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

▸ Returning Visitors: Click Here for Latest Updates!
- June 28: Published fully restructured new version of this post to facilitate navigation, including this PDF 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal — day-by-day ticket options and direct links to check prices and comparison shop on Ticketmaster and Stubhub.
- July 3: Added FAQ: “Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?”
- August 3: Updated details on shade patterns in Armstrong Stadium in FAQ: “Which seats get the most shade?”
- August 27: The NYT reported that the Open would offer limited $25 evening grounds passes for purchase on-site only through Sep 6: “However, they can be purchased only on-site the evening of entry and on nights that Louis Armstrong is sold out (not including resale tickets).” When I asked the US Open box office to provide more details, they wrote: “No unfortunately we cannot confirm availability beforehand, these specific passes are on a day-to-day basis. Evenings grounds passes are only made available day of based on the capacity of the events and the stadiums.”
- August 29: My new chart outlining how scheduling should work beginning in Round 2: “Who Plays on Which Dates After R1?”
- September 1: Fellow fan Carrie reported on the late-night taxi situation: “I had a great experience with getting a yellow cab at the rideshare area by the NY Hall of Science at around 11:30pm the first two nights. NYPD organized the taxis and the taxi line and I waited only a few minutes in line before I was able to get a cab and a fast ride back to the hotel at a very reasonable cost. There were plenty of taxis waiting to pick up folks. This was probably way faster than waiting for an uber, and the police officer organizing the taxi line even made the sure my driver had his meter on when he saw I was a woman traveling solo late at night!”
- September 3: I share observation on the new post-renovation Courtside and Loge sections in my updated FAQ “What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?“
By P.J. Simmons
If you’re a fellow tennis fan planning a trip to the US Open — whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth — I built this guide for you. As a serious tennis player and fan living in NYC, I feel so lucky that the US Open is in my backyard. I absolutely love the tournament, and find nothing more educational and inspiring for my own game than seeing world-class live tennis.
2026 will mark my 18th time at the US Open, and I’ve learned a ton over the years through trial and error about how to maximize the opportunity, find the best tickets and seats on the Official US Open ticket site on Ticketmaster, StubHub, and other reseller sites, and generally get the biggest bang for the buck. Likewise, I’ve learned so much thanks to fellow fans around the world who have shared their own insights since I wrote the first version of this post over a decade ago.
Below are my top 10 recommendations and practical resources to help you sort through the complexity, understand all the ticket options, and make the best decisions for your own priorities and budget so you have an incredible experience. I’ll continue to update throughout the summer and the tournament. Don’t hesitate to reach out with a question below if you can’t find what you need – I’ll reply as soon as I can.
For my returning friends: Please let me know what you think of this newly restructured and updated version (June 28), which hopefully will make navigation easier and faster for you. Please let me know what you think – I’d really appreciate your feedback!
What Every First-Timer Should Know Before Buying Tickets
Whether it’s your first Open or you just haven’t been in a few years, here are a few things worth understanding before you spend a dollar or make final decisions on when to attend.
Consider taking advantage of incredible FREE opportunities to see world-class tennis and superstars the week before the main tournament (August 23–29)
Before the main tournament begins, there’s a packed week of events at the US Open grounds (“Fan Week”) that offers many opportunities to experience the magic of the Open without spending a dollar on a ticket.
The week kicks off Sunday August 23 with Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. If you have kids, this is a great day to go with lots of interactive games, music, activities.
Then, the Qualifying Tournament (Monday August 24 – Thursday August 27) is an amazing opportunity for serious fans to see major rising players and incredible tennis up close. 128 of the world’s best male and female players (whose ATP and WTA rankings were just shy of qualifying automatically for the US Open) will compete for the final 32 spots (16 each for men and women) in the singles draws. In 2021, #150-ranked qualifier Emma Raducanu went on to win the US Open women’s singles title – the first Grand Slam champion in history to come through qualifiers. Maja Chwalinska came close to doing the same at the 2026 French Open. Read why Fan Week/Qualies are so special in this excellent piece by Steven Kutz.
Throughout the entire week, there are opportunities to see some of the top-seeded players and biggest stars in unofficial practice sessions (details posted on the practice schedule the morning of).
Note: Fan week also features four special events that require paid tickets: including Mixed Doubles Rounds 1&2 (Aug 25 10am); Exhibition play with Roger Federer (Aug 25 7pm); Mixed Doubles Semis and Finals (Aug 26 7pm); and a “Stars of the Open” exhibition (Aug 27 7pm).
IMPORTANT: TO GAIN ADMISSION DURING FAN WEEK, YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR A FREE FAN ACCESS PASS.
The US Open is much bigger than Ashe Stadium. Get the lay of the land before you make your plan.
Most people think of Arthur Ashe Stadium when they think about the US Open—and understandably so. It’s the largest tennis stadium in the world (almost 24,000 seats) and home to many of the tournament’s biggest matches. But the US Open is so much more than Ashe. Think of it as a massive tennis festival spread across an entire campus. On a typical day during the first week, world-class matches take place simultaneously on Ashe plus 16 other courts.
In fact, some of the most exciting tennis during the tournament happens on Louis Armstrong Stadium (almost as big as the main show courts at Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open with around 14,000 seats plus a retractable roof in case of rain), Grandstand (with 8,100 seats), Court #17 (2,800 seats) and the smaller field Courts #4-16.
Some important basic rules about how entry and seating works:
- Any of the almost 80 ticket options gets you access to the entire US Open grounds — you’ll find every option laid out in the ticket chart below (2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices).
- Once you’ve entered the US Open grounds, you can access unreserved seats (on a first-come basis) in Armstrong, Grandstand, and on every other court except Ashe stadium. Ashe Stadium has no unreserved seats, so you need to buy an Ashe-specific ticket if you want to get in. Armstrong and Grandstand have both reserved ticket options and unreserved seating. Courts #4-17 are entirely first-come, unreserved seating.
- Grounds entry times vary depending on your ticket: A grounds pass or “Day” session reserved ticket for either Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand allows entry when gates first open (usually 9:30am). If you only purchase an “Evening” session ticket for a particular day, you’ll have to wait until 6pm to enter the grounds. Once you’re in the US Open grounds, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
Learn how player and match scheduling works to raise the odds of seeing your favorite players.
Most fans coming to the Open dream of seeing their favorite players in action. But what many first-timers don’t realize is that it’s impossible to predict which players will play on which days, on which courts, or at what time until the detailed “Daily Schedule of Play” is released shortly before the actual match day. So if you buy a ticket to the Open prior to that – which most people do – you’re buying access to matches in a particular round of play, not a guarantee that you’ll see any specific player.
The good news is that having a clear understanding of how scheduling works can dramatically improve your odds of seeing the players and matches that matter most to you. Taking a few minutes now to review these things will put you ahead of the game:
1. Start by getting the big picture of the tournament’s schedule – here’s an overview:
>> You can find a comprehensive, day-by-day breakdown of the schedule and every ticket option here: 2026 US Open Ticket Options
2. Get a sense of what day-by-day match scheduling looks like by reviewing last year’s “Daily Schedules of Play” to get a feel for what types of matches are played on which courts during the various rounds. Keep in mind this is just illustrative: for instance, just because a player was scheduled for certain days or played on certain Ashe Day or Night sessions does not mean you can expect the same for this year!
3. Go deeper: see the FAQ “How can I predict when and where my favorite player will play?” below — it explains how to make educated guesses about who plays when and where.
How to Choose the Right Tickets and Spot Good Deals
One of the most common questions I get every year is some version of: “What’s the best ticket to buy?” The honest answer is that there are many “best” tickets — it simply depends on your priorities and what kind of experience you’re hoping to have. Some fans want the energy of being with 24,000 others in an Arthur Ashe night session. Others are happy spending an entire day roaming the grounds in the early rounds, hopping from court to court. Some want to treat someone special to courtside seats in a final round. Others want the most tennis possible for the lowest price. So the goal is simply to find the ticket that’s best for you.
Below are my top recommendations—followed by a time-saving chart I built to help you compare all the options, benchmark average prices and comparison shop, and make decisions with confidence.
Don’t miss the chance to see world-class players and great matches up close on the other courts beyond Ashe Stadium.

It was awesome seeing Ben Shelton up close for the first time in 2022 on Court #10 in Round 1 (v. Borges)
For my first US Open, I spent about $250 per ticket for a seat in the upper portion of Ashe Stadium for a night match so I’d be guaranteed to see at least one Top 10 player live. While it was certainly thrilling to experience the electricity of an evening Ashe match, I still felt somewhat distant from the action (it’s a mammoth 24,000-capacity venue) and spent much of the time watching the match on the huge video screen. Moreover, because the tournament prioritizes putting the biggest stars on Ashe over the best match-ups, the matches I saw weren’t terribly exciting.
Since then, I’ve become addicted to the unparalleled thrill of seeing many world-class competitors from a few feet away in epic duels on several of the smaller non-Ashe courts (Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand Stadium, the very cool Court #17, and other outer courts #4-#16). Once you have this experience you’ll likely get addicted too. While it’s rare that you’ll see the Top 5 players on those courts, you WILL see other awe-inspiring players in very competitive matches –including seeing rising stars before they become household names, and feel the excitement of “discovering” new talent to cheer for. Over the years I’ve seen countless “next-gen” players up very close for the first time on outer courts before they were super famous — including Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Madison Keys, Dominic Thiem, Sasha Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and many others.
While I recommend everyone experience Ashe Stadium at least once, I also can’t recommend more strongly that you make time to explore the opportunities to see thrilling tennis in more intimate settings on the other 16 courts.
On a tight budget but want to see a lot of tennis? Consider going during Rounds 1 and 2, and aim for an affordable Ashe Stadium (or Armstrong Stadium) DAY session ticket — often comparably priced to a Grounds Pass, but a much smarter buy.

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

Me spotted on Netflix “Break Point” series cheering on Taylor Fritz and Brandon Holt at the 2022 US Open – front row during awesome match on Grandstand
As a general rule, I encourage fellow fans to budget their time and money in ways that maximize the possibility of a few magical experiences versus a ton of forgettable ones. For instance, if you’re opting between multiple days of cheap nosebleed seats in Ashe’s Upper Promenade versus applying the same budget towards excellent seats on Armstrong or Grandstand for a couple sessions, I generally recommend the latter.
Louis Armstrong (14,053 seats) and Grandstand (8,125 seats) are the other two main show courts after Ashe Stadium – and they offer a much more intimate experience. A reserved courtside ticket for either can give you access to thrilling matches and players up close that you’ll never forget.
The first time I did this in 2010 I saw an unforgettable marathon slugfest between David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco from the first row of the old Armstrong stadium… It gave me a memory I will treasure forever. Ever since, I’ve made it an annual tradition to go with friends to get excellent courtside seats in Armstrong during the 3rd Round or Round of 16. In 2019, I got to see Matteo Berrettini crushing balls in the Round of 16 on Armstrong from the second row (and my phone exploded with texts when my friends and I were spotted on ESPN frequently cheering for him). I’ve had similar transporting experiences in Grandstand over the years – including sitting first row behind-the-server for a match between Auger-Aliassime and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
Both stadiums also feature general admission seating on a first-come basis, but getting good GA seats can be tough and involve long lines for the higher-profile matches — so having a reserved courtside ticket gives you the dual benefit of skipping long lines plus incredible proximity to the players.
