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.












Very informative and helpful!
How much would a court side ticket plan costs and is it available? Thanks.
Hi Meg, thanks! The only Ashe ticket plans are unfortunately for Promenade seats — see my last FAQ for my opinion on that… Next year they may open up courtside plans for Grandstand and the new Louis Armstrong (as it will have many more seats than before). Check here for details next spring. PJ
FED EVENING TOMORROW
Hi PJ, I wanted to say thank you for your detailed response to my comment last month regarding taking my patients to one of the US Open games. After much consideration; unfortunately our group is unable to afford tickets at the time but hopefully next year we will be more prepared. I’m a Recreational Therapist at Mount Sinai Hospital and was told that one of my patients on the unit would greatly LOVE a visit by one of the well-known tennis players. Without saying too much due to HIPAA; he is a young man and is a tennis player himself… Read more »
Clarisse, let’s stay in touch by email – would love to try to help however I can. PJ
Wonderful! This would mean the world!
Not sure if my email address is visible but let me know if it isn’t so I can type it again. Send me an email when you have a chance.
Thanks so much for your response.
Hi PJ. Amazing blog! Amazing blog you have here; it was super helpful for me as a first time attender. Question – I went Saturday (Sep 2) evening as an Arthur Ashe ticket holder. As I interpret the 2017 Inclement Weather Policy, I believe I am eligible for a 2018 ticket exchange based on across the board suspension of play that session. Would you agree?
Hi Joe, thank you! They did not cancel the session on AshE Saturday night, only the sessions on outer courts. So as an ashe ticket holder, you would not be entitled to any sort of compensation. At least as I understand things. PJ
Gotcha. So, with the roof, Arthur Ashe tickets essentially will never be subject to any benefit of the Inclement Weather Policy. That’s a shame.
Pj,
Is the grandstand completly first come first served today?
Correct!
Hello PJ and other fans – I am also keeping an eye on the schedule tomorrow for Fed/ Del Po. But if I recall, yesterday’s AM/PM session assignment was changed throughout the day also … so let’s say if by noon the Wed schedule comes out and it’s the AM session (please!), it could change throughout today right? …. Agreeing with others, great site thank u!
Hi Kat, thanks! Schedule was announced in the last hour and Fed is evening. Barring rain, they never change the schedule on Ashe after posting it (they actually didn’t change anything yesterday). So rest assured it is definite for tomorrow. PJ
Hey guys,
Random question here. Is there a way to know the order of play for the men’s semi-final matches on Friday? I see that it says the semi finals start at 4PM but it doesn’t say which half of the bracket would play first. I’m trying to plan my evening and wouldn’t want to miss a potential Federer vs. Nadal clash. Would they play at 4PM, or would they play second?
Hi Frank, not a random question at all. Short answer is no. Longer answer: if Fed and Nadal both make it through to play each other, most people I know (including me) would put bets on them scheduling their match second. Anything else would be a warm-up to that. Even if only Fed makes it, I’d make the same bet. There are never certainties around this, but that’s my hunch. PJ
Thanks so much, that does make a lot of sense. I agree that both Nadal and Fed would be evening matches; however, with Querrey being the lone American left I thought he might get the later session potentially as well.
Fantastic info here. Thanks very much for sharing this. Do you know what a grounds admission ticket gives access to for the final day? Is it all non Arthur Ashe courts? Would you expect the non Ashe courts to include junior boys finals and the wheelchair finals? Thanks again.
Hi Michelle, yes access to everything except Ashe! See link above to 2016 schedule for a preview of what else will be going. PJ
Thanks PJ. I took a look and the wheelchair matches are not listed on the 2016 schedule but I’m pretty sure they are playing this year and I thought they also played last year but maybe not. I assume it’s unassigned seating on all non Ashe courts including the Grandstand but do you know for sure?
Also, the grounds admission tickets are on sale on ticketmaster for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All tickets are $25.
Hey Michelle, apologies! You’re right they didn’t list on last year’s schedule but I’m 100% sure that both junior finals AND wheelchair finals are that day too. Definitely no assigned seating on any of those courts. And thanks for the heads-up on them posting the $25 GA tix – will update main body of the blog shortly! PJ
Hi PJ,
I was there on monday evening at Ashe watching Roger play and also the very tghtly contested ladies singles right after that. The experience was awesome. Since my tickets have expired now ( they were for yesterday) can I still go and catch some players on the practice courts?
Hey Vivek, that’s great to hear! Unfortunately not- you need tix to enter grounds and practice courts where the stars practice (1-5) are deep within them. PJ
Selling four Ashe tickets to tomorrow’s (Tuesday’s) day session. Section 315 U 15-18. Email me at kavya.lakshminarayanan@gmail.com if interested.
Selling two tickets for tomorrow (Tuesday September 5th) 7 pm, Ashe tickets. Section 109, Row G, seats 5 and 6.
Anyone interested please email me to: mariellepellerano@gmail.com
Hi P.J. Do you know if Aces club tickets are inside the stadium and you can see ok the match?
Hi PJ! Sorry I think I just answered my question. That is a restaurant inside the club but with no access to the game. I have two questions, do you think it is possible in any way I found cheaper tickets for semifinals of Friday? Prices just doubled. And second, according to the official schedule that day at 12:00 are some men doubles finals and mix double finals and until 4:00 it begins the men’s semifinals. Is this completely true and can I arrive at 2-3 PM and should be able to access and see both semifinals? Thanks!
Diego, sorry for delay! Got a little behind. (1) Aces is indeed a restaurant on the “club” (courtside) level and only available to those with courtside or suite tickets. No view of the match, only TVs. Someone kindly took me to eat there once and while grateful I just thought to myself the entire time, “I want to be out watching tennis!” (2) For semis tix, prices will almost certainly drop if Fed loses tomorrow, and stay where they are or rise if he wins; (3) Yes that is correct re start time — it’s all one session for one… Read more »
ANYONE AT ASHE NOW (Keys-Svitolina)? HAPPY TO GIFT MY 2 COURTSIDE TIX TO THE FIRST TO REPLY!
