrong for 2 days until they finally released the schedule). My personal bet (but again, no way to know for sure!) would be Fed plays Saturday night IF Nadal wins… Read more »
Hi PJ,
Thanks for all of your guidance on this website.
I know you can’t know for sure but if you had to guess, is Federer going to play the night or day session on Saturday?
Hoping to score some tickets soon.
-Charles
Hey Charles, my pleasure. My guess (again, no way to know for sure!) is Fed will be scheduled for Saturday night. P.J.
PJ,
I’ll continue the sentiment– U Rock.
?: Will there be scalpers on/around the facility?
Hey Gabriel, THANKS!! There probably will be – beware. 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 to the grounds. They have undercover police that are strict about enforcing this. P.J.
Just left. Scalpers everywhere!
Hi there. Thanks for the great info.
Wondering if you have any updated insight on whether Federer would play during the day or during the night session if he reached the quarterfinals? Also which day would it be? Would appreciate any input you may have!
David
Hey David, pretty much all my intel on this is under Box 3 FAQ #1. It’s dangerous to predict as there are surprises every year… If both Nadal and Federer make it to Quarters, I’d say there’s a strong chance they will continue to alternate day and night sessions between them – which would mean Federer would play evening. Even if Nadal doesn’t make it through, I still think that given it’s primetime TV time, the tournament director would be more prone to scheduling him during the evening because he is without question the biggest star. P.J.
Hi PJ, amazing job, thanks so much for the info!
This will be my first time at the US Open and Im looking at tickets for Quarter Finals on either Tues 5th or Wednesday 6th. Is there any way to know who is gonna be playing that day? Also if we have 11am tickets what time should we arrive you think?
Thanks, dom
Hey Dom, thank you so much! I outline some ideas on how to think about this under Box 3 FAQ #1 above. Barring any crazy rain issues, Tuesday will feature those in bottom half of the draw, Wed those in the top half (including Federer). Quarterfinal matches begin at 12pm instead of 11am, and they usually open gates an hour prior at 11. So I’d recommend getting there around 10:30am if you want to get in right at 11 to walk around, etc., or a bit later if you don’t mind getting in after 11. P.J.
Awesome thanks PJ. So no having to get there at 8:30am then?
Hey Dom, I wouldn’t personally (but then again, I’m one of those guys that always cuts it too close when I have flights)! P.J.
Hi PJ,
Just a quick question. I ended up getting a Ashe ticket for Sunday but through Tickpick and yesterday I finally got the email to receive the transfer through the US open ticket office via ticketmaster and followed the instructions. Now I can see the ticket on the US Open AccountManager webpage but not on my actual ticketmaster account or the app. Do you have any experience with this, because while I see that the ticket is under my account on that US Open AccountManger page, I can’t actually access the ticket in any way?
Hi Lucy, hmm, not sure… The good news is that it’s showing up on your US Open Account Manager page. Do you see a barcode # anywhere? (On the app I click the “I” information symbol and it pulls up details with a barcode#). If so, contact Ticketmaster support and ask for help… If that doesn’t work, try Tickpick support. Let me know if you can’t resolve it and need more help troubleshooting… P.J.
Hi P.J
How early can we get into the open tomorrow morning?
THanks.
Taryn.
Hey Taryn, gates open at 930am. PJ
Tickets in a US Open account can be accessed through the US Open app, and it works very well. You press “more” at the bottom of the app, then the circle for “tickets”, then look at the bottom for “manage”. One you have logged in to your account, click the ticket and it will come up and can be transferred to Apple Wallet on an iPhone. Without the app, the tickets can also be accessed via the account webpage on a mobile browser. Subscription tickets will not be in a Ticketmaster account, but the US Open app could access all… Read more »
Thanks PJ!
So I found the ticket with the QR code on the US Open App, but it seems really glitchy and keeps logging me out every couple minutes. I know one of the tips mentions downloading to a mobile wallet and I have android so I downloaded MobilePasses, but how to I now get the tickets onto that app?
Thank you so much again!
Hey Lucy, sure thing! I unfortunately have an iPhone and don’t know myself. Maybe someone else has insight? P.J.
I was told by gate staff that they will accept a screen shot it’s a lot easier to bring this up while stood at the gate we got through yesterday using screen shots of Q codes
Excellent, thanks!
Thought I would report on my Armstrong experience for today, Friday. Word of warning for Labor Day weekend people hoping to attend Armstrong. You better have a reserve seat. Not the best set up for temporary stadium but maybe as good as could be expected. There is no delineation between reserve and non reserve sections. If you have reserved seats expect to be booting people out out of your seats. If you don’t have reserved, expect very long lines to get in. Disadvantage: No concessions inside stadium. Advantage: bathrooms inside the entrance to courts area thus you will not lose… Read more »
Bill, thanks so much for this great report from the trenches!! P.J.