If you’ve never done it, consider splurging once on a courtside Ashe seat.

Me caught on ESPN cheering very loudly for Carlitos from front row Ashe (lower left) during 2024 Round 2 (v Botic van de Zandschulp)
After dreaming for years of the possibility, I finally bit the bullet to invest in Arthur Ashe Stadium Courtside seats in 2011 for the first time. It was bliss. Ever since, I’ve made an annual pilgrimage to experience Ashe Courtside with a few close friends at least once.
What most people don’t understand about the mammoth Ashe stadium until they’ve been in person is that even Loge seating is fairly high up because (a) the stadium is very vertically oriented (seating is on a sharp incline) and (b) there are two levels of suites above Courtside before the first row of Loge even begins. So when you’re down in Courtside, you feel like you’re in another world. The feeling of being that close to greatness in Ashe’s electric atmosphere is pretty amazing.
Here’s a video I shot of Federer from the front row in 2011, the very first time I sat courtside at Ashe. I found a great deal on a resale ticket on Labor Day during the Round of 16 and got to witness Federer perfection from a few feet away. Best money I’ve ever spent.
Before you compare options, get clear on what matters most to you for this particular visit — seeing a favorite player, incredible proximity, atmosphere, the most tennis for your money, shade, flexibility, or certainty. The more familiar you become with the market, the easier it becomes to recognize real value when you see it.
Here are 4 steps to making sure you make your decision with confidence:
- Know the benefits/restrictions of each type of ticket – read “What Each US Open Ticket Type Gets You” below.
- Review the day-by-day ticket options and average prices in the chart below. It will give you valuable context for smart decisionmaking, including up-to-date price ranges of what to expect for every single ticket option plus benchmark ranges from last year’s Open.
- Comparison shop — best done on a computer. For my full step-by-step process — which sites, how to read the maps, what to avoid — see “Which ticket site should I use?” under Before You Buy below.
- Scan the topics below under “Before You Buy — Common Questions” to dive deeper into many important questions that may impact your final decision about what’s best for you.

Before You Buy — Common Questions
▸ Should I buy now or wait? Will prices go up or down?
The frustrating reality is: it depends — and it’s impossible to predict with certainty. Buying US Open tickets can be a bit like investing in the stock market: knowledge and good judgment dramatically improve your odds, but there are always surprises because so many variables are involved.
One thing many first-time buyers don’t realize is that the inventory they see today may look very different tomorrow, next week, or later in the summer. Much of the market is driven by resale, because the USTA typically makes relatively few Standard tickets (“blue dots” on Ticketmaster) available, with most inventory pre-allocated to subscribers — and even Standard tickets are dynamically priced rather than sold at a fixed “face value.” As a result, prices can move in unexpected ways.
Historically, some sessions get cheaper as more resale tickets hit the market and sellers compete, while other high-demand sessions rise substantially. Who gets scheduled on which days, courts, and sessions matters too. Last year (2025), schedulers surprised everyone by putting the blockbuster Djokovic–Alcaraz semifinal in the day session rather than at night — so day prices spiked and night prices dropped.
Resale tickets are almost always available until the last minute, so patient buyers sometimes find great deals — but waiting trades certainty for risk. The best advice I can give: familiarize yourself with typical prices for the sessions you’re considering so you can recognize a good opportunity when you see one. The chart above is built for exactly that — every option, this year’s average ranges, and last year’s day-of benchmarks (for context, not prediction). One clue: if you enlarge the Ticketmaster map and see few tickets, scarcity often signals prices may keep rising; abundant inventory often means more downward pressure.
▸ Will the tournament release more Standard tickets and Grounds Passes?
Sometimes yes — but in a completely unpredictable way. The USTA has historically released additional Standard (“blue dot”) tickets throughout the summer for some sessions, sometimes for surprisingly good seats. There has never been a reliable pattern for which sessions or ticket types get more inventory, and Grounds Pass inventory can fluctuate too. My advice: check periodically, especially in the mornings, but don’t count on it for any specific session.
▸ Will I still get good tickets if everything looks expensive right now?
Usually, yes. One of the biggest misconceptions among first-time buyers is that the inventory available when tickets first go on sale is all there will be. In reality, more resale inventory appears throughout the summer, and the USTA often releases additional standard tickets too. The market keeps evolving right up until the tournament begins — and sometimes even on the day of the matches.
▸ Which sessions are the best deals?
This varies year to year, and some of the best last-minute deals turn up when the lineups aren’t what people expected (last year, for example, a marquee semifinal landed in the day session instead of the night). Still, here are a few sessions that tend to be overlooked and have historically offered relatively good value:
- Armstrong evening courtside, week 1 — exciting under the lights in a big stadium, but demand is lower because many fans choose day-session tickets instead (understandably, since a day ticket lets you in as soon as gates open, so you can catch as much tennis as possible). The trade-off: an evening-only ticket won’t get you onto the grounds until 6pm. But it can be an affordable way to see bigger names from a far better vantage point than the upper tier of Ashe.
- Quarterfinal day sessions — the biggest-name lineups almost always go to the night sessions during the quarterfinals. With many tourists gone and locals leaning toward evenings, day tickets here are often cheaper than the Round of 16.
- Labor Day Ashe evening — historically cheaper than other Round-of-16 sessions, since many tourists have headed home and demand dips. You still get great matches, and it’s a great time to experience Ashe at night.
▸ How do I see the exact location of seats I might buy?
Use the “Map View” on Ticketmaster for any particular session provides the best reference for the exact location of specific seat(s). After you click on the session/stadium that interests you, choose Map View, then mouse over or click any of the dots to see the exact section, row, and seat number. This is also helpful if you’re comparison shopping with Stubhub or other resale sites, whose maps may only feature sections and zones and not individual seats.
KEY SEATING CHARTS AND SHADE MAPS
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM
- NEW 2026 Arthur Ashe Seating Chart
- My NEW 2026 annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Ashe “Interactive Seat Viewer” (updated for 2026) to give you a sense of what view is like from specific seats – which from my experience tends to make seats look like they’re closer than they actually feel when you’re there, but helpful nonetheless.
Update on the Renovated Loge Section
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM
- Louis Armstrong Stadium Seating Chart (Official)
- Louis Armstrong Chart (with my annotations)
- Armstrong Interactive “View from Seat” Map
- My annotated Armstrong Stadium SHADE map
GRANDSTAND
▸ What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?
A lot. 2026 brings a huge change to Ashe: a major renovation added 2,000 new Courtside seats and removed around 2,800 Loge seats to make room for the expanded courtside area and newly designed luxury suites between the Courtside and Loge levels. Promenade remains exactly the same.
My initial observations after spending a few days watching play from various sections of Ashe in 2026:
The New Courtside
- Courtside seats (even higher rows) remain qualitatively much, much better than Loge and Promenade, which now feel even more remote. Overall, though, courtside feels far less intimate. And more numbers create intense crowds in the “Club Level” corridors (where you get drinks and food).
- Noise levels are worse than ever in the stadium due to the larger numbers of people in courtside and folks in suites, many of whom are drinking heavily and carry on conversations at full voice. All it takes is a few loud conversations to spark a chain reaction: background conversations become white noise, and everyone feels permission to talk loudly.
- Gone are the days when you would be embarrassed for standing in an aisle except during changeovers. The longer stairways — coupled with the highly questionable elimination of the continuous walkway at the top of Courtside — means people take too long to get to their seats.
- The addition of two cordoned-off Courtside rows (“100A-100E”) with walkway behind the umpire chair feels, to be perfectly frank, obnoxious. One the one hand, I applaud the move to put Players’ Boxes into the first row on this side (section 100A) and directly opposite (105AA). And I understand the need to reserve parts of these rows (especially 100G) for VIPs like Billie Jean King and provide special security for them. But selling the rest of these seats to ultra-rich subscribers — many of whom skip matches in favor of hanging in suites or resell the seats at out-of-reach, exorbitant prices — is infuriating to someone like me who has spent hard-earned savings on those seats in the past and literally been moved to tears of joy and appreciation to be in them watching favorite players.
The New Loge
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
I’ll update the FAQ on views from seats as soon as I can with a few more photos, but wanted to share this update in real time (Sep 3, 2026).
▸ Which seats get the most shade?
ASHE STADIUM
The roof creates a huge amount of natural shade all day for many seats. The most shade is in the South and West sections. Next-best is the North. The most sun (to avoid for Day sessions) is on the East side. See my Ashe shade map. I will update this with more details after I’ve experienced Ashe post-renovation in person during Fan Week this year.
GRANDSTAND
Much less shade overall, but South and West are again better because the sun is more at your back. GA seats higher under the overhang — especially the Southwest corner — get the most.
ARMSTRONG STADIUM
Sections 1–8 (South and West) are best overall for shade, with Section 2 the best (in shade all day). Sections 11-16 (East) are the worst and sit in direct afternoon sun (however the top couple of rows are shaded all day due to the overhang from the upper deck). See this basic overview of the Armstrong shade pattern – then see these additional photos showing how various sections are impacted throughout the day. Additional details:
- Section 1 is fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then some rows and some seats in the first 8-10 rows start getting some sun). See this photo.
- Sections 17-18: Fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then lower rows start getting sun. By about 2:15, many of the first 8-10 rows (rows E-O) are getting sun – see this photo and this photo. By 3pm a few more rows in 17 and 18 get sun – see this photo. By around 4pm (not sure exact time) all of 17 and 18 are shaded completely again
- Sections 3-8 (West side/Chair umpire side) is in full sun at 11am, but the shade gradually moves down to blanket more and more rows such that by 12:30pm the top 10 rows (appx) are in shade and by around 1pm all seats are fully shaded.
- The last 2 rows in the lower bowl around the entire stadium stay shaded (under the overhang from the upper bowl).
- Sections 8-11: Rows U and above are always shaded, most other seats always in direct sun.
▸ Which sections and seats have the best views?
Most people consider “behind the server” seats (the North or South ends of the court) the best — and prices reflect it. For first-timers, that’s my top recommendation. It’s the angle used for broadcast: you can follow point construction and see the court from the perspective of the player on your side of the net, without moving your head side to side. Here’s a photo of the same perspective (from higher up seats) in Armstrong. Here’s another photo from Ashe courtside front row.
Corner sections are also widely considered to be highly desirable — and for good reason. They carry many of the same advantages of the above, with the added benefit you can see the player on your side of the net from the front as their hitting the ball not just the back. Here’s a photo from the new Armstrong from that perspective.
As a serious player myself, I personally love sitting courtside as close as possible in lower rows of sections where seats are practically on the court, perpendicular and near to the actual baseline (e.g., section 120 in renovated Ashe) because it gets me physically even closer to the players and more on the same level. Sitting in the lower rows, I feel even more like I’m on the court with them. I feel the speed of the game. In these seats, I personally enjoy watching one player at a time sometimes to see their footwork, how they prepare for the next ball, etc. Here’s a photo from Ashe courtside from that perspective.
For Loge or Promenade in Ashe, I generally recommend the lowest rows you can get regardless of location, since Loge — and especially Promenade — are already quite high up.