Yes, I am interested… Here is my email villanuevafer@gmail.com where do I meet you?
I’ll email you!
Hi PJ, Very helpful your link. I am a tennis fan since i was a child and always dreaming to go to tournaments in the world. So far I had the chance twice to the US open in 2012 and in 2016. I am from Argentina and I live in Delaware 4 hs from NYC. I am trying to get tkts for Wednesday to see Del Potro vs Federer but I realized that I will not know until tomorrow at what time they will play and i have to decide in a couple hours and organized my family so I… Read more »
Hi Claudia, that’s awesome. I am a huge Fed and Delpo fan myself. This is a really tricky one. Right now, prices for tomorrow’s day session are really reasonable. Prices for evening are insane. There’s massive speculation and debate about whether they will schedule Fed/Delpo for day or evening. Most people think evening, which makes total sense from a ratings standpoint. I tend to agree the odds favor that. HOWEVER – and this is a big however– Rafael Nadal is the world #1 and #1 seed, and if they schedule his QF match tomorrow during the day that will be… Read more »
So I’m basically doing the same thing and I found out if you are on your computer, you can go to this site called “keeprefreshing.com”. And you can input “http://2017.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/schedule16.html” as the URL and let it refresh automatically every X seconds. I’m pretty sure that is going to be the URL which Wednesday (Day 10) schedule is going to be released. Good luck guys!
Awesome!!
P.J., My wife and I were there last night in our loge seats, if I had checked my e-mails more often, my wife would have had a chance to experience the court side view… but comparing to the view from lower promenade we had for the past 2 years, it was already an amazing upgrade, the Federer vs Kohlschreiber match was straight-forward but not without some great shots from both sides, the Keys vs Svitolina match was a thriller, the whole stadium was cheering for Madison (so was I) and I think in the end, the crowd carried her over… Read more »
Scott, can’t thank you enough for your very kind words and for sharing your experience from last night! Look forward to staying in touch! PJ
Hi PJ, thanks for the reply, unfortunately my dream of watching Federer play is not gonna happen yet. Hopefully he will not retire in the short term. But anyway Del potro vs Nadal should be a great match to watch. I have another doubt and maybe you know, I will arrive around 12 pm to NY and was wondering to go directly to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, do you know if there is a place where I can leave my luggage stored in the tennis complex? Also please let me know if you will be on… Read more »
Hey Diego! Yes both will be great matches for sure! Yes, there is a bag storage trailer just across from the LIRR entrance at the top of the hill leading down to the East Gate (at end of the bridge as you’re walking from the subway to your left). There’s also one right by South Gate. $10 for large bags, $5 for smaller ones. You’re so kind and I would have loved to meet but unfortunately I won’t be out there– gotta watch these from home while I do some work to catch up after spending so much time out… Read more »
Watching the Federer match from home 🙁 after being out there the last 5 days. Incredible tennis the first week with so many options. McEnroe and crew were chatting about the scheduke during the match tonight and mentioned given the Del Po win they will more than likely put Del Po and Roger on Wednesday night and Nadal in the afternoon. That would be three cycles in a row with the 1 seed during the day. Wozniaki was talking last week about some of the disrespect happening this year given the selections of the players on Ashe (all about the… Read more »
Hey Jason, yeah, would not be the fairest. But another consideration: Delpo has had flu for 2 days and still struggling with it, so they may consider that a factor to give him more time… Really anyone’s guess at this point! PJ
I cannot see how they could not put Federer v Del Potro on Wednesday night. Federer alone draws the crowd, let alone a crowd favorite like Del Potro, and finally, being a rematch of the 2009 final. I would be shocked if Fed plays during the day – but then again, we have had a few surprises this tournament.
Hey Josh, I tend to agree at this point: ratings considerations will probably trump fairness. If they do, it only underscores the general point that it’s really risky to bet on whether one’s favorite player will play for a day or evening session. There are indeed always surprises, which is why I generally encourage fellow fans not to take big chances (especially expensive ones) based on educated guesses or hunches unless they have money to lose or would be very happy to attend a session regardless. PJ
Oh, man… jealous of anyone who was in Grandstand for the del Potro/Thiem match… what a comeback!!
Totally!!!!!
Insane !!!
Hi PJ,
When I checked the tickets it says there will be Men’s/Women’s QF at Louis Armstrong Stadium tomorrow (9/5). Do you think that’s just a typo on the site? Because from last year’s schedule Men’s/Women’s QF are all scheduled at Arthur Ashe Stadium and already 4 out of the 8 Men’s/Women’s QF matches are scheduled tomorrow at Arthur Ashe.
I was thinking it should have been Men’s/Women’s Doubles QF at Louis Armstrong right?
Correct.
Hey Jonny, sounds like a typo–They always only put QF men’s and women’s singles on Ashe and nothing else those 2 days. See my Box 1 above for detailed breakdown re: schedule. Note they will also certainly put some on Grandstand too. PJ
I see, thank you so much for this guide; it was really helpful for someone who has never experienced US Open before. I’m planning to go Thursday at noon and maybe I’ll see you there!
Hey Johnny, I’m so glad to hear it, thank you. And would be great to see you Thurs! PJ
PJ, again this site helped us have a wonderful US Open experience! We took your advice and got Louis Armstrong seats. They were so close it was almost awkward taking pictures!
We stupidly forgot the no backpacks rule and brought one. However they have lockers and we were able to store it and go back and retrieve our jackets when it got chilly Friday night.
We paid a small fortune to see Roger Saturday night but…well…we saw Roger! And that was our goal.
Enjoy the rest of the open!
Hey Michelle, I’m so happy you had a great experience! I’m out here myself today (sitting in Armstrong right now!!) and just so happy finally to be here. Thanks so much for your message! PJ
Hey PJ love the blog thanks for the help- I had a question since I have tickets for Friday Semi’s would you assume fed and nadal would be the last match on Friday night? and what time would you think it will start. cant leave work before 5?