Hi PJ,
I plan on driving to the US Open, but I can’t find the address for my gps. Do you know it?
Thanks,
Leanne
Hi Leanne, GPS address to the general area is “122-02 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368.” GPS to Citi Field is 123-01 Roosevelt Ave, Queens, NY 11368. Here’s a detailed map: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/1/15/2017_uso_transportation_map-1.pdf Cheers, PJ
Thank you
Hey PJ, I´ve seen recently that you are not supposed to bring backpacks to the us open premises… But I have a DSLR that I usually carry in this small backpack (https://www.amazon.com/Altura-Photo-Backpack-Mirrorless-Cameras/dp/B00PV0IEDY), do you think that is allowed? Or normally how do they bring the DSLR cameras, just an open bag?? :O I hope Roger improves his game because I bought tickets for quarter finals on wednesday (day and night) to watch him!!!! Never been to the US Open 😀 Great work with the blog, and impressive response time for all of our questions!! PS: I am reselling tickets for… Read more »
Hey Alejandro, thanks! Unfortunately can’t say for sure – it does meet the size requirements and doesn’t have a double strap, which means it could be fine – but it does look like a backpack. Anything with a double strap is easily rejected, anything else is up to discretion of security (they are not clear on this on their list of prohibited items). You can chance it and always store the bag if necessary. Wish I could be more help! Please let me know how it goes so I can better answer others if they have a similar question (I’ve… Read more »
Will do PJ, I’ll try to tell you guys how it goes for me and my small DSLR hands free backpack 😀
HI PJ,
I have bought 09/05 Day and 09/06 Night tickets to watch Federer and Nadal. Could you advise whether they will play on which day for QF? Appreciate your help.
Hi Jenn, if they make it through they will be scheduled for Wed 9/6. P.J.
Hi PJ,
Thanks for sharing this wonderful information. I have evening session tickets for Ashe today. As I am a big fan of Rafa, I am glad would get to see him play live. However, when booking my tickets I didn’t realize that with evening session ticket I can’t enter before 6 pm.
Is it possible to enter ground before 6pm and can I have access to other stadiums before Rafa’s game start after 6pm before Rafa takes court?
Thanks again for all your tips and help.
Hey Rajeev, you’re most welcome. Unfortunately not unless you purchase a Grounds pass or reserved seat in Ashe, Grandstand or Armstrong. Ashe day session prices are stratospheric today because of Fed, as as Armstrong and Grandstand because there are exciting matches. PJ
Thanks PJ. Would I be able to go to other courts if there are any games still going on? Or am I just restricted to Ashe stadium for evening.
Hi Rajeev, your Ashe ticket is essentially the same as a Grounds Pass: it entitles you to access every court (general seating on first-come basis). PJ
Good to see you getting lots of recognition on here PJ because this site has undoubtedly saved me tim and money in my quest to get tickets too. Couple of questions on semi final if you will: – are the queues a bit lighter on that day given fewer matches? I ideally want to take a bag in as will be there the whole day but not if security queues will be huge.. at Wimbledon just as many people turn up it seems on that day because of matches on other courts and people coming to watch the match on… Read more »
He Lee, thanks man :). (1) Yes, they are shorter because fewer people overall. It’s not an option for people to go in free for Semis day to watch on screen (there MAY be an opportunity for reduced fee GA tickets, but they haven’t announced anythnig along those lines yet, but even if they do it won’t be anywhere near like crowds from week 1 through Labor Day). (2) I’ve never felt a need for a cushion for Ashe – seats are not cushy but they’re perfectly fine even for long hours because they are individual molded plastic seats with… Read more »
Funny how the 2 halves of the draw have worked out- one of these 8 will be in the semi final: isner, Anderson, coric, Fabiano, albot, querry, m. Zverev…
Let’s hope el shapo gets there from the other qtr in that half..
In the top half, aside from the obvious big 2 we have delpo, them, dimitrov, monfils, berdych.. even Bautista agut is a top class and very tricky opponent.
Looking forward to my semi final tickets either way but reckon we will have 2 very different looking matches!
Agreed – it is completely nuts. Did you see Coric play last night? Wow. And El Shapo is looking fantastic… P.J.
Sadly not – coric and el shapo both on too late uk time! Some really exciting players coming thru tho. Thanks for the info above too
Ah! Well Coric looked fierce and El Shapo looked like a fearless Boris Becker who had played many times on Ashe at night. Amazing. PJ
Hi PJ,
First of all thanx very much for providing all this valuable info. I had a question, I am going tomorrow for the morning and day session. I had question, about what stuff can I bring in?? Can i bring in a backpack?? Can i bring in a laptop?? If in case I can’t bring in my backpack, is there any place like a storage, where I can store my bag over there?? If yes how much is the charge
Hey AJ, my pleasure. No on backpacks and laptops (see red box under Tip #9 above with link to full list of prohibited items). There is storage both by the East and South gates, lockers for small items and bag check for larger ones. They haven’t posted the charge anywhere for this year so not sure, but not very expensive. (Please let me know if you do check today how it goes and how much it costs!) P.J.