For Day sessions, factor in shade (West, Southwest, and Northwest get the most relief; see the shade question above). The umpire chair is never a real obstruction, but in very low rows on that side it can be a minor annoyance.
▸ Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?
There are a handful of specific seats worth avoiding in Promenade based on reader reports in the comments over the years and posts on “View from my Seat.” Two recommendations based on every obstruction complaint I’ve ever heard about the Promenade:
1. Avoid aisle seats in Promenade rows A-E (due to large glass safety panels at the bottom of aisle stairways).
At the bottom of every aisle staircase, there’s a clear safety panel (with a metal support bar) to keep people from stumbling over the ledge. These sit at the ends of the rows, all the way around the stadium. If you’re in one of the first several rows (roughly A through E) AND in the seat or two directly beside an aisle, that glass and bar can cut right across your view of the court. Fans report this year after year, always in the same spots: the aisle-adjacent seats in the low rows. A few rows up, or a few seats over, and the problem disappears. The added bonus of skipping these seats: you’ll avoid fans walking up and down the aisles (which they’re only allowed to do in Promenade).
2. Unless you are fairly tall, avoid Row A in Promenade due to the metal safety rail. The front row of the Promenade has a horizontal rail along it. For many adults it’s a non-issue — you see right over it. But if you’re on the shorter side, or bringing kids, the rail can sit annoyingly close to your sightline to the near baseline. My advice for most folks is to avoid the first row altogether. Rows B and C give you virtually the same view with zero rail, and Row A’s extra legroom probably isn’t worth the tradeoff.
Check out photos from other fans of particular seats in Promenade at “View from my Seat.”
Note: I am not able yet to address questions about structural obstructions in the newly renovated Courtside and Loge sections – I’ll update after I’m there this year.
▸ Day session or evening — which is the better value?
For most fans, day sessions offer better overall value. You’ll typically get more tennis, more scheduling flexibility, and grounds access from morning until late evening. Evening sessions often feature big names and a special atmosphere under the lights, but you’re usually paying for fewer matches. Which is “better” comes down to whether you care more about the quantity of tennis or the energy of a showcase night session.
▸ Is a Grounds Pass worth it?
Sometimes — but usually not. Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the best value; often it isn’t. Before buying one, always compare prices for Ashe and Armstrong day-session tickets. If they’re available for a similar price, you get all the same grounds-access privileges plus a reserved seat and valuable rain protection from the stadium roofs.
▸ Should I buy a subscription or multi-session plan?
For most serious fans, I don’t recommend it. Most multi-session and first-time subscription plans are only for Promenade seats — so high up in that huge stadium that you’ll watch much of the match on the Jumbotron or through binoculars. It can take years to upgrade to Loge (only available with the very expensive full-series plan). For the price of a full-series plan (well over $2,000 each) you could buy several amazing seats across the tournament — or two excellent seats for the Men’s Final. And there’s always a glut of Promenade Ashe seats on the resale market, so an entire series of Promenade seats can be hard to resell.
▸ Which ticket site should I use? How to comparison shop?
Start with Ticketmaster, then compare resale. My process:
- Consult 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal to learn the average price ranges for the sessions you care about.
- Always check the official Ticketmaster US Open site first — on a computer for the fastest navigation. Use “map view” (click any section), try different sortings, and use multiple tabs to compare sessions. Ticketmaster shows both Standard tickets (“blue dots” — face value, most often Promenade, occasionally Loge/Courtside) and resale tickets (“red dots”). Surprisingly, resale red dots are often the best value, because resellers undercut each other. Tickets stay on sale up to 59 minutes after a session starts if inventory remains, and both Ticketmaster and StubHub make it easy to relist if your plans change (you need a US bank account to re-list on Ticketmaster).
- Compare availability and prices with StubHub and any other preferred resellers to see if you can find an even better deal for comparable seats. Other sites I’ve never had any problems with include Viagogo, VividSeats, SeatGeek, or Ticket Liquidator. I personally no longer recommend TickPick after two very poor experiences. My “2026 US Open Ticket Options” chart linked above links directly to every specific Ticketmaster and StubHub session ticket option.
- Only buy resale tickets that specify the exact Section, Row, and Seat (or seat range) matching the stadium seat maps in this post. Double-check what you receive matches what was advertised; reputable resellers refund a misrepresented ticket (but then it’s on you to find another).
- Never buy off Craigslist or classified sites — too many scams, and NYC law bans “scalping” within 1,500 feet of the venue (effectively everywhere off the subway), with undercover police on site.
- Going with friends? Consider buying a mix of cheap and amazing seats and trading off time in the great one (Promenade vs. Courtside, or across stadiums) — I do this every year. All tickets are mobile-only; if you don’t have a smartphone, Ticketmaster customer service can move yours to Will Call.
- For package deals (tickets + hotel/transport/VIP), trusted options include Championship Tennis Tours, Grand Slam Tennis Tours, and Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.
▸ Are resale ticket sites safe?
Generally, yes — provided you use reputable marketplaces. In some cases resale tickets are actually better values than standard tickets, because sellers compete on price. Before buying, always verify the section, row, and seat numbers, and make sure the ticket is clearly marked for mobile transfer.
▸ How can I predict when — and where — my favorite player will play?
While you can never be absolutely sure whether your favorite player will be scheduled for a Day or Night session (or on which court) until the Schedule of Play is released the day prior to matches, you CAN predict which DATE your favorite players will play if they advance after the Round 1 schedule is announced. Here’s a chart showing which players would play on which days after Round 1 if they advance (based on the pattern from the first two days of Round 1).
To be absolutely sure you see your favorite player, consider waiting until the schedule is published the day prior (start checking frequently early afternoon, usually out by 5:00pm), then immediately go to the official Ticketmaster US Open site or other resale sites like Stubhub to grab a resale ticket. This strategy requires, however, that you monitor the ticket situation closely in the days prior and are prepared to act immediately when the schedule is announced. Also, if you see tickets becoming scarce and prices going up in the days prior, you may conclude it’s worth taking a chance and purchasing based on an educated guess.
Another way to see your favorite player up close is to watch them when they’re scheduled for practice on the practice courts. See Tip #9
- Only the biggest superstars (like Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff) are sure to be scheduled on Ashe – others might be scheduled on Armstrong, Grandstand, or field courts. Schedulers have been known to put even the #1-ranked player in the world on Armstrong or Grandstand, as they did in 2021 with then #1 Simona Halep during Round 1 (on Grandstand) and then #2 Aryna Sabalenka (Armstrong).
- There’s never any sure way to predict whether players will be scheduled for DAY or NIGHT sessions. Officials try to spread the wealth and be fair to players by alternating players between Day and Night sessions. Contrary to popular belief, they do not always schedule the biggest stars at night. The one exception to this is Quarterfinals, when biggest stars are almost always scheduled for the night sessions.
- For Men’s Semifinals, we learned last year (2025) never to assume that the biggest starpower matches would be put on the Night session: they shocked everyone and put the Alcaraz v Djokovic match on during the Day session, and Sinner v Auger-Aliassime at night.
How to Get the Most of Your Visit
The night before you go, check the Schedule of Play
1. Download the official US Open Everywhere App (search “2026 US Open Tennis”) for the latest schedule, scores, and live updates. I also recommend SI.com’s tennis page for terrific day-to-day coverage and analysis.
2. Be sure to check the Schedule of Play here (or on the App) to identify the matches that most interest you and build your plan around that.
3. If you are targeting the first match of the day on either Grandstand or Armstrong and if you don’t have a reserved seat, aim to get in line early at either the East Gate (for Armstrong) or South Gate (for Grandstand) so you can be among the first to enter when gates open at 9:30am. Then speed-walk over and grab the best seat you can.
4. If you’re a player, you might be interested in reading my ten ideas for watching a pro match to help improve your own game— some of the ways I challenge myself to watch live tennis more deliberately from the perspective of a player who wants to improve.
Check out the practice courts for close sightings of the superstars
Check the practice schedule here (or on the US Open App) the night before and the morning of your day at the Open. Note: the best time to see top players practice without fighting as many crowds is during the Fan Week (see Tip 1).
Don’t drive unless you really have to — here’s how to get there
My top recommendation is to take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to “Mets-Willets Point.”
It’s super fast (under 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan) and drops you literally steps from the US Open’s East Gate. You can take it from either Moynihan Train Hall (8th Avenue between West 31st-33rd) or Grand Central. Look for “Port Washington” train on the monitors (signage may say “GREAT NECK” or “PORT WASHINGTON” — double-check the train number.) See 2026 LIRR schedule here. Download the MTA TrainTime app to purchase tickets. Important: the Mets-Willets LIRR stop is NOT accessible for fans with disabilities — exit instead at Woodside/61st St and transfer to the 7 train (or just take the 7 to Mets-Willets Point).
The subway #7 train is also a convenient (and the least expensive) option.
Takes a bit longer, but runs 24 hours. Stops include Grand Central. Download the MTA App for train time and routes. If you must drive: See the US Open’s driving directions and parking details. Plan extra time when the Mets are home (Aug 24-30 and Sep 4-6); I recommend arriving no later than 8:30am on Mets’ dates to be on the safe side. A good alternate parking option is the Shops at Skyview – about a 10-minute walk to the East Gate (and you can reserve a spot in advance for a discounted rate here). Consider buying a resale parking pass on StubHub for a specific lots. Fellow fan Harry notes street parking under or south of Highway 495 is viable if you don’t mind a walk.
Thinking of using UBER/ LYFT/ TAXI? They’re great getting out to the Open – but can be a nightmare coming back after a night session.
To the Open, set the destination to “Billie Jean King National Tennis Center” (drops near the South Gate) or “Mets-Willets Point” (near the 7 train, then walk the footbridge to the East Gate). After a night session, be ready for long waits and heavy surge pricing — thousands of people will be trying to do the same. Alternatives: reserve a car service in advance (I’ve used Riverside), take the LIRR or 7 into Manhattan and hail a cab there, or hail under the 7 train on Roosevelt Ave (or use the Curb app).
Consider staying nearby in Queens and walking or biking.
Fellow fan Mark stayed at an Airbnb on Queens Boulevard about 2 miles away: flat terrain, good bike lanes, and bike racks across from the South Gate — “a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute.”
Coming directly from Laguardia?
It’s only a 9-minute cab ride — or take the Q48 public bus to the “Roosevelt Av/Willets Pt” stop (around 30 minutes). You can check your bag at the US Open before you enter the grounds.
More Common Questions - Good to Know Before You Go
▸ What can I bring — and what’s not allowed? (No backpacks!)
Be sure to review this official complete list of prohibited items before going! To help clarify some common confusions:
- You CAN bring a drawstring bag (click here for example) but NOT a backpack with two straps
- You CAN bring a digital camera with video capabilities (however they do NOT allow “Video cameras or recording devices”, which includes GoPros)
- You CAN bring a plastic or metal water bottle 24 oz or less to refill on site (but NOT anything glass!)
- You CAN bring a fanny pack: but if you do you’ll still need to go through the “with bag” security line
- You CAN bring sunscreen in lotion form only, NOT aerosol cans
- According to the US Open bot on the website: “Outside food or beverages (excluding alcohol) CAN be brought into the US Open grounds, but must fit into one sized bag. There are no exceptions.”