Hey Anish, thank you! Updating my response… My strong guess is a Fed-Rafa semi would be second. Never know for sure but I think all of us would be surprised if not. Start time for second match depends on how quick previous 4:00pm match is (the Querrey-Zverev R16 match Monday was only 77 minutes, but that is RARE). Almost certainly second match wouldn’t start before 6:00pm. P.J.
Hi PJ! Thanks again for the awesome blog! I´m going for mens semis and final. Based on your experience, do you think I will be able to watch Nadal or Federer practice if they both make the semis? I will try to go as early as possible (I believe for semis and final will be 11am). I´m not sure about their habits before so important matches. Secondly, about what can I bring to the Open. You said that a drawstring bag is ok right? Even though it looks like a backpack? And if i want to bring a plastic bottle… Read more »
Hey, you’re welcome! No way to know for sure on practice, depends entirely on them. See today’s practice schedule for clues. Yes drawstring bag and plastic water bottle just fine. I really don’t this seat cushion necessary in Ashe but yes that’s fine too! PJ
I was lucky enough to see Nadal practice. I originally came to see Hingis and Chan practice at noon. Knowing that Nadal was practicing at 1:30, I stayed and secured my seat in the bleachers. Once seated, don’t plan on leaving. There will be a crowd waiting for one to leave and will take that empty spot.
Awesome, thanks Vienna! PJ
Thanks!
Also, do you know how good/bad the wifi is at the US Open (especially at Ashe)? I´m evaluating getting roaming service haha.
Hey Sebastian, my experience with it this weekend has been hit or miss. Right now I’m on wifi and it’s working great, but I literally couldn’t connect yesterday any time I tried – just too many people accessing at the same time. (PS – I’m seated in Armstrong now, but every time I tried yesterday was from within Ashe) PJ
Ok, thanks!!
Great blog…thanks for all the tips and tricks. First, have your coffee and breakfast before you arrive. There is only one coffee kiosk and the line was ridiculous (30 minutes). Also, none of the vendors sold breakfast food. Next time I would take your advice and get Arthur Ashe day tickets. That way, if it rains you are still guaranteed to see tennis and you have the flexibility to stay into the evening and watch more tennis at the other “non-ash” courts. We had grounds tickets on Sunday 9/3 and it was raining so we tried to upgrade them at… Read more »
Hey Heather, what an awesome write-up – many many thanks for taking the time to share it! So happy you had an amazing time!!PJ
PJ…quick question. I bought my tickets during the USTA/American express presale but the grounds admission tickets were $100. A few days before I left I checked the ticketmaster app and the grounds admission tickets were much cheaper than $100. When is the best time to actually purchase the tickets if you are coming into town for labor day weekend and you are going to the Open no matter who is playing? I feel like I got ripped off by taking advantage of the “presale”.
Hey Heather, great question. The more the years pass, the more I think it’s just never good strategy to buy during the AMEX presale. The inventory is always minimal, and without insight on the bigger picture and full range of tickets and going rates for things, it’s too easy to make a bad decision unless you are really seasoned in knowing historical trends for particular sessions/days and know exactly what you’re looking for. I gave up on trying during presale long ago. For grounds admission tix, the standard price varies day to day (more expensive for Labor Day weekend) but… Read more »
I agree. I have been going for 12 years. I find my strategy changes from year to year. This year I got nosebleed Ashe tickets for day sessions, usually at a promo rate of 2 for 1 when I could find it, but I found that the new roof made ANY upper Ashe tickets no fun anymore. Too far away, Too sterile an environment. And the temporary Armstrong stadium was not fun either with the shallow pitch of the bleachers making you have to look through lots of heads to see what was going on. The new grandstand court was… Read more »
Hey Jeff, totally agree on temp Armstrong – was there yesterday and after seeing it on TV it only confirmed my impression that it was an enormous disappointment for those of us accustomed to the old Armstrong experience. That said, seeing the new Armstrong construction and plans makes me very very very excited about the new stadium. I have huge confidence the new Armstrong will blow everyone away (and thankfully a roof!). I agree there are a lot of paid seats in GS, but I think that was the right decision – and having even stood in the upper levels… Read more »
Thanks so much for the great guide. My parents are visiting this week from Asia and was thinking of getting them to watch the US open. I’m not really a huge tennis fan myself but my dad is. They arrive tomorrow Tuesday night so we can only watch it either Wednesday or Thursday. We leave on Friday. Im deciding whether to get Wednesday day or evening sessions. Do you have recommendations which would be better? I saw cheaper tickets for day sessions which leads me to believe that evening is better in terms of there might be more stars? Thanks… Read more »
Hey Billy, what a nice thing to do for your parents! The bigger names in tennis will play on Wed because of the way the “draw” happened this year. I would definitely urge Wed. I would also strongly urge you to get tickets for the day session because prices are hugely more affordable– not because the quality of matches will be any less, but because (1) many tourists will have left and it’s harder for people to take the day off from work so generally lower demand than for evening; (2) there is massive speculation that Roger Federer will win… Read more »
Hey PJ, thanks so much for a super informative guide. You can reply at a much later time, since the current open is currently going strong. I’m trying to plan a trip for my wife and myself for the 2018 US open, which we’ve talked about for years. I’m trying to give her an experience she’ll remember for a long time. Our schedule if pretty flexible (any 2-3 days of the tournament we can do) and I planned on splurging on this once in a life time visit. I’d love your advice on what we should do for tickets and… Read more »
Hey James, happy to help! I’m actually at the open myself today/tonight and would like to give this some thought. Will probably reply next weekend if that’s OK? PJ
Hey James, I’ve gone back and forth on a variety of options. Many pros/tradeoffs to each. Below are four that would truly be “dream” scenarios for me in order of personal preference (if I really had to choose), all designed to be in the same budget ballpark. Obviously you could add to any of them, but I tried to be somewhat restrained! 🙂 OPTION 1: Labor Day weekend – end of 3d round, Full Round of 16 Saturday – Louis Armstrong Courtside Sunday DAY- Ashe Loge AND Grandstand Courtside (yes, redundant, but worth having the option so you have rain… Read more »
Wow! Thanks so much for the reply! I’ll check on this!