You are simply amazing. No words could describe how much you are helping people like us to make it so easy and comfortable. Thank you so much for your wonderful efforts
For the baggage, they charge $10 for bigger bags and $5 for smaller ones
Partha, THANK YOU! This is truly becoming a collective effort – I’m learning a ton from fellow fans like you who take the time to post and share valuable info and recommendations. Thanks a million, Pj
Man , you’re incredible!! Thanks for all these informations!!!
Hey Marcelo, THANKS!! P.J.
Thanks again, P.J., for making the nerve wracking experience of getting tickets a whole lot easier. After the Monday draw was announced, I got two tickets in Section 26–I wanted to splurge and did–for Tuesday night time with a 50% chance of seeing Fed. I got lucky and experienced the thrilling match on Tuesday night between the awesome nextgen player Tiafoe–he’s formidable and is going to be a great player–and Federer. I had never seen Federer live before, ever. You can’t even imagine how excited I was to be there. And then…it got better. Section 26 is right next to… Read more »
Hey Ani, thank you thank you thank you for your kind words and for sharing this great story!! It makes me incredibly happy when I hear about these kinds of experiences! Thanks again, P.J.
If anyone knows of a solo Ashe 11 am ticket for tomorrow 8/31, please let me know! The reselling sites seem to show them only in pairs. I traveled in for a couple of days, would love to catch Federer if possible! Thanks!
Hi P.J.! I’m getting Courtside tickets (Row F) for $575 for Saturday Night session on Ashe.
Do you think this is a good enough deal to buy? Or should I wait for a better deal?
Hey Santosh, yes excellent. If they are in sections 50-54, just be attentive to position of umpire chair. Not a big deal because F is fairly high up (each letter on that side has 2 rows, starting with AA). Check on Ticketmaster map view (so you can see individual seats as dots) to double check before your purchase, but I just checked and bottom line yes very good deal for Sat night of Labor Day weekend. P.J.
That’s great to hear! Thanks a ton P.J.! They’re in section 22, so I think I should be good!
Now its up to Roger to win tomorrow and get scheduled Sat night! 🙂 Thanks again for this amazing blog and your advice! You really make this complicated process so much easier! 😀
Santosh, that makes it an exceptional deal. ENJOY! And you’re most welcome, thanks for your kind appreciation! P.J.
P.J. – thanks again for all your help and taking the time to answer everyone’s questions. You are really helping so many people have a great Open experience! Now that Zverev is out, that side of the draw is wide open. It again begs the question of why they didn’t put Rafa and Fed on opposites sides. No one can predict someone losing early, but there were indications that Murray may not play, and they certainly had to consider that possibility. Rafa and Fed have clearly been the best two players this year . . . it just doesn’t make… Read more »
Hey Beau, my pleasure – thank you for your thanks 🙂 So it all comes down to USTA following Grand Slam rules. There is a debate raging about (1) whether they should have bucked the rules or (2) whether the rules should change. I’m more sympathetic personally to the latter argument. When Murray pulled out, the Grand Slam rules called for the #5 seed (Cilic) to shift to Murray’s slot in the bracket, then for the man seeded 17th (Querrey) to fill Cilic’s spot. Querrey’s spot then needed to be filled, according to the rules, by the by the highest-ranked… Read more »
If I’ve got an evening session ticket that starts at 7PM, how early can I enter?
Hi Vincent, evening session ticketholders can enter grounds at 6pm. Arrive earlier to get in line, pass security, etc… P.J.
Hi PJ,
Appreciate your enthusiasm with the game of tennis and helping out people.
I got tickets for the evening Ashe stadium on 31st. Wanted to watch Federer playing. What is the next possible session he could play? It would be difficult to guess…but your experience and knowledge would help. Also is it possible to sell my 31st evening tickets now?
Thanks,
PJ
Hey PJ 🙂 (1) If Fed wins tomorrow, he will definitely play Sat — and very strong chance (but not certainly) will be put on evening Ashe session. (2) Yes you can post your tix for resale now. PJ
PJ
I have my tix for sat nite and I do hope you’re right.
Roger is on my bucket list but I guess it really depends on him.
Either way I look forward to it!!
And a great website by the way.
Thanks
Hey Kurt, fingers crossed – both for Federer tomorrow and for him being scheduled at night! P.J.
Hi P.J.! I purchased Sat night Ashe Courtside tickets for $575. Do you think this is a good deal?
Or should I keep looking in case a better one opens up by Friday?