- There is storage outside both East and South Gate entrances if you need it: (in 2025 it was $10 per locker, $20 for large items including suitcases). Bag check for American Express cardholders is discounted (1 bag per card).
Be prepared to wait in a potentially long security line if you have any bag at all (i.e. an enclosed object that doesn’t fit in your clothes), whereas you can breeze through a separate express line for those without bags.
Before Leaving, Don’t Forget…
- Download your mobile tickets to your mobile wallet (e.g. Apple Wallet or something like WalletPasses on Android)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen (lotion not spray)! If you forget, La Roche offers free samples just inside the EAST gate entrance.
- A backup phone charger (e.g. a Mophie) if you have one – although there are Chase-sponsored free chargers on site.
- A lightweight white towel (and/or lightweight neck gaiter) to protect exposed skin from sun or to sit on when in unreserved seats, which can get hot and uncomfortable.
- Reusable plastic water bottle (to refill using any of the many water fountains).
- A small umbrella if rain may be in the forecast
- Dress in layers as it can get hot during the day and occasionally chilly at night
- Contacts wearers: A very small bottle of contact lens solution in case you get something in your eye
- FYI: There are two entrances to the grounds: (1) the main entrance, the “East Gate,” located near the Subway/LIRR; and (2) the “South Gate” entrance near the iconic World’s Fair “Unisphere” (globe) – see map above. While lines tend to be shorter by the South Gate, the wait may end up being about the same because there are fewer attendants and metal detectors.
▸ Can I exit and re-enter the US Open grounds?
DAY SESSION ENTRY TO US OPEN GROUNDS (Gates open usually 9:30 most days, 11:00am Finals weekend)
- With either a Grounds Pass (Day) or a DAY-session reserved ticket in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand), you can enter the US Open grounds as soon as gates open (usually 9:30am, 11am on Finals weekend)
- Enter the US Open Grounds through security with your ticket scanned at the East Gate or South Gate; if you have a reserved stadium seat, your ticket is re-checked entering that stadium. Once you enter the US Open grounds with any ticket, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
- Note: DAY-session reserved tickets for Ashe or Armstrong only entitles you to that seat for the Day-session matches — after which you will have to leave your seat but can remain on the US Open grounds and access general unreserved seating on every court except Ashe (which has no unreserved seating).
- You can exit the grounds and re-enter as much as you’d like before 6:00pm (you can’t re-enter the Grounds after 6:00pm).
EVENING SESSION ENTRY (6:00pm)
- If you only have an Evening session ticket, you have to wait until 6:00pm to enter the grounds.
- If you are already in the grounds and also hold an Evening reserved tickets (for Ashe or Armstrong) for the same day, you do NOT need to exit and re-enter the grounds.
- If you’re in Armstrong for the Day session (courtside or GA), you’ll leave your seat between sessions while they clean, but you can stay in the Armstrong concourse.
▸ What if it rains?
The good news: since both Arthur Ashe and the new Louis Armstrong have roofs, far more fans can keep watching even
if it rains.
The bad news: if you’ve invested in Grandstand seats or just a Grounds Pass, there’s less consolation. Keep in mind weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable and change by the hour — there’s always hope showers pass quickly.
In the rare event of an all-day rainout (or under 60 minutes of play), the session may be rescheduled to the next day and your ticket honored then — or, if you bought directly from Ticketmaster, you may be able to trade tickets for another session this year or next (see the US Open’s somewhat complicated 2026 Inclement Weather Policy).
Worst case, look for the silver lining: you’ll be among thousands of fans you can grab a specialty cocktail with, huddle under shelter, and watch an Ashe match together on the big screen.
▸ Is grounds admission free on the second Thursday (Sep 10)?
One of the best-kept secrets: for years the US Open has quietly offered free grounds admission on the second Thursday of the main tournament (gates usually open 11am or noon; you must arrive before 5pm) — a chance to see the Men’s Doubles Semifinals plus all-star wheelchair players, the world’s top juniors, and standout collegiate players.
If you’re a serious fan — especially a doubles player — this is a day not to be missed.
▸ Food
FOOD: There are a bunch of options on site, but they aren’t cheap! See my chart outlining examples of the food stands by area on the grounds.
- This PDF includes several menus from past Food Village stands. Every year there are some new additions and substitutions, but many of these will still be around in 2026.
- Korilla BBQ is one of my favorites, but lines are usually among the longest.
- Poke Yachty is absolutely delicious and lines move quickly because they’ve nailed their system.
- Oyster Bar behind Grandstand has killer ceviches and lobster rolls.
- Hill Country BBQ, Curry Kitchen, Fish Shack and Fly Fish are also delicious.
- Restaurants in Queens not on the grounds
▸ What are perks for cardholders?
- AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDERS: Bring your Amex card if you have one! See full Amex Benefits at US Open here. Perks from 2025 likely to be repeated in 2026:
- (1) Amex Card Member Lounge on the 2d Level of the Amex “Fan Experience” (where anyone can also play a “Glow Tennis” mixed reality interactive game and get a complimentary manicure with tennis themed nail art).
- (2) Centurion Suite in Armstrong (Exclusive to Platinum and Centurion Members). Book in advance on Resy
- (3) Book complimentary court time in NYC area at over 500 tennis and pickleball courts and unlock special access to peak reservation times when using your Amex.
- (4) Check your bag for a reduced fee at East or South Gate
- (5) Get a one-time $20 statement credit when you spend $100 with your enrolled card at participating US Open merchants
- (6) Get a free earpiece/radio to hear ESPN match commentary
- (7) Skip lines and grab concession items quickly (checkout-free shopping) at the Amex Shop in South Plaza .
- CHASE CUSTOMERS? Check this Chase site for updates on perks for 2026.
- Click here to make a reservation to access the “Chase Lounge”
- Other past perks have included offering cool video+mobile “Chase Charge & Watch” chargers
▸ Recommended places to stay?
This is not an area of expertise for me, but I trust fellow tennis fanatic Melissa, who maintains a great list of hotels appealing to all budgets here.
Fellow fan Mark recommends staying in Queens and biking, based on his experience: “We packed our bikes and stayed at a nice AirB&B on Queens Boulevard, a little over 2 miles from the stadium. Queens has a great network of dedicated bike lanes and a friendly attitude toward bikers, and best of all – the terrain is flat! Once at the grounds, there are bike racks across from the South Gate entrance and in front of the security tent that handles baggage claim. It is a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute for anyone that so inclined!”
▸ Grounds access on Finals Weekend?
Grounds Admission tickets usually get issued at some point over the summer for Finals Weekend (Fri-Sun Sep 11-13) on Ticketmaster.
You can’t access Ashe with these tickets, but you can walk the grounds, see juniors and wheelchair finals, and watch Ashe matches on the big screens.
Final Tip: Pay It Forward When You Can
If you have the opportunity, consider a random act of kindness for fellow fans during the tournament. Our tennis community is big, but in a way it’s small — and our passion is infectious; do something kind for someone today, and they’re likely to pay it forward.
For instance, if you’re leaving your great Ashe (or Armstrong or Grandstand) seat for the day/night while matches are still going, as you exit consider consider gifting it to a fan who’s waiting outside the entrance hoping someone like you might offer. Giving someone on grounds your seat when you’re done isn’t as easy as it used to be, given tightened Ticketmaster restrictions preventing transferring after the ticket is scanned and preventing screenshots from within the Ticketmaster app… But with a little creativity and effort you can pretty easily make it happen, and the gesture might create a lifelong memory for someone else. Here’s how:
- Take a screenshot of your ticket in your phone’s WALLET (Ticketmaster will block screenshots from within the app).
- For Armstrong or Grandstand, simply text someone else the screenshot and it should hopefully suffice.
- For Ashe:
- If gifting to someone already IN the stadium, a screenshot from your wallet should suffice — including if you’re leaving the Courtside/Club level area entrance and you want someone already in Ashe to benefit from your seat (from Loge or Promenade.
- If gifting to someone already in the Open grounds but not in Ashe already: You’d need to walk with them to the Ashe entrance, re-scan your ticket (telling the ticket scanner that you’re letting your friend go to your seat) AND give them a screenshot (which they’ll need to show to ushers or for entry to Club level); OR you’d need to walk with the friend(s) as if you were going to re-enter with them, hand the friend your phone to get scanned, then have the friend discreetly pass the phone back after they are “in” (then just turn around as though you changed your mind about entering themselves at this time).
I’ve gifted a lot of tickets over the years, and it always feels wonderful.












PJ! The information in your post is terrific and I find myself continually referring back. We’re travelling from the west coast of Canada and hoping to attend on Friday the 31st and Monday the 3rd for the day sessions and thinking of purchasing tickets on Friday for Armstrong and Monday for the Grandstand. Should I be rethinking this and buying a cheap upper level ticket on Friday for Ashe? Our plan is to try and move around the grounds on Friday and spend most of Monday watching the matches lined up on Grandstand. Trying to maximize our tennis budget! A… Read more »
Hey Brett, many many thanks! My recommendation would actually be (if your budget permits) a cheap Ashe seat Friday (and plan to spend a lot of time in Grandstand that day when lines aren’t as bad as they will be Sat-Mon); plus an Armstrong reserved on Monday, when there is sure to be a good round of 16 match on (and a roof in case it rains!). Monday Grandstand will largely be doubles matches, so if that’s a priority then I would say cheap Ashe Fri and Grandstand Mon. Hope that helps! PJ
Hi, PJ, I am curious as to why there’s a rather dramatic price increase for the night matches. I am specifically comparing prices for the quarterfinals on 9/4 and 9/5. Tickets for Day on 9/4 are in the neighborhood of $195 for the upper loge or $65 for upper level. But the nighttime tickets are going for $250 and $100 for those same seats. This trend is repeated on 9/5. Daytime tickets are going for $195 in Loge and $65 upper deck. Night session is going for $310 loge and $100 upper deck. Same seats but the price differences are… Read more »
Hi Tom, thank you! So there’s no easy explanation, I think it’s a few things. 1) it’s easier for folks during week to go evening when they have to work daytime; 2) there’s simply a prestige factor to evening sessions, under the big lights of Ashe. There isn’t any sure pattern of superstars v non-superstars for night sessions; the organizers really do try to be fair to the players. That said, when they can be fair and have the choice, they tend to put the most camera-friendly matches in evening. For Ashe sessions beginning Tues second week, there are dramatically… Read more »
Hi Pj.
Calling from Denmark!
My daughter and I are going to the US Open for the first time.
Can we ask you to comment on our plans just in case, we have missed some of your golden advice:-)
We are going on Thursday 6th to see womens semifinals and to see the doubles.
There is free admission this day, we hope?
We intend to buy and Ashe ticket for the evening in loge section 108 – 112 or 126-130. It will cost us between $300-400 for each ticket?
We will certainly appreciate your comments.
Kindly regards.
