IMPORTANT 2026 UPDATE ON RENOVATED ASHE STADIUM SEATING

Ashe in 2026 features 2,000 more Courtside seats but a much smaller Loge section (my rough rendering to illustrate the changes)

2026 will see a HUGE change to Ashe Stadium: a major renovation has 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 Courtside and Loge levels.

Historically, I almost always recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge if Courtside wasn’t in your 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 than before: only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge now remain. 

I want to experience the renovated stadium in person before making strong conclusions or changing my recommendations too aggressively. But for now, I’d encourage readers to pay especially close attention to seating maps, views, and pricing differences between Loge and Promenade as the market develops this summer, because the relative value proposition between those sections may have changed significantly.   

BOX 3: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are the questions I get most often, along with important stuff I wish I had known myself before buying tickets the first time…

FAQ #1: How can I predict when (and on which court) Alcaraz, Djokovic, Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek or my other favorite player will play? Will they play Day or Night Sessions?

As of now, you can’t. Final scheduling depends on which half of the draw a player is ultimately in; which halves of the draws are determined to play on which days (which varies year to year); and the tournament’s daily decisions about which matches to put on Day or Night sessions and on which courts (not made until the day prior to a match).

However, once it’s clear which halves of the draw will be scheduled for which days, we will be able to at least predict the DATES on which specific players will play if they advance (but not the precise timing or court). Click “Learn How to Make Educated Guesses” for more details.

To be absolutely sure you see your favorite player, consider waiting until the schedule is published the day prior (start checking frequently early afternoon, usually out by 5:00pm), then immediately go to the official Ticketmaster US Open page (or other resale sites like Stubhub) to grab a resale ticket. This strategy requires, however, that you monitor the ticket situation closely in the days prior and are prepared to act immediately when the schedule is announced. Also, if you see tickets becoming scarce and prices going up in the days prior, you may conclude it’s worth taking a chance and purchasing based on an educated guess.

One sure way to see your favorite player up close is to watch them when they’re scheduled for practice on the practice courts. See Tip #10

To see real examples of what kinds of matches get scheduled on which courts for specific days, look at previous years’ schedules:

–> Full 2025 US Open Daily Schedules (All Days, All Courts)
–> Full 2024 US Open Daily Schedules (All Days, All Courts)

FYI: A fun way to get your head around the draw/brackets — and potential match-ups — is to enter the official US Open “Million-Dollar Bracket” contest. Each submission that correctly picks all 127 matches in the men’s singles bracket will share from a prize pool of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). It’s also a great way to become more familiar with some players you may not have heard of yet but probably will soon. 

Roger Federer from Courtside (section 60 row F) 9/4/17

FAQ #2: How do a see the exact location of seats that I might buy (in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand)?

• Go to Ticketmaster, click on any session for the stadium in question, choose Map View, then mouse over or click on any of the dots to see the exact section, row and seat #.
• See all the seating charts below
• Also take note of where the umpire sits (you’ll see a little chair icon on each map — and avoid courtside tickets very close up in sections right behind or next to the chair (please note: the umpire chair is never a big obstruction, but it might be a minor annoyance to some).
• Check out the detailed Seat Map on Ticketmaster view before buying to see the exact location.

KEY SEATING CHARTS AND SHADE MAPS

Arthur Ashe Stadium

• 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.

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

• Grandstand Stadium Seating Chart
• Grandstand Interactive Seat Map

FAQ #3: Should I buy tickets now or wait? Will prices go up or down? Will sessions sell out if I wait too long? What are average prices? What’s a “good deal”?