Hoping to be 2nd time lucky to watch Roger play live! 🙂
Thanks again!
Hi P.J.
Can I bring a plastic small water bottle to the open and hold it in my hand and go through the express gate?
Thanks for everything. I hope you have an amazing time at the open.
Take care,
Taryn
Hey Taryn, yes no problem. Enjoy and thank you! P.J.
US Open website just updated. Federer playing at the Day Session, Nadal at night. Hope this seals the deal for Fed playing Sat. night!
PJ – you’re an angel!! This site is a lifesaver for me, as it is my first time attempting a trip to the Open. I’m much less clueless now, but i do have a question that may seem silly…Would Rafa and Roger ever play the same session? I want to go to tomorrow and since the schedule of play isnt out yet, it only shows the matches at 11, with both Federer and Nadal listed. (And of course now tickets have gone up considerably. Why oh why didn’t I take the knowledge I learned from you and buy yesterday knowing… Read more »
Hey Bobbie, my pleasure and thank you! Not a silly question at all. The answer is almost certainly not, barring extraordinary circumstances. Usually they only put one men’s match on Ashe per session because the men’s matches can go 5 sets. The first and only time they could conceivably play each other would be semifinals (Friday Sep 8). My bet would be Fed scheduled for Day tomorrow and Nadal scheduled for evening session, but it is only based on past patterns and a good hunch – never any certainty. Tomorrow’s schedule will be posted here as soon as it’s ready.… Read more »
What are the Chances of Federer Playing on Ashe tomorrow at 11:00 am
Hi Rajesh, I’d say quite high. With the caveat that I have been wrong on multiple occasions, I would personally bet on Fed being scheduled Day tomorrow and Nadal night. P.J.
PJ,
Based on your experience, if both Roger and Rafa make it to Round 4, who do you think will play in the evening session?
Hey Leonardo, my best guess (just a guess!) would be Federer on Day session and Nadal evening session Labor Day. There are always surprises but that would be the most likely scenario. PJ
** UPDATE WED AUG 30 RE MOBILE TICKETING ** A few tips based on what Gwen, Andy and others have shared: 1. Download your mobile tickets to your mobile “wallet” before arriving 2. If you’re in a group, transfer one ticket to everyone in the group in advance so everyone has a ticket on their phone 3. Get and keep the paper printout after they scan your mobile ticket – make sure everyone in your group has one 4. Just in case, make a screenshot of your mobile tickets on your phone from the Ticketmaster app or your mobile wallet.… Read more »
Hi PJ,
We are going to the Open tomorrow and my kids have those drawstring bags that can be worn over the shoulder or as backpacks. Empty and layed out, they are slightly bigger than the bag requirements however on Live shots I see many bags larger than that. Would you know, or anyone that has been so far this year if those bags are okay?? Thanks so much for all your hard work!
Hey Wendy, you’re welcome! Drawstring bags are acceptable – and if the size is only slightly larger than the actual measurement restrictions I’m pretty sure you should be ok! PJ
We went yesterday tues if you get there early 8:30 you’ll be one of the fist in at the east gate head straight to the emirates booth and the first 100 people in the line will get seat cushions, well worth it if you are there all day.. we also heard that they give them out at 6pm as well for the evening sessions but still only first 100 fans,,also gate staff said they were accepting screenshots for mobile entry, and also if you have day and evening tix don’t go out and in again just head up to the… Read more »
Fantastic, Andy, thank you! P.J.
Only too glad to help P.J ps the virtual seating plans make it look like Ashe is really big we had promenade row e for the goat last night and seats were great I would recommend any one don’t overlook promenade seats mid way up they are super.
Hey Andy, great to get that perspective. I do think the roof addition makes those seats feel a lot closer than they used to feel and more connected to everyone else! P.J.
Another tip for fans the air on in Ashe is quite fierce for us from the uk so make sure to take a hoody if you’re fragile as per the missus.
Thank you so much for the wealth of information! This is my 3rd year attending, but I’ve learned something new reading your guide! I’m looking to purchase a single ticket for the day session on Monday. Any tips on finding the best ticket for price? Should I wait till Sunday to purchase? I’m looking in the lodge areas but no luck yet. Hoping to catch Rafa or Nadal Sat. night!
Hey Keeya, great to hear it, thanks!! I would check Ticketmaster, click that session then click on row 114, then click quantity 1… Look for single blue dot in Row N. then look around and see others like that (usually wheelchair row but looks like they have released as standard seats). Also see several other individual red dot seats that are resale – many good ones much closer not too much more. Hard to say on whether to wait… A bit of a guessing game. There are often good deals very close to match, but prices also could go up… Read more »
Hi PJ,
The time you spend on this site is absolutely outrageous, I can’t even fathom how many people are better off because of your blog and responses. Very big thank you! I’ve got tickets on Monday 9/4 Day-Armstrong, and Night-Ashe (you too, right? will buy you a beer if I see you). Do you think there’s a chance that rain will delay the schedule so we might not be seeing either Fed or Rafa on Ashe night session on 9/4?