Lissy Noergaard
Denmark
Hi Lissy, yes! Unless they make an unexpected change, it’s always free admission that day and no crowds – one of the best kept secrets. For 400 per seat you should be able to get around Row B Loge that night… see eg section 103 Row B on Ticketmaster for example. Take your time to find something great! PJ
Hi PJ, Firstly, I’d just like to say thanks for writing this post. I managed to secure quarter finals tickets for a day and evening session with your help, so thank you very much. We’re traveling in from the UK and this is our very first US Open experience, so obviously very excited about that! Secondly, what is the best way of getting to and from Flushing Meadows from Manhattan other than the Subway? I have heard mixed reviews about the Subways, but I’m happy to explore all options. Any help you or anyone on this feed could provide would… Read more »
Hi Sara, thanks! See my Tip #9 above for all I know. I always take the LIRR myself. PJ
Sorry! I totally missed that. Thank you! 🙂
Sure thing! PJ
Hi Pj!
I have a tough question for you my friend!
When do you think is the best time to buy tickets?
Right now, july, august, few days before?
I have so much difficulties taking a decision and I need your advice!
Thanks for everything!
Salut encore! So, it depends a lot on your goals and which days/sessions you’re trying for. Can you give me a little more detail? P.J.
I actually have the same question as Charles-Oliver. 🙂 I am searching for loge tickets on Ashe for most sessions between Sun 2 Sept and Wed 5 Sept. Considering to buy some resale tickets now, but also considering waiting… I have finally ordered airline tickets though, so no way back! Petter (thanks for all the help so far!)
Hi again! There really will be many tickets available in the weeks ahead through August, with more people posting tickets for resale all the time. So my advice is that if you don’t see something you like in your price range, keep looking at least a couple more weeks as new tickets pop up. At a certain point, you will feel very confident that you’ve spotted a good deal once you become familiar with average prices for the sessions you’re exploring. P.J.
Hi sir, I have a question, i’m looking for a pair of tickets on ticketmaster, what is the difference between a standard ticket (less expensive) and a verified resale ticket (more expensive).
Thanks alot.
Hi there, Standard tickets are those sold directly by the tournament (exclusively through Ticketmaster) and carry a very low service fee. Resale tickets are those sold by individuals (or companies) who already bought tickets (often, these are subscribers who pay for the same seat for the entire tournament) and either can’t attend or want to try to make a profit. Resale tickets are usually more expensive because (1) sellers are trying to make money and (2) they carry higher service fees. However, resale tickets sometimes are less expensive than standard tickets, because some resellers can’t use their tickets and are… Read more »
Hi P.J.! Firstly just wanted to echo everyone’s thanks for this post – it is so unbelievably useful for someone like me who is looking to go to the US Open for the first time. I’m particularly unprepared for resale strategies etc. as my five years at Wimbledon have been spent camping in the famous queue for Centre Court tickets as opposed to relying on online sales! I’m luckily going to be studying abroad in NYC from August 24th (perfect timing!) but just wanted some quick advice. 1) I would absolutely love to experience the atmosphere of the Men’s Final… Read more »
Katie, thank you very very much! Glad you’ll be here studying in the city – it’s a crazy, but truly awesome place. (1) Yes, I think it’s worth just being at the Men’s Final even if in Upper Promenade. The atmosphere is always electric then with so much at stake. While I do urge folks to avoid Promenade whenever their budget allows, I also think it’s a super fun experience during high-stakes matches. Do check all the sites I’ve listed above though to sit in the lowest row you can afford – it’s really worth comparison shopping. There’s no huge… Read more »
Hi again, P.J. Are you really sure that e-ticket at the exchange mean physical paper tickets? It seems strange to call it e-tickets if that is the case 🙂 Petter
Hey Petter, “instant e-tickets” are same as “mobile’ tickets: both are electronic and only accessible on a smart phone. They are NOT paper/printed tickets. P.J.
Ah, ok, so e-tickets (not instant) are also safe to buy even though I live in Norway? They will be sent by e-mail? I just find it a bit strange that the seats are not assigned for the regular e-tickets.. Pette
Hey Petter, if there isn’t an assigned seat that is a red flag. Do not purchase any ticket that doesn’t have a clearly assigned Section and Row and Seat number. (It might give Section and Row and seat range (e.g. Seats 5-8), which is ok; but not OK if that information is missing. It’s ok if it doesn’t say “instant.” Mobile/e-tickets mean someone has the ability to transfer ownership of the ticket to you digitally. You’ll get an email and you’ll have to log into a Ticketmaster account and app to get it. P.J.
Ok, but to my eye it seems that almost all e-tickets on the exchange are without a an assigned seat number (not a range either). The exception is the instant e-tickets. Really confusing this 🙂 Petter
Petter, please tell me what session/stadium you’re looking at and what tickets you’re considering and I can look and try to steer you in right direction. Most of the resale tickets on all the major sites do actually have sections and seat numbers, so you may be looking in the wrong place as it can all be very confusing!
Hello PJ!
Thank you again for this guide – it helped us out a lot last year for our first visit. We are trying to get back this year again because we had so much fun last year! Anyway, I feel like I read this before but I can’t locate it now – can you confirm if there will be GA admission to the night sessions for Armstrong? Or is the night session all sold as a reserved ticket?
Thanks!
Jason
Hey Jason, thank you! Yes, the upper ring of Armstrong is all GA seating at all times (both day and night sessions); I’m not 100% sure, but they will almost certainly clear the stadium between day and night sessions, though, so if you scored a great seat during day you’ll probably have to line up again to try to get in evening session (TBD).
The lower section is all courtside reserved, and there are separate day and night sessions Mon-Sat of the first week. Then only day sessions Sun-Tues. P.J.
I am looking for Loge tickets on Ashe on Sunday 2 September at night and on Monday 3 September at day time. On Sunday night there are tickets for 182 dollar in section 114, row J. These are “Owned by seller. Not currently in hand. Guaranteed to email by 08/03/2018.” But in the seats field it only says “- -“.. There are all several other examples, in fact all the tickets that are not instant, seems to be without an assigned seat. Petter
Petter, just looked on the exchange and saw exactly what you’re talking about. Your questions have helped me enormously and will help me better explain all this to others (I’ll create an FAQ on this as soon as I can). Here’s what I’ve learned: (1) Every resale ticket on Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster Exchange is verified by Ticketmaster and authentic. If there were ever a problem, Ticketmaster has lots of language protecting the buyer. No worries there. (2) Some of the tickets on the Exchange (such as Sun evening 114 Row J) listed as “E-Ticket” (not as “Instant E-Ticket”) are not… Read more »
Thank you so much, P.J.!
I would be clueless without your help. I am in Norway but still I have a US Ticketmaster account, so that should not be a problem. Thanks again! Petter
You’re most welcome, Petter!
I am blown away by the quality of this blog post. P.J., this is super helpful to all people, especially newbies to the US Open (like me). Based on the fantastic advice you’ve provided, I’m struggling to choose between two options – would love your advice. Background: 1) I know I want to go for only 1 day; 2) It’s my first time to the U.S. Open so I want to have a varied experience; 3) I want to keep my costs down but maximize my experience. Thus, here are the two options I’m trying to choose between. Option #1:… Read more »
Hi Sanjay, thanks a million! You have laid out three very wise options, all have benefits. I would probably go for Option #2, as that Wednesday should be easier to get into the non-Ashe stadiums to access general seating areas without too long a wait, and that will enable you to see some great players up close without having to purchase a reserved Armstrong seat. Having the Ashe tickets for both sessions will ensure you see some super famous players, and an Ashe evening Loge seat will be great to experience. You can’t go wrong with any of your options,… Read more »
By the way, apart from my other posts, I just wanted to say that this site is AMAZING and such a great guide to the US OPen. Thanks so much for putting it together…
Two questions – wondering about other people’s experiences. Q1. I live in Dublin, Ireland and set up a Ticketmaster USA acct to buy tickets, but it wont accept any of my credit cards. Ticketmaster USA suggest ‘this is because I don’t have a Zip code in my address’, but this seems crazy to me, as no-one coming from overseas could have one. Anyone else had the same experience and/or suggest a fix? Incidentally I was able to buy resale tickets using the same Cr Card, and my NYC-based daughter bought me some more, but I find it maddening, and wondered… Read more »
Hey Adrian, on your payment question first: Can you double check that you did the following steps? I set up a new Ticketmaster account to test the experience as if I were in Ireland. Here’s are three key steps you need to take when trying to purchase: Step 1: Choose the ticket you want to purchase (press “get tickets”), then “Next” after donation page, then you’ll get a DELIVERY page. On that page, click the “Other Country” box at the top, then either the Mobile option or Will Call. (see this for what it looks like) Step 2: On PAYMENT… Read more »
Hi P J (and anyone else from Ireland that may have experienced a similar issue) – first-off thanks so much for trying to convince Ticketmaster USA that an issue actually did exist. Second, yes, the screens you reproduced were the ones that I experienced when actually trying to buy tickets. I don’t actually want to go back in now to try to reproduce, as I have the tickets I want (for now) and don’t want to buy more. However, a more fundamental question – and I wonder if anyone else had this one. EVEN BEFORE I try to buy US… Read more »
Adrian, amending my answer above… Just went back to James’s post and realized the issue was the STATE field, not Zip. And TM is still forcing an answer for State, even though there are no States in Ireland (and it forces you to choose from a dropdown menu, but no choices are given!). I’m going to try calling Ticketmaster right now to ask a real person whether they can fix this glitch. P.J.
Update: I’ve been talking to someone at Ticketmaster for 20 minutes trying to walk them through and show them that this is clearly a programming error unique to Ireland. I finally convinced them, after showing them that if you choose any other country on the dropdown menu the “state” field disappears and it just asks for city and postal code. The person is now escalating and trying to see if (1) they can generate some kind of form you could fill out instead and (2) if they can get the programmers to fix this online. Will keep you posted…
OK, so turns out it’s going to take a while for them to fix the online form, so they’re going to send you a form you can fill out instead in the meantime if you want… It’s complicated because looks like you have to go through Ticketmaster US (Ticketmaster Ireland has a website but they don’t offer US Open tickets on it). Geez! Sorry on behalf of us American fans for the hassle!! P.J.
Is it just me or are all the tickets resale verified? I have not been able to find any face value tickets in my price range. I am looking for Ashe Day or Night for $100-$150. Then the plan is to get Armstrong or Grandstand tickets on Friday
Hey Gina, all of them on Ticketmaster and Ticketmaster Exchange are verified. What days are you looking for? PJ
I am trying to go Thursday Aug.30 and or Friday Aug. 31. I also went back and read your section on where to purchase the best tickets. I just don’t want to wait to late and not get a good price. One of my friends is going and she is afraid to sit to high, but doubt we can afford to be to low in Arthur. I’, looking at sections like 116/117 back rows thiugh.
Hey Gina, there are always tons of tix available for Thurs week 1. I’d suggest being patient and not rushing- you will likely find a good deal as the summer progresses. I’d focus more sooner on Fri Aug 31 now and keep looking carefully to see if you can spot a good deal within your budget, as Labor Day weekend sessions beginning Friday generally have higher demand. P.J.
ok sounds like a plan
Hi there – what are your thoughts on ground passes for labor day monday? are there enough good games? even if they are, are the lines and crowds way too much?