PJ, just wanted to recount my experience because it was so amazing. My girlfriend and I went on Saturday. We arrived an hour early, and it was just starting to get packed. We walked around the grounds before finally settling into our reserved seats in Grandstand- this was our first time at an event like this and it was spectacular to see players up that close. Although the matches weren’t terribly exciting (each winning player won in straight sets, without much of a challenge), it didn’t matter to us, as we were overawed by watching players like del Potro wallop… Read more »
Hey Paul, I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to share your experience. Really appreciate it, and I’m thrilled you had a great time!! P.J.
JP. Gotta tell you, thanks to you I had the best US Open experience ever yesterday! It was even better than 2014 when my sister and I sat in the AMEX suite and then were interviewed for a televised Long Island news program! Got a grounds pass for $85 at the box office so no fees, parked myself at Armstrong and saw Haase and Middelkoop beat Sela and Darcis. Then headed to Grandstand, got fantastic seat in the shade and saw three of the most awesome matches, #1 doubles team Kontonin and Peers against Cabal and Mayer, the Bryans against… Read more »
Janet, I am soooooo happy to hear this! Nothing brings me more joy than knowing that a fellow true die-hard fan gets to see some of the most amazing stuff! I was also in Armstrong for a lot of the day yesterday, but had splurged to double-up so also had Ashe tix day and night. It was amazing being in Ashe for Federer and hearing all of you guys screaming in Grandstand right next door during the Delpo match. I was following the score on the app and was dying I couldn’t be in both places at once. So great… Read more »
Thanks PJ. This was very helpful. I’d love to see Federer play, and I think my chances are looking good! And for my first match too… I bought day session tickets a while back for the quarter finals matches on Wednesday. Going from what you said about alternating day/night sessions for the big players, and seeing Federer was on night for the 3rd round, I was pretty sure they’d put Federer on day for the 4th round and night for the quarters. Seeing that he is playing the night session for todays 4th round makes me think we may actually… Read more »
Hey Robert, I’m so glad it was helpful. Yeah, the Nadal/Fed scheduling today threw everyone for a loop – and just underscores the reality that there are no set rules, only trends, when it comes to day/night scheduling. The tournament director and team are thinking about fairness for players but also television ratings, ticket sales, etc so ultimately a subjective decision on their part. My hunch is that if both Nadal and Fed win today, they will probably put Fed on Day for Quarters in fairness to Nadal. If Nadal doesn’t win, my hunch would be Fed back at night.… Read more »
Hey PJ,
Thanks for all the great info! I started following last year because I had tickets to quarter finals last year but ended up in hospital and had to cancel my NYC trip. But I’m in NYC now!! We came in from Texas and are staying in Brooklyn. Would you still recommend taking the LIRR? We have evening Ashe tickets, but I’m also watching resale for day session as well.
Thanks,
Hey Elie, welcome to NYC! So I used to live in Brooklyn and it’s unfortunately a bit of a pain by public transport. I personally would just take a cab (via app like Curb) or Uber/Lyft TO the US Open. For your return, there’s no easy answer… Options: (1) leave a little early and use an app to call an Uber/Lyft (because after match let’s out it’s insane); (2) pre-reserve a car at a late time that anticipates matches going late (e.g. 12:15am) from a place like Riverside Car Service/ Dial 7 etc hat will actually honor the reservation and… Read more »
Thank you so much! We actually Ubered there because I bought Day session at the last minute and we left early during the Keys match and caught a Taxi! And from what we heard in Ashe the Del Potro match sounded amazing! I tuned in on the Amex radio! Again love, love, love this blog and your advice!
Hey Elie, my pleasure! So glad it worked out!! PJ
Hi PJ I drove in from Boston with my family to see us open tomorrow. We will be driving to the stadium and plan to leave by 7:30 from battery park. Do you think that’s enough time to get to the stadium and get good seats in Louis Armstrong? We have GA. I am also planning to try my luck to upgrade my GA to Arthur Ashe day session. Hoping I will be early enough to get the upgrade. Any tips on upgrade? Which gate should we enter from and where should we park any guidance is much appreciated. Thanks… Read more »
Hey again! Sorry responding in order and just saw this. Yes that’s a great time to leave. For parking just follow signs and the security will direct you. Definitely go right to East Gate where box office is. Have one of you stand in line to enter grounds and the other stand in line for box office. That way if you can’t upgrade at least you will be further up in line to go to Armstrong to get a seat. Armstrong is right next to East Gate. PJ
Hi PJ. This is a great blog post about US Open. I have been to the open matches about 3 times before, but I have always purchased the Promenade tickets. Your post and reading the comments inspired me to get better seats for the only day I plan on coming so far. Keeping fingers crossed that I could add another day to it. I have two questions for you. My ticket is for Wed Day Session at Ashe. – I have a choice to also come for Monday night or Tues day session. Which one would you have picked? In… Read more »
Hey Purnima! I think you can’t go wrong with your choices… But tomorrow night certainly will be exciting – Fed night match on Ashe. I will be here myself and can’t wait. The “f” I think is probably just a Facebook symbol showing that someone has linked their ticket to Facebook so that others can see they are going! PJ
Didn’t know where to post this, but I benefited from the comments here on PJ’s blog, so thought I should “give back”. I went to Day 1 and Day 3 this year. We had a fabulous time! The great thing about going so early in the tourney is that there are so many matches to choose from on the non-Ashe courts. Day 1: We arrived via Long Island Railroad, around 10:15. The crowd was already fairly large for the line up considering it was only Day 1, but it moved very fast. They seemed quite organized. We were in by… Read more »
Wow thanks so much Nancy for sharing this wonderfully detailed account! Super helpful. I’m so glad you had a great experience despite the bumps. Appreciatively, PJ
Hey PJ! Do players generally practice on one of the practice courts right before their match and if that’s the case would it be put up in the practice schedule? I’m going for the night session tomorrow to watch Federer! I waited to book tickets until the schedule was out today and by then prices of courtside tickets had gone up so much that I could only get Loge tickets :/ I was wondering if there might be any other opportunity to watch him practice up close. And since night session tickets allow admission to the grounds only after 6… Read more »
Hey there! Some do, some don’t… depends on the player. But I do think tomorrow will be an exciting day just to be around, so might be worth the grounds admission. I’m sure you’ll have fun regardless! PJ
Hi P.J., I’m still looking to sell a single courtside ticket for tomorrow’s Day session on Ashe.