Many thanks again for any response!
Hey Vivik, thanks so much!! It really is an enormous pleasure being in touch with so many other tennis addicts and knowing it’s helpful to some. Yes, that’s exactly my pattern on Monday and would love to say hi! I’ll be in section 2 with a few friends, front row corner (row E). On rain, yeah there’s a chance things will get messed up if it rains terribly all day on Sat and Sunday. However looks like (fingers crossed) it will be intermittent rain over the weekend, and the organizers are tenacious about trying to get as many matches completed… Read more »
Hi P.J.
On Friday night (Sept1) will there be any matches around the open that I can see with my grounds pass. I have Ashe tickets for the day only.
Thanks.
Taryn
Hey Taryn, absolutely – certainly into early evening at least. PJ
PJ, Have you been in Armstrong? I was wondering how those reserved 107, 108, 109 and 110 sections are? I got those tickets early on, standard price for Friday. There were no standard price closer to court side at the time or since. I’m wondering if I’ll be better off just going to GA unless or until it gets crowded.
Hi Bill, haven’t been in the Temp Armstrong yet this week – won’t see it until this weekend, have only seen on video this week. It looks even more intimate than the old Armstrong. However the GA seating bleacher on the West side looks really high. P.J.
Hi PJ, This weekend will be my first time ever to NYC, and going to the U.S. Open (and Wimbledon) has always been on my bucket list. I’m knocking out as many touristy things as I can on Friday/Saturday, and am possibly looking into attending the open on Sunday. I really would love to see some of the top 10 players and was looking at the Sunday 7PM round of 16 evening session ticket on Ticketmaster – but I’m stuck! Since I may not be looking to spend my whole day there, what would be the best bang for my… Read more »
Hey Allie, Based on fact you don’t necessarily want to spend entire day — and also questionable weather forecast this weekend– I’d say apply maximum budget for evening Ashe session (with roof), as average evening session prices are less and you’ll get 2 great matches. Check out Sunday Ashe evening Section 122 Row B Seat 8 on Ticketmaster – excellent seat and rare for any standard price (i.e. not resale) seats to be available for that session — click 122 on the map view and look for blue dot. Also check section 132 and 133 for single seats further back… Read more »
Spread the word everybody. More first and second rows seats just opened up by Ticketmaster in LA today. A lot of great tennis on that court today!
P.J. – got that seat! Thanks for the recommendation, it IS a great seat – thanks for sniping that for me! Does the 7PM session guarantee two matches or it’s just one depending on timing? EXCELLENT there’s a roof too just in case weather isn’t great. Showing the mobile tickets on your phone will suffice, correct? Will I be able to get in prior to seven/what’s a good time to arrive?
Again – thanks SO much for the help!!
Hey Allie, great!! You’re so welcome. Yes you’ll definitely see 2 matches, one women’s and one men’s, round of 16 (i.e. only 16 competitors left). Yes on mobile – download tix to your wallet before arriving to avoid hassle. I’d recommend arriving around 5:30pm if you can to get in line for 6pm entry at the East or South gate (see my tips above on that). That way you have some time to walk around and absorb atmosphere before entering Ashe. Ashe entry time will be variable (around 7pm) depending on whether they are on schedule, whether they decide to… Read more »
Hey again! Thanks for being so diligent on responding to everyone’s questions! Over 2,000 comments or something so far!! amazing job. Anyway, I have Monday Sep 4th tickets in Armstrong Section 109 Row L. However, I wanted to see your opinion on Ashe that same day at section 104 Row M. Are those Ashe seats too far? I like being close, but for my first time going to the US Open I am starting to have second thoughts on not going to Ashe! Basically, are those ashe seats overly priced for how close they are to the court? Or would… Read more »
Hey again! Totally my pleasure – so great to connect with so many folks around the world who are as nuts as I am about tennis. I’m actually considering doing the same: I have Armstrong courtside reserved for Monday and Ashe evening, but not Ashe Day… I’ve just already gone beyond my budget so trying to restrain myself. Just checked Ticketmaster seat-level view – you can do better than 104 M, check 104 F for $50 less (very good deal for that day, and very good seats). If you can afford it, yes I think it would probably be worth… Read more »
Hi PJ,
Thanks so much for this advice!! I have been going back and forth with this decision non-stop! I think Im either going to do Ashe or try for courtside in Armstrong. I just don think my Armstrong seats are the ‘best’ and if I have the opportunity to see Roger, I think its worth it!
Thanks again.
Maybe see you there!!
Sure thing! P.J.