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 of making a good decision, 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 inventory because the USTA typically makes relatively few Standard tickets (“blue dots” on Ticketmaster) available for purchase, with most inventory pre-allocated to subscribers—and even Standard tickets are dynamically priced rather than sold at fixed “face value” prices. As a result, prices can move in unexpected ways.
Historically, some sessions have gotten cheaper as more resale tickets hit the market and sellers compete with one another, while other high-demand sessions have risen substantially. Who ultimately gets scheduled on particular days, courts, and sessions can also have a major impact. Last year (2025), for example, schedulers surprised everyone by putting the blockbuster Djokovic–Alcaraz semifinal in the day session rather than at night. As a result, day-session prices spiked while night-session prices dropped dramatically. 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 is to familiarize yourself with typical prices for the sessions you’re considering so you can recognize a good opportunity when you see one.

To help empower you with information to make smart decisions, I created this “2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Ticket Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal,” which outlines every single ticket option, average price ranges to expect for each option in 2026, and benchmarking ranges from day-of the same sessions last year. It’s meant to be a helpful starting point to gauge expectations as you explore and make the right decisions for you. Use the 2026 price ranges and 2025 day-of-match pricing notes for additional context, but not predictions. One useful clue: if you enlarge the stadium map on Ticketmaster and see relatively few tickets available, scarcity is often a sign that prices may continue to rise; if you see abundant inventory, prices may face more downward pressure.

Other Common Pricing-Related Questions:

• 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. Unfortunately, there has never been a reliable pattern regarding which sessions or ticket types receive additional inventory. Grounds Pass inventory can fluctuate as well. My advice: check periodically, especially in the mornings, but don’t count on additional inventory appearing for any specific session.
• Day session or evening session—which is a better value? For most fans, day sessions offer better overall value. You’ll typically get more tennis, more scheduling flexibility, and access to the grounds 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” depends on whether you care more about quantity of tennis or the unique 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, but that’s often not the case. Before buying a Grounds Pass, always compare prices for Ashe and Armstrong Day Session tickets. If they’re available for a similar price, you’ll get all the same grounds-access privileges plus a reserved seat and valuable rain protection from the stadium roofs.
• What’s the biggest mistake first-time buyers make? Spending their entire day in upper Ashe Stadium. The outer courts are the soul of the tournament. Some of the most memorable experiences at the US Open happen on Armstrong, Grandstand, and the field courts, where you can get remarkably close to world-class players and experience a level of intimacy that’s impossible in a 24,000-seat stadium. Even if you have Ashe tickets, make time to explore.
• Are resale tickets safe? Generally, yes—provided you use reputable marketplaces. In some cases, resale tickets can actually be better values than standard tickets because sellers compete with one another on price. Before purchasing, always verify the section, row, and seat numbers and make sure the ticket is clearly identified for mobile transfer.
• Will I still be able to 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 represents all the tickets that will be available. In reality, additional resale inventory appears throughout the summer, and the USTA often releases additional standard tickets as well. The market keeps evolving right up until the tournament begins—and sometimes even on the day of the matches.

FAQ #4: Which seats get the most shade?

Click to enlarge

For Ashe: The roof creates a massive amount of natural shading all day for a large number of seats. The sections that get the most shade are in the South and West sections of the stadium; Next-best for shade are in the North. Sections with the most sun (to avoid for Day sessions) are on the East side. Click on the photo/map below for details. For the new Armstrong: Situation is similar to Ashe, now that there’s a roof. In short, Sections 1-8 are best for shade.  West-side sections (Chair Umpire side) get the most shade; and when not in shade, at least the sun is at your back. Rows K and above (approximately) are shaded soonest (by about 12:30pm), then the sun gradually moves down to cover all rows by about 2:00 pm. East-side sections get the least shade and are in direct sun most of the afternoon. However, Rows T and above (approximately) get shading all day. South sections (behind-the-server) get more shade than North sections: South sections start out almost entirely shaded until about 1pm, then the sun starts wrapping around clockwise, such that sections 17-18 end up losing shade mid-afternoon. See photo/map below. For Grandstand: There’s much less shade overall, however South and West sections are similarly better because sun is more at your back. General admission seats that are higher under the overhang, especially Southwest corner, get the most shade.