Hey there, First, I never recommend Grounds Admission when Ashe seats are available at around the same price – and they are for that day. Check Ticketmaster – there are resale tickets in Promenade as low as $55 and standard for $90 (Grounds are $85). Second, there will be lines but if you get there early enough you will be able to get an unreserved seat in Armstrong or Grandstand for round of 16 matches. And there are many great doubles matches. See last year’s schedule for that day as a guide. P.J.
Hi,
I went to the Ticketmaster site today and looked at the prices for Armstrong using their map where they show seat location and cost. Do you know why some of the seats are blue and some red?
Thanks for all you do!
Hi Tamara, you’re welcome! Blue-dot seats are standard (face value) tickets issued by USTA through Ticketmaster; Red-dot tickets are resale tickets, put up for sale by individual subscribers. Resale tickets always carry a higher service fee and are usually more expensive than face-value tickets, but quite often you can find resale tickets that are less than face-value cost (or better seats at the same cost) because resellers are simply trying to sell and not lose money. P.J.
Thanks for the info!
Do you happen to know if there will for sure be men’s matches on Grandstand for the round of 16 daytime sessions? I decided to take a chance and get close seats on that court for the Monday. Could they possibly only be showing some women’s matches on there?
Hi Braeden, you’re welcome! It’s hard to say for sure. But I hope they repeat what they did last year, when they put one men’s singles R16 match on Ashe Day, one on Ashe Eve, one on Armstrong Day, and one on Grandstand. I remember that vividly, because I was sitting in Ashe evening watching Federer and we could hear the ROAR of the crowd on Grandstand watching Delpo in a fierce battle with Thiem… Delpo was sick and lost the first two sets badly but came back to win the last 3 sets. That was the ticket everyone wanted… Read more »
What a phenomenal website this is. Hats off to you. What has been the experience in prior years on labor day monday on grandstand. Was 2017 (with a mens R16 match) the exception or the rule?
Hey there, thank you! Well it used to be that Grandstand would always feature a round of 16 men’s match on Labor Day. 2016 was an exception to the rule – a lot of us were very surprised they didn’t put a R16 on GS on Mon. It may have had something to do with the fact that it was the last year for the old Armstrong before they tore it down… My hunch is that they will continue the old tradition and, just like last year on Labor Day, put 1 R16 match on Grandstand, 1 on Armstrong, and… Read more »
If they did put a R16 match on grandstand on labor day monday, would it be an evening match? or where would it be in the order of play? seems like session starts at 11am, so trying to get an idea as to what time the R16 mens match would likely be.
Hey Jacob, really no way to predict… Many years, the men’s R16 match has been 1st or 2d in the lineup on both Armstrong and Grandstand. But last year it was the last match (which may have been due to a combination of rain delays and the fact that Delpo was sick and they were trying to give him a little more time). I actually had reserved tickets last year for Grandstand Day as well as Ashe night, so I was going insane that I had to make the choice of Federer over Delpo (as I would tell anyone else,… Read more »
Hey
I plan on going to the Men’s/Women’s quarterfinals evening session (Sept 4th). I am going to get courtside tickets, so I can be up close since this will be our first time going to tennis match live and want to make it count.
1)Will it be possible to get good courtside tickets at/for less than $1,300 each?
2)What do those tickets usually run for?
3)Which rows are the best if your on courtside (I assume A-D)?
Thanks for all the help with this blog. We are very appreciative.
Hi Bob, you’re so welcome. Almost certainly for that Tues versus the Wed, which is always the more expensive night. I’d hold out until you see some pop up later in the summer under $1000. After the first day’s schedule is announced, prices will either go up or down depending on whether Federer could potentially play on that day based on his schedule for Day 1 or Day 2 (see my FAQ #1 and #3 on that). Seating preference depends a lot on the individual – I always prefer sitting closer rows around baseline (to be closest to the player),… Read more »
Why is Wednesday the more expensive night?
Thanks!
I’ve never understood that myself! No Clear logic. It could be that a lot of people mistakenly think that Wednesday night matches will be more competitive than Tuesday night, even if they are both quarterfinals. It makes no sense!
I am starting to get a little nervous since the courtside tickets (baseline and corner seats) are either very expensive or not available to buy. I been following your great advice to check daily and patient. I am determined to get good seats for both Ashe night sessions (Sept 2 and 3rd) since this will likely be my one time at the US Open. However, it is starting to seem like I will have to pay around $900-1000 per ticket. For the courtside (corner and baseline seats), which rows do you feel are good? For example, how good are the… Read more »
Hey Bob, it still is pretty early in the cycle for resale tickets. For those particular nights you’re looking for, I have always found courtside seats including fees for under $700 a ticket – but I’ve often purchased them in July or August. I cannot guarantee that will be the case again this year – it really is a lot like the stock market in that there’s never certainty… But in my experience, particularly with courtside seats on Labor Day Sun and Mon night, it has paid to be patient and keep checking. At the very worst, you’ll pay $900… Read more »
So, I finally got a couple of tickets for Monday September 3rd. The tickets I got are Section 60, row F, seats 14-15 for $577/ticket which includes the fees. Was this a good deal? Also, based on your past comments, these are suppose to be decent seats. Thanks.
Hey Bob, yes, amazing deal. That’s 3d row in a section where seats are often reserved for players’ coaching team members and family. You can’t do much better than that! P.J.
PS – Just realized I was in exactly the same seats last year during that same session (Labor Day evening) watching Federer. It was bliss. Several friends texted me during saying they could see us regularly on TV. We were in heaven in those seats.
Hi, P.J. How are you doing? Thank you a lot for all the information. I am using it as my guide. I am from Brazil and will attend the 2018 US Open. I have one question. I really want to attend the final rounds of the tournament (Men’s semifinals and finals). I know it is really expensive. I bought today a ticket to the Men’s Semifinals in the Lower Promenade at face value. How is the view of the Lower Promenade for a tennis fan? Can I actually follow the match? I know the atmosphere will be great, but I… Read more »
Oi Lucas! Absolutamente e melhor estar “en vivo”! Sorry my Portuguese is pretty limited… But it is indeed more exciting to be in the stadium for the matches, and Lower Promenade is much better than Upper (which feels very high up). Also, there are multiple screens in the stadium, so if you ever want to see close-ups of certain points or replays, you can simply look at them. Having a face-value ticket for the Semis is a good purchase! P.J.
Thanks for the response, J.P.
Your Portuguese is pretty good! ?
I bought 2 tickets in the Lower Promenade for the Men’s Semifinals, section 318, row J for 300 dollars, fees included. I am not sure if it was a good deal and if these seats are good enough. But it was face-value and it appeared to be cheaper than the rest of the tickets available in the Lower Promenade. What do you think?
Also, is it easy to resell them later if I want to?
Thank you!
Lucas
Muito obrigado, Lucas! Yes, totally – that’s 7th row in that section (out of 22 rows), and semis are always the most expensive session besides Finals. If Federer or Nadal make it through to Semis, or if people think they will, any ticket in that area will go for more than that and should be very easy to resell. The difference between your ticket and the lowest cost Loge seat will be around $500 — so I think you made a great decision! P.J.
Hi PJ, I live in New Zealand but am lucky enough to be in NY 6th – 10th Sept this year! The ticket prices for Arthur Ashe are a bit scary so thought I would just splurge on 1 session for my husband and myself; I was thinking of Men’s Semi Finals 7th Sept? Friends who have been before tell me that the ‘cheap’ seats are so high up you might as well watch on TV – would just appreciate some advice since this is likely to be our one and only visit to the US Open. Thanks in advance.
Hi Jean! Yes, many of the sessions are quite pricey. Men’s Semi’s is, however, the most expensive session besides the Men’s Final– because you are guaranteed two of the tournament’s awesome best-of-5-set matches in the same session. Average prices for those upper rung Promenade seats are $200-700 each, and “Loge” resale seats are currently $800+ on the resale market (regular price tickets in Loge start at $650). Courtside during Semis are out of reach for anyone but the wealthy and in the thousands. If you enjoy women’s tennis, that Thurs night session on Sep 6 will get you much, much… Read more »
Hi P.J, Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and so promptly – much appreciated! Best wishes Jean
You’re most welcome, Jean! P.J.
We generally like to buy reserved seating in Grandstand for the Friday before labor day weekend (this year it’s Friday 8/31). With the new Armstrong stadium, do you think there will still be “good” matches in GS on 8/31? Or do you think we are much better off buying reserved seats in Armstrong because likely better matches and no rain concerns? The resale prices in GS are not bad right now but pretty high for Armstrong. Thanks so much for your help and your site is awesome!
Hey Robin, thank you! I do think they’ll be some great ones on Grandstand on Fri and Sat during 3d round even with Armstrong. However, you may want to wait a few more weeks to see how tickets shake out for that day in particular. I’d be surprised if average resale prices for Grandstand for that Fri go up much; and my hunch is that there will be better deals for both GS and Armstrong in the weeks ahead (at least I’m counting on that for myself :). If you can find something in your budget for Armstrong that day… Read more »
Hi PJ, Great blog! Your enthusiasm for tennis is so contagious, it reminds me of the time growing up on the other side of the world, when I would watch all the US Open matches late and to school the next morning all bleary eyed! I am quite a tennis nerd, trying to get to 4.5, just like you! I live in San Francisco now, and will be making my first trip to the US Open. This has been the dream of a lifetime. I have been going every year for the last several years to the BNP Paribas Open… Read more »
CC, likewise wonderful to feel the passion come through in your note! You will love the Open. It is such a wildly different feel than Indian Wells – bigger, brasher, more chaotic… Apart from the stakes feeling higher for the players, the biggest difference of all is –of course– that the men have to play best of 5 sets. Which makes for some crazy long, roller-coaster matches. (I do LOVE Indian Wells — have been 3 times and even subscribed for tickets until the prices went through the roof). Overall, looks like a very great, thoughtful plan! And given the… Read more »
Thanks PJ!
This is great advice!
CC.
Oh, and one other question – why don’t the resale tickets on the Ticket Exchange appear on the main Ticketmaster site, because some resale tickets do?
The vast majority of tickets on Ticketmaster Exchange are also visible as “Resale” tickets on the main Ticketmaster site – but for some inexplicable reason, occasionally you’ll find tickets on the Exchange that are not on Ticketmaster, which is why I always check both before buying. I wish I could explain why – absolutely no clue… Sorry! P.J.
Haha, no worries, you’ve been very helpful with both my questions. I’ve never used the Exchange before, they seem to have loads of resale (and yes, some on there appear on the “main” site, but not all), but assume there are no issues with the legitimacy of the tickets? Absolutely 100% safe, correct?
I’ve been to the AO and R-G this year, and getting tickets for those was so much easier at the on-sale time! Sadly, as a Londoner, the slam I struggle most for tickets is my local slam, seven ballot attempts, seven failures 🙁
LOL, thanks. I can’t speak for Ticketmaster, but I’ve never had any issues myself or heard of any. And Ticketmaster offers this promise: “Other sites may offer a money back guarantee or “comparable” seats if something goes wrong. But with us, even tickets transferred or resold to you are 100% verified and issued in your name so they can’t be counterfeited.” I actually went to Wimbledon about 4 years ago and had an amazing experience, but had to pay a small fortune to get the tickets… P.J.