THANK YOU for mentioning “$25 General Admission tickets for Friday-Sunday of finals weekend”. We’re coming to the area from Canada that weekend, and I’ve been wondering if we couldn’t just wander the grounds, or gather to watch matches on a big screen, just to soak in the atmosphere. Will watch Ticketmaster and hope. Thanks again.
Hey Jack, sure thing – I still haven’t seen any confirmation but am also hopeful they’ll do something like that again! Fingers crossed. P.J.
Hi. I emailed the US Open folks to see if they would confirm, and this is what they replied this afternoon: “On Thursday, September 7th, the grounds are free and open to the public — no ticket required. The gates open at 12pm that day. Grounds passes are now available on Ticketmaster.com for $25 for Friday-Sunday, 9/8-9/10 (finals weekend). Use this link to purchase those.”
THANKS VERY MUCH for pointing us in this direction. Really looking forward to our first visit to the US Open. – Jack
Excellent, thanks!!
Awesome site. Thanks for all that you have done. Glad Federer just won. Very surprise Tiafoe played well tonight. Hopefully he will makes it to R4.
Thanks so much, Quan! Yeah, what a match last night – incredible. And great to see Frances Tiafoe have such a great debut on the big Ashe stage. P.J.
Ticketmaster just opened up (blue seats) first and second row in Armstrong tomorrow. There’s going to be some awesome tennis on that court tomorrow. And a plethora of hours.
Could not agree more! Wish I could get out there tomorrow myself (aargh!). Going to be an amazing day/night on the outer courts. P.J.
Thanks for your advice PJ, got Grandstand seats for Thursday, but wondering what good matches would be left after the amazing Wedn. lineup? Hoping the rain doesn’t make Day 4 a lemon!
Hey there, no worries on that front – Day 4 will be back to normal with a full lineup, it’s today (Day 3) that is highly unusual with nearly double the matches as normal. P.J.
Hi PJ
Thanks for creating this page and all the great advice regarding the US open. I am travelling from overseas and going to be in New York for finals weeks so excited. I was looking to buy tickets to the men’s semi finals on the 9/08 Arthur Ash (hopefully Nadal V’s Fed) however wondering if you could confirm does this allow me to both Men’s games or this only access to the day session men’s semi finals that starts at 3pm as I can not find tickets to the night session. Thanks heaps
Hey Fiona, you’re so welcome – so glad you’re coming and excited! Yes, you’re correct: one ticket gets you EVERYTHING on Friday. It’s one of the reasons it’s the hottest ticket during the tournament besides the men’s finals. P.J.
If we check our bags for the finals, how long will it take after the match to claim our bags and find a taxi or uber? Thanks!
Hey Andrew, I’m not really sure on bag storage – I have friends who have done it and said it’s pretty painless and quick (I don’t think too many folks take advantage of it). As for Uber, see my note under Tip #9 above on my experience last year (it wasn’t pretty!). P.J.
I have a Grounds Pass for August 30th, but I can’t get out of work too early.
If I got to the US Open by, say, 5:00PM, how many hours of tennis would I typically catch on the side courts? Could I expect to be able to watch from 5:00PM to perhaps 10:00PM?
Thanks!
Hey Jeff, yes you can be sure tomorrow due to today’s rain that matches on outer courts will go LATE into the evening! Do you double check what time you have to enter by with the grounds pass. I think it may be 5:30 PM, I’m almost sure it’s no later than 6pm. I can try to check, but I’m dancing a lot right now and don’t want to let you down! PJ. PS – just checked my notes, and that restriction may only be for Ashe Day session ticket holders (my notes say they must enter before 6, but… Read more »
Great news, thanks a ton!
Jeff I have 2 spare tickets for Ashe tonight 30th Aug evening I know this post will probably be open to everyone but if you give me your first and last names and email address I’ll transfer them for free but they are up at row u . Can’t sell them cos were from the uk but can transfer them
Hi PJ,
Slightly off subject, but you seem to be the man in the know!
We are traveling from England and want to buy some tennis equipment whilst in the US as its much cheaper! We are looking for Ballport hoppers
https://www.stringersworld.com/tennis/coaching/ballport-original-ball-deluxe-hopper-80-ball/
We are staying in Manhattan for 5 days whilst at the open and then picking up a car and driving to Bridgehampton on Long island for 5 days. Is there anywhere you know of, that we could get to, that would stock those!?
Thanks in advance
Jules
Hi Julie! Most of the great stores in Manhattan (Mason’s, Grand Central Racquet) are pretty small (real estate in NY is expensive) so I think they focus mainly on apparel and probably don’t stock things like hoppers. I would Google that product, see the online vendors that come up, and check on delivery times and cost within the US – they may be able to ship fairly cheaply to a place where you’re staying and will save you the hassle of trying to find a local retailer. If any readers have other suggestions, please let Julie know! P.J.