I’ve put the ticket up on TicketMaster at the same price I bought it. Do you have any other tips than this to try and sell it? I’m thinking of reducing the price later on today if its still unsold. What do you think?
Thanks!
Hey Santosh, stay patient – a lot of Rafa fans out there… Look at map view on Ticketmaster and make sure it’s competitive compared to what other seats in vicinity are going for. Which section/row? I will keep ear to ground for you too. PJ
It’s section J. Yes, I checked the prices for other seats around and I feel it’s a reasonable deal.
Also, I’ll be really grateful if you could spread the word too! Thanks a lot, P.J.!
Sorry, forgot to mention the row – it’s section 64, Row J. 🙂
Hello PJ,
Even I am looking to sell my ticket for tomorrow’s day session, since they scheduled Roger for the night session!! I have bought a ticket for tomorrow night now. Any Rafa fan out there who wants a ticket in Section 103, Row L?
Thanks
I am looking for a day session to watch Rafa Play but have a ground admission what are my options. Can I get my ticket upgraded on the ground?
Hi there, you can certainly try at the box office tomorrow morning – though unlikely there will be many tickets released to upgrade to. Only other options are resale tickets. PJ
Simply the best US Open guide ever and somehow I never read this until now (first ever trip for me was 2006 to see Federer vs Roddick in the finals). Extremely comprehensive and up to date! I’ve gather a lot the same tips myself through the years and “coached” other friends on how to attend the open, but you’ve written it up in such a great way! An additional thing you could add would be how to get autographs near the practice courts. I got Wimbledon Champ Garbiñe Muguruza and legends like Michael Chang yesterday at the Open. Also it’s… Read more »
Albert, many many thanks – really appreciate it!! Great suggestions, will do. Hope you have an awesome week! PJ
Hey guys, if anyone is selling tickets for Ashe on Monday 4th night, please let me know at villanuevafer@gmail.com
Hi PJ,
I am going to the evening session at Ashe on monday. I thought Nadal would play, but its federer according to the schedule. Why so? Not that I am complaining :). The inital plan was to watch federer.
Hey Vivek, yup we are all surprised! But as I’ve tried to emphasize in the run up to the tournament, there truly is no “rule” when it comes to scheduling day/night so always impossible to predict for sure. Every year there are some surprises. This one is certainly a huge one. PJ
This is a pleasant surprise for me. Sitting right behind federer in section 66 and watching him play would be a wonderful experience. Looking forward to a great day tomorrow.
Hi PJ! If I have a day session ticket to Arthur Ashe, can I go to the Grandstand?
Hey, absolutely! General seating, first come availability. PJ
With your tips I got tickets to what will hopefully be an amazing session, Wednesday night, so many many (many) thanks!
I am going with my wife and 11 month old son. A representative of the tournament assured me that he can enter for free and be with us in Ashe. Is there reason to doubt that? Also, do you have any particular tips for viewers coming with a baby?
Hey Uri, so glad to hear it!! You’re so welcome. Your USTA friend will be able to get into your section and take an open seat if someone doesn’t show, but there’s no guarantee he can sit with/near you – especially during Quarters. PJ
I apologize, I realize that the wording of my post was confusing 🙂
I meant that the representative told me that my son can enter for free, and is not restricted from sitting in Ashe. I wanted to check if you know that this is indeed the policy regarding babies.
I’m less optimistic about that session, now that Fed is playing Monday night, but I’m sure it will be great anyway. Thanks!!!
My fault, sorry was reading too quickly!! I’m in Ashe watching Sharapova match and a little distracted :). Yes as long as under 2 years and in your lap totally fine. Only challenge is in Ashe noise really really carries, and you can’t get out of your seat until changeovers if he starts crying — so maybe bring an arsenal of pacifiers, etc! 🙂 PJ
Yeah we’ll do everything we can to keep the silence. The seats are very high up, on an aisle, so that should help 🙂
Enjoy the match!
Anyone selling tickets for tomorrow 9/4
Hi Lynne, I’m looking to sell a single ticket for Ashe Day session. I’ve already put it up on TicketMaster, but I can get it down if you’re willing to buy it. It’s a courtside ticket – section 64, row H.
Let me know!
Thanks!
HI Lynne, I have one ticket to the Arthur Ashe session evening (Federer)! It’s courtside and I’m looking to sell it. I am Canadian without a US bank account so unable to put on the resale site. Sec 46, Row 5, Seat 5.
I forgot to say, you can message me at wjbeauch@gmail.com if you are interested in buying.
Please text me about the ticket at plbkn@yahoo.com ,thx Lynne
Fantastic info. Thank you! Do you know if there is a list of the locations to scan the bar code of the fan pass? Looks like great prizes.
Hey Michelle, thanks! I don’t myself – maybe someone else in our community? PJ
Hi PJ~For the last 3 three years or so, it’s the same drill: I google “shady seats at Ashe” to remind myself where NOT to sit, and, as always, your site pops up and assists me in countless ways! You’ve been an incredible resource over the years, ever expanding information offered to newbies and seasoned Open-goers alike. I THANK YOU!! So far, I’ve been to the qualies 3 times, 2nd round Men’s/Women’s, and yesterday, 9 glorious hours of tennis at Ashe. Will likely get back to watch some doubles play this week. Enjoy your time at the Open and thanks… Read more »
Anne Marie, you totally made my day. Thank you on all counts! Wishing you a great rest of the week too. P.J.