I know Wimbledon is such an experience. All four slams are different and each has it’s own charm, but Wimbledon seems extra-special. Melbourne has the awesome pro of being located right in the city, so it really takes over the city, plus staying centrally means a 15 min walk to your hotel, R-G has the red clay and is the only slam where the main language isn’t English, the USO is big, brash and a trip to NYC, but Wimbledon is Wimbledon…
Oy, what a frustrating afternoon (I’m in the UK, so 9am EDT = 2pm UK) trying to buy Ashe Loge tickets for Friday 31/Aug Evening and Sunday 2/Sept Day. It just didn’t work for me at all, but eventually after about 90 mins I managed to get courtside for Friday evening. No availability at all for Sunday unfortunately, so will need to rely on resale over the course of the summer. Such a poor performance from Ticketmaster.
Great site this is though, full of great guidance.
Hi Jon, I feel your pain. I didn’t end up getting anything today myself. But that’s fantastic you got courtside seats for Friday evening. Do keep looking in the days/weeks/months ahead — as I say, USTA (which releases the tickets to Ticketmaster) does occasionally release new standard tickets (albeit inexplicably at random times), and there will be many many more resale tickets posted over the summer as more subscribers put their tickets up for resale. P.J.
I just went on to try and buy Armstrong tickets for the middle weekend and was kind of appalled that the standard ticket price is $300+ and the balcony seats for Arthur Ashe are $170+. That is significantly more than what I’ve paid in the past. Is this just because of ticket resales and corporate sponsors?? I feel like this tournament becomes less and less accessible every year.
Hey Cassie, yeah, they are indeed very steep. The Labor Day weekend Ashe seats are about the same on average as they were last year, but courtside reserved seats for the New Armstrong stadium are set much higher on average. There are, however, many many more general admission (unreserved) seats in Armstrong than ever before– so hopefully more fans will be able to get in with either their GA grounds tickets or less expensive Ashe seats. P.J.
Hi again, i’am so sorry but if i clickother countries nothing happens, always only go mobile!
Did you check it? Perhaps it’s en error on the system?
Sorry again but for me it’svery important. Thank you so much
Hey Markus, yes, I followed those steps (being logged out of my own Ticketmaster account as a test) and it worked. Are you also clicking to select the second circle that says “Customers in Other Countries by Will Call?” After you do that, you have to sign in or create a new account. I went through and created another account as a test, saying I was outside the US. It then took me to this final check out window, where it verifies Will Call as selected under “delivery.” If you continue to have problems, I’d just email or try to… Read more »
I stay in Switzerland and will be on 25th Aug. in NY. Now i will buy for 27.8. 31.8. 4 Loge tickets for each day. Ticketmaster system tell my allways GO Mobile, but i will take the tickets on the will call window.
How can i do it? Where can i put “will call window? Thanks
Hi Markus, after you select your tickets for purchase, you’ll get a window that says “Delivery.” Click on the “Other Country” option, then click “Will Call.” See this screenshot of what it looks like. P.J.
Hi again! I am looking for loge tickets on Ashe, but they are not easy to find at a reasonable price 🙂 When are normally these tickets at the cheapest? Courtside tickets are extremely expensive. How cheap can these tickets possibly be over the summer?
Best regards,
Petter from Norway
Hi Petter, unfortunately there’s no clear answer. See my FAQ #3 above. P.J.
Do you know what this means in the Ticketmaster Exchange: “Owned by seller. Not Currently in hand. Guaranteed delivery in time for the Event!” Also a bit strange that the seats are not assigned, it says only “- -“ in the seats field. Are these tickets safe to buy?
Sorry for all the questions. 🙂 Petter
Hi Petter, this means that the it’s being sold by a season ticket subscriber who hasn’t yet received the tickets to be able to transfer, but will. However, if you are purchasing from outside the US on the Exchange, I always urge folks to look for “Mobile” delivery option just to be on the safe side. It’s just less hassle. The person who’s selling that ticket will be able to convert it into Mobile delivery, but I just personally would opt for Mobile resale tickets only if I were outside the US. PJ
Hi,
These tickets seem to be Mobile tickets as it says e-ticket, but not “instant e-ticket”. Or are these tickets still paper (physical) tickets?
I also think it is really confusing that the Ticket Exchange is a separate website from the ordinary Ticketmaster site. However, it seems that most (but not all) of the resale tickets on the Ticket Exchange are also shown on the Ticketmaster site. The Ticket Exchange site is the best one to navigate, I think.
Best regards, Petter
Hey Petter, “instant e-ticket” is same as “Mobile.” And yes, I know it can be confusing to have both a separate Exchange site and the regular site. There are pros and cons to both layouts– and yes, sometimes tickets appear on the Exchange that are not also listed for resale on Ticketmaster (don’t know why)– which is why I encourage everyone to always check both. P.J.
This is not necessarily for posting (unless you wish to). I have corresponded with you before, largely confirming your observations which have been consistent with our own. We have attended for many years now. We have been buying for the same two days (holiday Friday Day, Fright night and Saturday Day) for years. We did buy some tickets in the Amex presale this year as I will discuss below. We had been buying Friday and Saturday Ashe Day (cheap seats) and Armstrong Day ((premium) in the member and now Amex presales. In recent years it has gotten too risky not… Read more »
John, thank you thank you so much for sharing such detailed observations and experiences. Super helpful to me and I’m sure to others who are working to weigh options and make good decisions. And thank you so much for the supportive words. I totally agree with your assessment about Armstrong: with the 3 matches vs 2 at Ashe, it will be a great investment for serious fans who care about seeing great tennis in what promises to be a much more intimate setting. Likewise agree that next year will be the real test for how the market responds to all… Read more »
Hi P.J!
After reading your wonderful blog, I plan to buy a day session at Arthur Ashe on Tuesday Aug. 28. Just to make sure of my schedule: According to my understanding, with this ticket I will be able to enter the ground at 9:30 am and after the day session at Ashe I will still be able to enter Armstrong for the unreserved evening session. Is that right?
Thanks a lot!!
Hi Rachel, that’s exactly correct! P.J.
Exactly what I did thanks to your blog!! I’m so glad I found your blog this morning. Helped me sort through all the choices with our tight budget.
So happy to hear it! Thanks for letting me know, Mimi! P.J.
P.J,
Great info! Purchased tickets via AMEX pre-sale to quarterfinal night matches in lower promenade over the weekend. Read your site today and now wish I had held off and waited until later this summer. Will watch quarter loge prices and maybe sell mine for an upgrade. Keep up the good work!
Ryan, thank you so much! Hey, if you got Lower Promenade for Quarters at face value, you should feel good about that investment. If you decide to resell, it should be much easier than Upper Promenade to recoup what you paid for them. However, if you do decide to try for better seats later on, I’d recommend trying to resell your existing tix first to make sure you can before pulling the trigger on a new purchase. I’ve made the mistake of assuming I could resell tix in the past, only to have to drop prices substantially and take a… Read more »
Hey there- great article very helpful. Just need some advice. I am considering buying cheaper Arthur Ashe tickets in section 300s for my boyfriends birthday for Sept 1st. Not sure if you suggest I do that or just get general admission. It looks like Arthur Ashe cheaper tickets are about the same as general admission. Which makes me think i should just get the seats and that way we can walk around as well? I’m new to this and have never been before so I think it will be cool to be able to be inside Arthur Ashe Let me… Read more »
Marissa, YES YES absolutely. Always, always an Ashe cheap seat over Grounds Admission — even if a little more expensive, worth it in case of rain AND to have option to go into Ashe if someone famous he loves is playing. P.J.
PJ,
What is a reasonable price to expect to pay, or what have you felt good about paying in the past, for a close (Rows A-E) ticket in Grandstand and Armstrong on 9/1-9/3?
Debating whether I should pull the trigger on one now or wait it out.
Thanks,
Clayton
Hey Clayton, I’m personally waiting it out. Last year Grandstand prices went down on average as we got closer. And the New Armstrong has so many more courtside seats and subscribers this year who will put their tickets up for resale over the summer that I suspect more good deals will surface. For 9/1-9/2 Grandstand, I’ve found amazing seats around $250-275 past couple years and seen more available for less (someone is posting seats for Sunday GS for $1000, which is insane). I am personally betting on the fact that plenty of good Armstrong deals will be available (and I… Read more »
Hi,
A quick question. Can a verified resale ticket be resold on Ticket Master? May be a dumb question, but just wanted to confirm.
Hi Praveen, yes they can on Ticketmaster Exchange – however please note they have a requirement: “In order to resell your tickets for events in the US, you must have a US bank account.” P.J.
I am living in Ireland and trying to book tickets for the US Open tennis. When I select “Ireland” as my country, it then asks for my state, with a drop down menu which has nothing available to select! THERE ARE NO STATES IN IRELAND!!!! When I select any other nation, this “state” box does not pop up. This is incredibly frustrating as I am unable to purchase tickets because of this. It is quite clearly a glitch in their system!
James, I am so sorry to hear about that – how totally frustrating. Did you try to contact them on their contact page? Let me know how it turns out – happy to call and complain from the US if need be! P.J.
James – I had/have the same issue – did you figure out any way around it or did anyone else in this forum suggest a way around it? I just posted a message explaining my (similar) problem…
P.J.
I thought tickets for the grandstand were supposed to be on sale today but I do not see any (I only see reseller tickets). Do you know what happened? Thanks so much!
Hi Robin, it appears that all Grandstand courtside reserved tickets were already sold to subscribers (unless there has been some kind of glitch on Ticketmaster). Last year, there were standard tickets available closer to the tournament (USTA always holds some aside in every stadium, then releases at random times throughout the summer). We’ll have to keep an eye on it today, but appears it will only be resale unless USTA releases more in the weeks/months ahead. P.J.
Hi there- Getting ready to log on in the morning for all the fun! I’m planning to go to Day sessions on Fri. 8/31 then Night session on Sat. 9/1. I’m for sure planning to get tixs in Ashe for the night session on 9/1. Do you recommend Armstrong for the Day on 8/31? Wanting to check out the smaller venue but wondering if I should just get cheap Ashe tixs?
Thanks,
Kristen
Hi Kristen, it really depends on your priorities and budget. Armstrong tix are not cheap – and the downside is that you might miss Federer or Nadal or Serena someone else you care about seeing who get scheduled om Ashe. The upside is that you will feel much closer to the action and have an experience that is more intimate in Armstrong (which is something I love passionately). Another consideration: even though there will definitely be long lines to get into General Admission Armstrong seating (if you don’t have a reserved seat) you will almost certainly be able to get… Read more »
Hi again- well that was a fun 2 hours on the computer. I had a quick question- going 8/31 and bought lower promenade Day Ashe tixs (in the shade- thanks for the info on that!). I bought Loge tixs for 9/1 Evening Ashe- standard tixs section 115 row N- $175. There was a large price difference for closer and all resale. My question is… is 115 row N a really bad place to sit???? If so, I’ll resell and look for others.