This is a fantastic source–thorough, informative, and well written. Thank you.
Can you please let readers know when the day matches actually begin? If doors open at 11am for Ashe, they can’t possibly start match at 11. People would not have time to find their seats and a riot would ensue! What is likely start time for day session at Ashe? Thanks so much!
Hey Fletcher, thanks! Start time through next Monday is usually 11am (albeit with a warm up so an 11am match itself starts a bit later) and gates open at 930am for ticketholders. On days when the first match is noon, gates tend to open at 11am. PJ
Curious if you have any thoughts on how to take advantage of the fact that it’s supposed to rain for the next few hours and then stop, which should mean that there should be games on outer courts late into the night. I don’t have tickets, and can’t buy them online anymore since the event started at 11 am. I’m local in NYC so would head out there and pay whatever for a grounds pass, just don’t really want to pay the current $75 price to get in Ashe when I want to just watch the outside matches or head… Read more »
Hi Brett, weather looks awful for rest of the night. I think trying to go see anything outdoors today would be an exercise in frustration. To clarify: you cannot enter grounds at all before 6pm if you only have an Ashe evening session ticket. P.J.
Ticket Fiasco in the brewing? If the email we just got from ticketmaster is an indication, it has finally dawned on the USTA and ticketmaster that the mobile ticket concept is not going to work too well. The email was an alert of the mess. The problem is that many of us buy tickets for a group. With an Arthur Ashe ticket(S), when inside the gate, folks spread out around the grounds and go in and out of Arthur Ashe when they want. This mobile concept assumes either everybody will go in and out of the stadium together or that… Read more »
Hey John, yeah I’m concerned too. Some in our community have pointed out that last year they printed out little paper receipts or “chits” for seats after scanning when you left that could be used for re-entry. (Anyone have that experience yesterday or today??) If so, that will alleviate the problem. If not, it will lead to a lot of frustrations for the reasons you raise. I’m sure no they will learn a ton this year and improve next year if there are issues. To their credit, they undertook enormous efforts to fix the rain sound issue on the Ashe… Read more »
Hi John:
Will call is a drag. I bought my ticket from Ticketmaster, not knowing I couldn’t print it at home. Took me an hour to have them move it to Will Call. Yesterday, there was no separate line for Will Call, then another kerfuffle, as the clerk wasn’t originally sure she could give me the ticket, even though she saw it on the computer. Yes, the mobile concept, not so good. Best of luck.
DD
This year at the outer gates they print out the little paper tickets for you after scanning your mobile tickets on your phone. – Yue
THANK YOU! That’s a huge comfort – really impt info for folks. P.J.
Hi all: First, PJ, I want to echo everyone else’s enormous gratitude. Your site guided me through an amazing first trip to the Open yesterday. Second, regarding mobile ticketing: yesterday was a bit chaotic–at least for those who had mobile tickets for both Ashe day *and* evening sessions. Our day tickets were scanned at the entrance to the grounds, no problem (and I can confirm that they did also print out the little paper tickets for us, which really came in handy). But then once the Ashe day session ended, those of us who also had evening passes figured we… Read more »
Hey Gwen, you’re so welcome, and thanks a million for sharing these details! I’m so sorry I didn’t make more clear in my post that once you’re in you’re “in” – and evening Ashe ticket holders only need to exit Ashe (not the grounds) after Day session – will edit post above to be more explicit on that point. Bummer to hear about the mess around scanning for Ashe evening session. I’m sure they’re adjusting as they go and hopefully it will keep getting better as they learn. I imagine last night was especially tough because of the rain: I’m… Read more »
Hi, thanks for the great information . This will be my second year taking my daughter to the open. Last year we took your advice and bought a cheap day session Ashe ticket which gave us access to all the other stadiums . This year I want to do the same but my daughter is worried that sh will not see her favorite ( Monica keys) . We are planning for this Thursday all day 31s. What ticket do you suggest I buy so I don’t miss her for my daughter .
Hi Anthony, sure thing. I would hold off until Wed afternoon when schedule for Thurs is released… (See my Box 3 FAQ 1 above for schedule link). Assume you mean Madison Keys? If she wins tonight she may or may not be on Ashe again, and we won’t know whether Day or Eve. With rain fiasco today her R2 match might get scheduled on Armstrong or Grandstand, and if that’s the case you can devote your budget to great courtside seats there. PJ
PJ, thanks for the good advice and helping us all navigate the open. Have a great week .
Thanks a million Anthony! PJ
Hi! This is super useful and so elaborate. Thank you so much.
I have tickets to all four quarter finals, but I only want to go on the day that both Federer and Nadal are playing. Since they’re in the same half of the draw, this will be on the same day right? Will that be Tuesday (5th) or Wednesday (6th), and where can this information be found?