Just found it. Once you do your first scan, you receive an email with a link showing your activity and the remaining codes to scan. Thanks for your quick reply.
PJ, I’m staying on the upper west side. Would you recommend taking the LIRR still? Heard MTA has been doing repairs all summer and its been a mess for commuters, but not sure if it affects trains heading to the tennis center? Also, if matches run late into early morning does the LIRR still run then or is it subway back home? Thanks!
Hey James, YES. Take A or another train to a Penn Station, then follow signs to LIRR (there are machines where you can buy round trip ticket, stop is Mets-Willers). See schedule here. Trust me on this one! PJ
Would this also apply to me as staying near grand central – which shows 22 mins to mets willets. Your guide says 15 from penn but I’m guessing would take me more than 7 mins to get to penn from grand central?
Hey Lee, no, from Grand Central best to just jump on the 7 train. PJ
If you want to save time/stress, download the MTA eTix app and the Train Time app. You can buy tickets in advance, you will have to activate before you get on the train.
Great suggestion Irene, thanks – I’ll add this to my main blog.
The first morning LIRR is at 8:48 am, but 7 train is earlier. So I am going to try 7 to get in by 830 am, hopefully be in line for other stadiums. Thinking the crowd may be a tad thinner as Federer got pushed night. Prices have dropped for day session a bit.
Thank you so much for recommending the two apps. I totally lan on using them to save time to get onto LIRR!
Terrific! My pleasure. PJ
Hi All. I’m desperately trying to sell my two tickets for tonight’s session at Section 134, Row C. Is anybody interested?
Hi P.J.! I need your advice RE selling tickets. I’m looking to buy a single ticket for Mon morning session on Ashe (R16). However, most of the tickets are being sold in bunches of two or more. The single ones are slightly further back, or very, very pricey!
Do you recommend me buying a pair of tickets and putting one of them up for sale? Will a single ticket sell in time?
I checked TicketMaster, TicketLiquidator and SeatGeek and it’s the same on all these sites.
I’d love your advice on this!
Thanks again!
Hey Santosh, normally I’d say proceed with caution regarding reselling… however tomorrow’s day session ticket is already one of the hottest because Fed is likely to be scheduled Day. So if you’re dying to go and willing to take a risk, I think tomorrow would be one of the most likely days to succeed with your proposed strategy. Keep in mind: to recoup exactly what you pay on the seat, you will need to list it for a higher price than you paid because of the commissions that any reseller will take (but for tomorrow’s session, there are likely to… Read more »
Hey P.J.! Sure, I’ll cheer for the both us us! 🙂
So, I could find a decent enough deal on SeatGeek for a single ticket. I just wanted to confirm that this ticket indeed will be legit?
I got an email from “MyTicketTracker” saying my order was processed and that the ticket will be delivered electronically once they’re ready to be delivered.
I’m just a bit wary since this is the first time I’m buying from some site other than TicketMaster.
Thanks again!
Update: – The person I bought the ticket from, transferred them over to me via TicketMaster. I see a barcode, and it looks exactly like the one of the previous round, so I think it’s legit.
I just hope nothing goes wrong at the last moment! 🙂
Oh great to hear! PJ
Should be just fine! Let me know if you have any issues, but I’ve only experienced and heard good things. PJ
Hey P.J.! So, they scheduled Fed for the night session again, which means I’ll have to sell my Day ticket. Is there any way I’ll know how much should I increase the price by to compensate for the commission of the reseller?
Wow. Wow. Well, just goes to show there are patterns we can use for educated guesses but no way ever to predict for sure. (Nadal is not going to be happy they broke the alternating day/nightpattern). Every year there are a couple big surprises like this. I spent the entire week myself lamenting not having Ashe Day session tix for tomorrow and prices went out of reach. But turns out Mon was the night I chose a long while back… Sometimes it’s just all about luck. When reselling, yes will get an option to put in amount you want to… Read more »
Got it! I put it up for sale. Hopefully someone will buy it given Rafa’s playing!
Also, if it’s possible, could you please let me know if anyone you know is looking for an Ashe morning ticket for tomorrow? It’s courtside.
Thanks a ton, P.J.!
Although the resell process and experience is is an exceptional and efficient one, Ticketmaster’s fees are outrageous. Charges to the seller and buyer. When I retire one day, I’m going to work there.
I have two tickets in Loge section 133 on the aisle for the day session tomorrow. Yes, I too thought they would keep the alternating schedule and Fed would play in the afternoon, and Keys is going to have a few late nights this holiday!
If anyone wants to purchase them please let me now. jwduds@yahoo.com.
Agreed! PJ
Hey P.J., who do you think will be on Armstrong tomorrow? I’m there all day too. Where will. You be sitting?
I’m also going to tonight’s match on Ashe. I’m exhausted, lol!
Hey Lor, LOL. Yeah sleep is always a sacrifice when you comes lot 🙂 Tomorrow my guess is both Goffin-Rublev and Delpo-Thiem on LA, if last few years is any guide. However, because the temp Armstrong is smaller than the old one — and the new Grandstand is waaay more beautiful — I wouldn’t be surprised if they buck tradition and put Goffin-Rublev on GS. I’ll be with 3 friends in section 2 front row- can’t wait! PJ
PS- so schedule just out. Delpo match on GS! I’m bummed – he’s one of my favorites… But also really like Goffin.
Hey P.J. I’d like to see Goffin at LA tomorrow. Do you think it would be possible to get in with a ground pass. I know it is first come first serve but what are the odds? Same question for Delpo-Thiem at GS, worth the risk of buying a ground pass?
Hey Peter, I think it absolutely would be worth it – just get here as early as you can to try to grab a seat (LA first). PJ
Thanks so much for posting this helpful info! This is only my second time attending, and your information really helped me decide what to do. A friend already hooked me up with tickets for Tuesday, but decided I need to go on Wednesday too, day and evening. I mean.. How can I not, right? Looking forward to being in NY and at the Open. Cheers!