Your insight is invaluable…thanks,
Kristen
Hey Kristen, LOL. Yes, I feel your pain and went through it – ended up with nothing myself. As for 115 Row N, that’s perfectly fine! It’s just really such a difference to be in Loge (vs Promenade), even if in that last row – and you may potentially be able to sneak up a few rows for part of the evening if others don’t show up or leave early (however, as I always say, be prepared to move instantly if they come to their seats– for their benefit and that of everyone around you). Resale tickets for that evening’s… Read more »
Hi P.J! Just wanted to say a big thank you for writing such an amazing blog, it has been a joy to read. These last few days I have spent more time reading your blog, than my favourite bookmarked websites! The amount of detail included is incredible, and was just the thing I was looking for! This will be my first US Open visiting from London. I am planning to attend the 2nd round matches on the 29th and 30th of August. The plan was to hopefully acquire some cheap Day Ashe tickets as you recommended, that would also give… Read more »
Hey Chris, thank you very much for your kind words – made my day! So happy it’s been helpful. Here’s the great news: there will be plenty of 2d round Ashe tickets throughout the summer that will be far less than other sessions later in the tournament, regardless of what you find tomorrow. There should also be many standard (non resale) Promenade seats for those Day sessions well beyond tomorrow. Tomorrow, if you see evening Ashe standard non-resale Loge tickets for those sessions, I’d grab them if you can afford them; it’s unlikely you’ll find resale Loge tickets later that… Read more »
I have been looking for tickets for a US Open session during Labor Day weekend. I’ve gotten some information about tickets that include a “premium hospitality experience”. From what I can see, this includes tickets plus access to some special rooms (“the overlook” and/or “the 1968 room” with food and beverages). Do you know anything about the amenities in these rooms?
Hi Virginia, there are descriptions of those spaces and amenities here. The price premium for those “premium tickets” is very high. My own take: unless having access to those kinds of spaces is a much higher priority than great seats, I’d spend the difference and purchase courtside seats (which, even on the resale market may cost less than “standard premium” Loge). P.J.
Hi PJ – thanks to your guidance I’m ready to purchase tickets to our first US Open! We are targeting Arthur Ashe – lowest rows in loge section – for the third and/or fourth rounds. Will the official Ticketmaster sale starting tomorrow offer individual loge tickets? I have read somewhere that they aren’t offered.
Just want to set my expectations accordingly for tomorrow morning 🙂
Many thanks from Toronto!
Hi Liz, you’re very welcome! It’s always hit or miss with regard to availability of regular Loge seats on the first day of the individual ticket sale on Ticketmaster. Here’s what to expect: Logging on tomorrow right at 9am EDT will almost assuredly try your patience. Every year it’s an exercise in frustration during the initial hours: so many users log on at the same time that Ticketmaster usually doesn’t allow the “map” view — which forces you to do a search for “best available” (which takes longer than usual because of the number of folks looking)… then, finally, when… Read more »
Hi! Thank you for excellent information. This is our second time to visit US Open. Last time we got great reseller Loge tickets at Arthur Ashe Stadium. This year it will be a little bit different because of new Louis Armstrong Stadium.
So I’m very grateful for your tips.
We’ve been to all Grand Slams and best value for your money you get in New York and Melbourne. One ticket to the main stadium and you reach all courts. And by the way, Roland Garros was the worst, crowded and no roof and of course it rained…
Greetings from Finland!
Päivi, thank you very much for letting me know! Really appreciate it, and glad you’re making it back over here this year! P.J.
Hello! This will be my first experience in the US Open. I am from Argentina. I like all your comments, and I appreciate your suggestions.
Only one question: why can’t I find in the schedule shown on the Ticketmaster link the Grandstand Stadium?
Sorry, but I can’t find it! Should I wait until June 11th to buy tickets on the Grandstand Stadium?
Thank your for your help!
Hola Beatriz! Grandstand tickets don’t go on sale until this Monday June 11 at 9am EDT. If you go to Ticketmaster and click “More Info” next to any Grandstand session, you will see resale tickets available for purchase now. I would advise waiting until June 11 to see if you can get standard non-resale tickets first. P.J.
Hi PJ, Thank you so much for putting this together. Definitely the most comprehensive resource around! And thank you for actually replying to the comments. I’m sure it takes up so much time but I can tell from reading below, you’re actually taking your time to compose a good answer. Anyway, here’s my question, I’m planning to go the first week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. 2 of the days I’m planning to purchase cheap Ashe day tickets and then a courtside Armstrong ticket (day session). Will those tickets also give me access to be there in the evening since they… Read more »
Hi Rebekah, thanks! Yes, any Day session ticket gets you into the grounds — and once you’re in you can stay as long as you want. (You just can’t stay in your reserved seat after the day session ends). P.J.
Thanks so much for your quick reply!
This may be the single best review / advice column I’ve found. I’m also a huge tennis fan and already knew a fair amount of this info this was awesome. Thank you so much for helping all of us out!
Byron, thank you so much – really appreciate it! P.J.
Hiya PJ, Brillant post. I am doing a bucket sports trip and have put aside all of Monday 27th and day session on the 28th as will be going to Yankees baseball that evening. I’m guessing due to my time schedule my best bet would be a Ashe evening ticket on the Monday and what would you suggest for the day of Monday & Tuesday? Would you recommend purchasing these tickets from 9am on the 11th or waiting, as possibly the demand for the first 2 days isn’t as great as later in tourny Also keen to see some practice… Read more »
Hey, thank you! Depends on your budget, but if it were me I’d probably do the following: Mon DAY: Ashe super cheap Promenade seat to save your budget. Go into Ashe to see a famous player for a bit from nosebleed seats, but plan to spend most of your day checking out practice courts, outer courts, etc. So much to see and that’s a good time to do it. Mon EVE: Treat yourself to the best seat you can afford in Ashe. Do Courtside if you can afford it (may be able to get for around $350). It’s the opening… Read more »
Hi! Thank you so much for this very useful information! I am planning to visit US Open for the first time with my brother, visiting from Norway. A question you may have the answer to: Will it be possible to get tickets at face value if I try to get tickets on Monday at 12 PM EDT? Tickets will be available at 9 AM, but because of obligations at work I will not be able to order tickets at that time.
Best regards, Petter
Hi Petter, how great you’re coming for the first time! My guess would depend on which session/stadium and type of seat you’re trying for. If for an Ashe Promenade seat for most sessions, you’ll probably be fine. In contrast, Ashe Loge and Courtside seats at regular prices may be difficult to find — even if you were to log on right at 9am EDT. For Armstrong, it’s hard to know as this will be the first time so many tickets are available for the new, larger stadium – but I suspect there will be some still available. The toughest sessions… Read more »
Thank you so much for your reply!
By the way, do you know if there is an easy way to know what the actual face value of a particular ticket is? I am just think that it is not easy to know whether the deal on the resale market is good or not if I can’t compare it to the face value. The resale prices at the moment seems to be pretty high, but that is understandable as you point out in your post (demand exceeds supply).
Petter
My pleasure! So it’s a little complicated and not very transparent. I’ve done my best to collect what I know on this chart of price range for regular tickets, which I prepared based on publicly available data, which, frustratingly, is only published in a range and not with specificity per section. I’ll try to fill in more details as I learn them. The lower end of the price range for Ashe tickets you see is for Upper Level Promenade seats, the upper end for Courtside seats. Prices vary considerably from session to session. Last year, the face value of a… Read more »
P.J.
Thank you for the fantastic resource. My wife and I have attended 2 prior times and your insights are excellent.
I have a question, we will be going from a day session to Kennedy Airport. What is the best option to get from tennis to the airport ?
Hi Geofrey, you’re so welcome – thanks a million for your thanks 🙂 Getting a cab after a day session usually isn’t too challenging (late nights are tough when Ashe gets out because there’s a massive crowd all trying to leave at once). There are usually lots of cabs on the street just by the entrance to the 7 train – I’d probably try that first. If you are concerned about time and want total peace of mind, I’d recommend making a reservation in advance with a car service (they’ll have to meet you in the car service pickup area… Read more »
Don’t see any mention of exact day & time B.O. opens so we locals can go in person to purchase tix & avoid Telecharge outrageous fees! Every yr we go thru this esp during the remodeling yr (2016) when it was falsely claimed there’d be NO box office! USTA & Telecharge of course don’t want to disclose this. We longtime fans (been going for 40 yrs since Forest Hills days when Grounds Passes were $3) dont want to schlep to Flushing & find out B
O. closed.
Hi there, you’re right that it’s confusing and has differed substantially from year to year! Last year, the physical box office on site at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center wasn’t opened until much closer to the event. I just found out that it will open this year on weekends only beginning on July 13th, then sometime in August it will be open every day (they couldn’t confirm exact date). You can always call the USTA ticket office at 718-760-6363 before heading over to verify. P.J.
One last question. I’m travelling from Ireland, so would need tickets either to be sent here, or for them to be print at home tickets. Is this possible with Ticketmaster and/or Stubhub for US Open tickets?
Hi James, let me tackle this one first – may need to reply to your other ones in a couple hours. All tickets through Ticketmaster are offered as “MOBILE” tickets (i.e., “Your Phone is Your Ticket”) – which requires having a smart phone with internet/wifi capability. If you do not have a smart phone (either iPhone or Android) and you purchase through Ticketmaster, they WILL help you – but you’ll have to contact their customer service directly and have them make an exception and transfer your tickets to “Will Call” pick up location on site. If you don’t own a… Read more »
James, I posted a question just now about issues with setting up a credit card on ticketmaster USA to buy tickets for the open. I live in Dublin and notice you are talking about buying tickets and travelling from Ireland. Did you have any issues with adding Cr cards to the ticketmaster USA account to enable you to purchase? Tx
PJ that’s incredible work. Thanks very much. I’m heading to the US Open this year. I’ve been to the Australian Open 4 times, and Roland Garros once, so looking forward to completing part 3 of the Spectator Grand Slam. I’m travelling with my girlfriend and our plan is to do one Ashe evening session, and then a fully day another day, ideally with a Louis Armstrong reserved seat, to guarantee us tennis in case of rain, and to remove the stress of the “first come first serve” aspect. We will be there in the first week and would like to… Read more »
Hey again! You’re absolutely right to be cautious about rain – it’s a common issue and I’ve dealt with it personally so many times! Here’s my advice: 1. The price range for standard Armstrong tickets, frustratingly, has not been fully posted yet. They’ve only posted for some sessions. I will update my ticket price chart as soon as they update. In the meantime, what we do know from what’s been posted is that the base price for courtside Armstrong seats will be high: $190.00-$230.00 early in 1st week, then it appears $270.00-$320.00 Fri and throughout Labor Day weekend. This is… Read more »
Thank you, Thank you! This information is amazing and so comprehensive. I have been to the Open dozens of times but there are things in this article I didn’t know. I realize Louis Armstrong was redone and is new this year, and please forgive me if this info is in your article and I missed it, but what sections are in the shade? I know you said South, West and then North are the shady sections of Ashe so I assume the same holds true for Armstrong but what should I look for as far as tickets go? Thanks again!
You’re so welcome, Beth, thank you!! So I’ve done a lot of digging and at this point I’m 99% sure that the court orientation will be the same as Ashe. I just made this annotated map showing the orientation based on everything I’ve seen. I believe the behind-the-server seats in South sections 1 or 18 will get most shade soonest (along with South corners 2 or 17); then shade will wrap around West side clockwise, as with Ashe. Upper row courtside seats (just not sure beginning with which row) should be in shade almost the entire day because of an… Read more »