Thank you!
Hi Kavya, correct same day, which for them would be Wed 6th if they make it – see my Box 3 FAQ #1 above for details. P.J.
Hi Pj!!
If the rain continue there is any risk that Nadal or Federer schedule (day) change??
Or any other playaer that no play in the Ashe stadium??
TKS
Hey Jonathan! Fingers crossed, the rain probably won’t affect Federer and Nadal because both are scheduled on Ashe today (with its roof) and because the tournament SHOULD be able to catch up tomorrow (assuming the forecast for clear skies tomorrow holds). Again fingers crossed. But it will definitely affect other players in bottom half of the draw who can’t complete their matches today and will have to play tomorrow, then presumably again on Thursday without a day off if they advance. Tomorrow will be a massively packed day – they will end up putting at least one more match on… Read more »
Hey PJ! Thanks for this post. Do you know if it’s free to get into the US Open Grounds on the last Sunday to watch the Men’s Final on the big screen right outside of Ashe?
Hi Adrienne, you’re welcome! It has been in some years past. Last year they charged $25, and offered tickets through Ticketmaster fairly late — I think during the 2d week of the tournament. Haven’t seen anything specifically on it this year. Just tried calling box office but they aren’t picking up because they are slammed. I’ll let you know if I hear anything! PJ
Awesome thank you! I’m going to the open on Thursday so if I find out then, I’ll let you know.
Hi PJ, thanks for all of the great advice for enjoying the US Open…. I got to see some great practice sessions on Sunday. Bought the cheap upper level seats as you suggested and during last night men’s match during the first set, we were given ticket to move down to court side!!! Awesome experience… great 1st round match that ended at 2:00am…
Ronda that’s awesome!! It’s rare that they do that, but when a match goes that late they sometimes do. I was watching it live (stayed up way too late 🙂 and at one point Patrick McEnroe basically said “I really hope they let everyone move down to Courtside at a certain point…” So glad it happened. Amazing down there, right? So glad you saw it. What an exciting match. P.J.
Hi All. Is anybody up for 2 good seats for tomorrow’s session 5 on Grandstand? It’s section 16, row H. Asking $80 for each, much cheaper than comparable ones.
Hey PJ
I was wondering if the US open is a good place to buy tennis rackets ? Do they run any good offers etc? I am looking to pick up one of the new Head rackets…
Thanks !
Hey Sujit, let me check with the HEAD folks and get back to you ASAP. FYI – I recently started using the MXG 3 and absolutely love it (was using the Radical MP prior, which I still love). P.J.
Sujit, just found out definitively from HEAD that they aren’t offering any discounts on site – they just recommended you check online or at a local retailer. Sorry not to be more helpful. P.J.
Just sold them through Ticketmaster Exchange. Thanks PJ, it indeed may take time up to the day before the actual session day.
Great to hear, thanks Denis! P.J.
Hi! Love that I stumbled upon your website. We’ve been going to the open for years now and have always done just what you say- stick to earlier in the tournament and hang around the smaller courts to see some stellar matches and incredible players up close. This year we have less flexibility, but I am dying to see Roger Federer. I have never seen him play live and I’m dying to!! Do they typically switch off day/night sessions or do they stick to either day or night? He is playing tonight 8/29 and then I’d assume Thursday 8/31 for… Read more »
Hey Jill! Check out Box 3 FAQ #1 above for my take on this. Short answer: probably day session on Thurs IF Rafa wins his R1 match today, but never any guarantees!! P.J.
PJ, wanted to thank you for this amazing website. Allowed me to plan Friday and Saturday sessions for my wife’s birthday.I was wondering whether to be possible to purchase separate tickets on the same day for ARTHUR ashe and Reseved seat in Luis Armstrong.that would allow her to go back-and-forth between stadiums. Is that possible with the mobile entry system.
Thx!
Thank you! You’re very welcome and so glad it helped. Your wife is going to be very grateful!! Yes you absolutely can do that (I do it all the time myself). A caution about Armstrong for Saturday – weather is looking questionable at this point. That said, I’ve learned over the years that forecasts are notoriously unreliable and can change in a heartbeat (just a few hours ago they predicted rain starting late afternoon around 4pm, and now it’s raining…). I’ve spent many a year nervously looking at the forecasts each day with looming threat of rain on a particular… Read more »
If anyone needs a single ticket I have one left for tomorrow Wednesday. Its second row lower level in grandstand (I cant go I am trapped by the hurricane) Section 4, Row B, Seat 8 It;s only 114.30 and I paid $176.14 for it. It is listed on ticketmaster
That’s an awesome seat – I wish I could get away from my desk to grab it and get there myself! P.J.
Actually its $80.01 when it posts. I calculated the fees for the price I bought it at. Thanks for posting this for me PJ.