Hey Lisa, a huge thanks for taking the time to let me know – I deeply appreciate it and so happy to hear it!! That’s awesome about both Tues and Wed for both halves of draw for QF – you sound like me… Have an incredible time!! 🙂
It’s UP 2 U New York…..
Just touched down @ Laguardia.
Plan on:
-Ashe (Day Session) Sunday
-Ashe (Fed Session) Mon/Wed
ANYONE that has reasonably priced
extra (single ticket) for these sessions, would appreciate a heads up (940) 367-2332.
Hi Gabriel,
I have a single Ashe ticket for Mon morning session (Courtside) that I’m looking to give away. I have put it up on TicketMaster, so let me know if you want it, and I’ll take it down. I’m selling it for exactly what I bought it.
Thanks!
hey pj! thanks for your tips. i have an evening session ticket for Monday 9/4 and am dying to see rafa. what are the chances ill see him and if there are none, who do you think will be playing? thanks!!!
Hey! Chances are very very strong you and I will both see Rafa Mon night (I will be there too and so psyched). If not, we’ll see Fed – but I suspect they will continue the pattern of alternating Day and night sessions for them since they both won today. Vamos!
So disappointed to see the scheduling switch up, as Rafa’s my favorite player. 🙁
Would anybody be interested in trading their 9/4 Day tickets for two evening ones? Please let me know!
Amex has lots of signs for spend $100 and get $20 back. It’s not just for merchandise. I’m waiting for the charges to hit my card (it’s the weekend) and for the $20 to show up on my statement. You can sign up through the US Open app or through on-site places indicated in the link below. “Get a 1X $20 statement credit by using an enrolled eligible American Express® Card to make purchases of $100+ at any on-site merchants at the US Open between 8/28/17 – 9/10/17 (or, if final day of tournament play is extended, 9/11/17). Valid at… Read more »
Thanks! PJ
First of all, thank you so much for the wonderful tips. So waited too long and could only afford grounds admission tix for Monday. Any tips on who to catch and where ? Am ok with practice courts too if the big names get there. Lastly, if some day tix open up at a reasonable price , can one exchange at Ticketmaster booth before getting inside ? Thanks again !!
Hey Meena, rest assured you will see some great players regardless on Monday! First, check the schedule tomorrow afternoon when it is released (probably around 5pm). Confirm then that Armstrong matches look attractive to you relative to what’s on other courts (see Day 8 of last year’s schedule as an example of what to expect) then make plans to arrive as early as you can Mon morning to get in line at the East Gate. I’d recommend 830am if you can swing it. Once they open gates at 930, go directly to grab a general admission seat in Armstrong (literally… Read more »
Hello PJ – Thought I will update how it went. The best $85 grounds ticket ever ! Got there 9 am, the Amex radio was free handout to all at the time, didn’t use but it looks cool. Definitely get the chase charger if one has Chase card. I had an extra charger but I kept it for later. Started out watching Venus practice, moved to Louis Armstrong for the doubles. Then to Grandstand for Bryan bros and Del Porto! In between saw practice of Sania and Roger Federer. I gave up my seats in Grandstand but found it easier… Read more »
Hey Meena, great to hear it! I’m amazed you got into Grandstand yesterday – I was in the upper level standing room only section during Bryan Brothers and it was absolutely impossible to get a seat. Then a friend in Grandstand texted me during Delpo match that it was a “war zone” – people sitting in stairs, impossible to get in, etc. So glad for you! PJ
Hi PJ I got into the Bryan bros just before it started in the direct sun area .. then gave it up to see Federer at practice. For the del Porto trick is to go away from the stairs .. walk a bit further in the top and then stand next to steps .. people were moving around and leaving and I could walk down as they left . But it was so noisy ! ?
Fantastic, Meena, thank you! PJ
Looking for tickets for Monday , anyone reselling ? Please email me at plbkn@yahoo.com
Hola PJ!… Yesterday I watched isner and Sharapova at ashe (thanks for your tips), great games!! … What would be your guess, if federer wins today, when (day or night) would he play on Monday?
Hey Fernando, I was there too – was awesome! My guess is it would almost certainly be Mon afternoon if Nadal also wins, and very likely Mon afternoon even if Nadal loses. PJ
Hey P.J.
Looking at last year’s schedule, there was a Men’s Singles match (Monfils v. Baghdatis) on Grandstand for the Sunday day session. Do you think this year’s Sunday Grandstand session will be exclusively Doubles given the lack of top seeds in the Bottom Half of the draw?
Hi Luke, I’m pretty confident they will put one men’s R16 match on each court (would be shocked if they didn’t). My guess is Pouille Schwartzmann on LA and Lorenzi-Anderson on Grandstand. My bigger question is whether they might buck tradition and put a men’s R16 on GS on Monday because it is definitely the nicer of the two (given temp LA). Probably not, but that could be a surprise… PJ
Yeah, I’ve been wondering why Grandstand isn’t the second court this year, since as you note it’s WAY nicer, and the crowd control situation is much better. There are only two entrances and one exit from the temporary Armstrong, so there are huge lines to get in even when there are plenty of empty seats. I bought a good seat there for Monday, expecting that’s where the singles matches will be.
Hey PJ, looking at the weather it seems like its gonna rain on Sunday. Is this likely gonna have an impact for the quarter finals starting Tuesday? Of course they can always close the roof so…
Thanks for your amazing help as always!
Hey Dom, sure thing! Highly unlikely it will have any impact. Mon forecast is clear, so any matches that aren’t competed Sun will be finished then so that Tues can get back on schedule. Since singles are all on Ashe beginning Tues, rain will not affect anything thereafter. PJ
Thanks again PJ.
Enjoy the tennis!
Hi, I have one ticket to swap if possible, Sun 11am at Ashe, with a ticket for tomorrow Sat!
Hey Pj,
Do you think that if I wait until September 9th to buy tickets for the finals there will still be tickets available in the courtside section and the prices will be lower?
Thanks
Hey Leonardo, no way to speculate with much assurance. If Federer makes it through to finals, scarcity will increase and prices will rise. If not, prices may fall – how much depends on the storyline associated with the finalists. There will absolutely still be resale tickets on offer regardless – the big question is price, and that’s really hard to predict. PJ
Hi All, I have 1 ticket Sunday 11am at Ashe, to swap if possible with a Sat night (tomorrow!) ticket!
Incredible site, PJ! So what’s the Sunday night line-up likely to be at this point? I’m guessing Shapavalov-Carrena Busta on the men’s side, and maybe Venus on the women’s side, if she wins today? (I’d love to see Kvitova-Muguruza, but wouldn’t complain about seeing Venus.)
Hey Paul, THANKS! That would be exactly my guess too. Probably Sharapova afternoon if she wins tonight… PJ
Paul, my guess for tomorrow on Ashe:
Day:
Sevastova v Sharapova
Suarez-Navarro v Williams
Querrey v Zverev
Night:
Kvitova v Muguruza
Shapovalov v Carreno-Busta
PJ
Paul, FYI they just announced tomorrow’s schedule. I guessed right on who they’d put on Ashe, but Shapovalov is DAY and Querrey match is NIGHT. PJ
Hey P.J.!! This a heaven sent article and you are really the best for sharing all this! Thanks a ton!
Need one more favor. I am a bit confused about this. I have tomorrow’s evening pass for Arthur Ashe. Does that mean I can’t enter the grounds before 6 pm? and if I can’t what do reckon my options are if I want to get in around 2 pm ish? grounds admission is unbelievably expensive right now.
Any tips?
Thanks
Raj
Hey Raj, I’m so glad it’s helpful – makes me so happy to hear that! You’re correct: an Ashe evening ticket only allows entry at 6pm. You might want to take a chance and go to the on-site box office around 2pm and see if they have any tickets that opened up that morning (located right at the East Gate entrance on corner of the Chase Center building- note this is NOT the Ticket Exchange tent at the top of the hill). This is risky, as there may not be anything… But you can try. If that doesn’t work, you… Read more »
Superb! I will try that out. Thanks a bunch again!
There are junior qualifies going on on outer practice courts P10-20 which you can watch free of charge.
Awesome info thanks!
I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all of this INCREDIBLE information. You helped me (a tennis fan but first time attendee) purchase tickets to surprise my husband (MAJOR fan and player, never was able to attend) for our first wedding anniversary. I cannot thank you enough!
On that note, we’re attending Sunday day session in Ashe, but will be in town for Saturday and Monday. If anybody has extra tickets for Saturday, I would love to take them off of your hands to make the weekend even more of a surprise!
Hey Hope, THANKS so much for the super kind note – I’m so glad it helped and what an awesome anniversary gift!! Enjoy the rest of your time here! P.J.
HI PJ, if you hear of anyone needing to get rid of Saturday day or night (considering the schedule, who would not move mountains to attend?!) I would really appreciate them being passed on. I bought Sunday day session before the draw assuming we’d at least see SOMEONE and it turns out everyone my husband and I want to see are in the top half and playing tomorrow. I like to think of my husband and I strong of heart, but this is killing us! We’ll be in town all weekend, so I can meeting anyone anywhere. I can only… Read more »
Hope,
What is your budget for each session, I have a pair of loge tickets for Sunday 09/03 evening session that I am reselling, let me know if you are interested. By the way, I think you will be sitting right next to P.J. or at least a few seats away:)
Scott if Hope doesn’t want Sunday night, I may be interested in your tickets.
P.J.,
Sure, if Hope does not want these, I will keep them for you, let me remove the listing first.
Hi Scott, email me at h.margerum at yahoo dot com with the details!
Just in case, I still have 2 Sunday night loge tickets for sale. Sec 134, row C.
Paul,
I have already contacted Hope and is waiting for her reply, if you are looking for Sunday 09/03 Evening session loge tickets, I see two pairs of standard tickets are still available on Ticketmaster Sec 126 Row D ($250 per ticket plus fee) and Sec 116 Row H ($190 per ticket plus fee). My tickets are Sec 101 Row C so I am looking for a little bit more to recoup.
Hey Scott. Sounds reasonable. But I’m now in a debate with my wife over going Sunday night or Monday day at Louis Armstrong… So at this point please don’t hold tickets for me. If we decide definitively on Sunday night I will check with you again. Thanks.
Paul,
No problem, just FYI, the standard tickets I mentioned are still there and there are some reasonable deals on exchange as well, hope you find what you are looking for, either way, you are going to have a lot of fun!:) Enjoy!
Hey PJ
Heading to the Open on Saturday and have tickets in section 2 at Armstrong very close to the court. I am keeping my fingers cross that Thiem will play there! I didn’t know if you had any recommendations where to stand or go to attempt to get autographs there. Also I know Federer and Nadal play that day but I don’t have tickets to Ashe 🙁 Do they ever pratice the day of the match??? As everyone else has stated, love Federer!! Thanks for all the work you put into this!!!
Hey Tami, my pleasure! Armstrong should be rocking tomorrow – that’s gonna be awesome. (Im also sitting in section 2 on Mon!) Very good chance you’ll see Thiem. Players do sometimes schedule practice on day of match, just depends totally on the individual. Usually within a few hours of their scheduled match if they do. For autographs in temp Armstrong, not sure – but generally near where they sit between changeovers is best – and in that sense section 2-6 probably have greatest odds). Enjoy! PJ
Fantastic Article. Thanks for sharing it! I will be in Arthur Ash on Saturday night.
Hey Javier, thank you! That’s awesome – hope you have an incredible time! P.J.
Great info. Thanks. We are going Tuesday. September 5. First time for my kids. 13-11. Going to watch the doubles on Armstrong. Going GA tickets. Hopefully they sell enough in the morning. Brent.
Hey Brent, sounds like a great plan. Enjoy! PJ