FAQ #5: What happens if it rains?

The good news: Now that both Arthur Ashe and the new Louis Armstrong stadiums have roofs, now up to 37,771 more fans each day will be able to see matches even if it rains. The bad news: if you invest in great seats for Grandstand or simply buy a Grounds Admission pass, there isn’t much consolation. Keep in mind that weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable and can change on the hour (I have literally been at Flushing Meadows when my iPhone said it was raining and it wasn’t). There’s always hope that showers will pass quickly. In the highly unlikely event of all-day rain out or under 60 minutes of play (which happened to me unforgettably in 2012 on the day I treated 6 friends to pricy Armstrong front row seats), the session may be rescheduled until the next day and your ticket may be honored then — or, you MAY be able to trade in tickets through the US Open for another session this year or next year if (and only if) you purchased directly from Ticketmaster (see the somewhat complicated US Open Inclement Weather Policy). In the worst case scenario, I recommend looking for the silver lining: you’ll be surrounded by a ton of other fans with whom you can grab a US Open specialty cocktail, huddle under a shelter, and watch an Ashe match together on a big screen.

FAQ #6: Should I buy a subscription or multi-session ticket plan?

For most serious fans, I don’t recommend it. Most multi-session plans for Ashe (and first-time subscription plans) for are only for “Promenade” seats — so high up in that huge stadium you’ll end up watching a lot of the match on the Jumbotron or through binoculars. It could take years to get the chance to upgrade your seats to Loge (only available if you purchase the very expensive full-series plan). For the full series ticket plan price (well over $2,000 each) you could buy several amazing seats for multiple sessions over the tournament (or 2 excellent seats for the Men’s final). Finally, there is always a glut of Promenade Ashe seats on the resale market, so if you buy an entire series of Promenade seats you may have a challenge reselling any you don’t need.

FAQ #7: Which are the best sections/seats with the best views?

The vast majority of people would consider “behind the server” seats (i.e., those on North or South ends of the courts) to be preferable — and prices generally reflect this. For first-timers, this area would be my top recommendation.

• This is the vantage point they use for filming for broadcast, because it enables you to follow point construction and see the court from the perspective of the player on your side of the net.
• From these seats, you’ll never have to move your head side-to-side to follow the ball.
• FYI: seats in these sections start several feet higher in these seats than sections on the side (this is why these rows begin with higher letters E instead of AA or A).
• Here’s a photo of the perspective from higher up seats in the new Armstrong. Here’s another photo from Ashe courtside front row.

Corner sections are also widely considered to be highly desirable — and for good reason. They carry many of the same advantages of the above, with the added benefit you can see the player on your side of the net from the front as their hitting the ball not just the back. Here’s a photo from the new Armstrong from that perspective.

As a serious player myself, I personally love sitting courtside as close as possible in lower rows of sections where seats are practically on the court, perpendicular and near to the actual baseline (e.g., section 58 in Ashe) because it gets me physically even closer to the players and more on the same level. Sitting in the lower rows, I feel even more like I’m on the court with them. I feel the speed of the game. In these seats, I personally enjoy watching one player at a time sometimes to see their footwork, how they prepare for the next ball, etc. I took the video of Federer I included in my post from this perspective (from section 58). Here’s a photo from Ashe courtside from that perspective.

When considering Loge or Promenade seats in Ashe, I generally recommend prioritizing seats that are in lower rows regardless of location— simply because Loge (and especially Promenade) are already quite high up to begin with. For Day sessions, I strongly urge folks to factor in potential shade benefits (seats on West side, SouthWest, and Northwest tend to get the most shade relief). See FAQ #4 above. With regard to the umpire chair, it really is never an obstruction but may feel a bit of an annoyance to some if you’re sitting in very low rows on that side — simply because you may not always have a complete view of the player on the other side of the net. See this photo for example. I personally don’t mind this for reasons I mention above, and this is ONLY an issue when courtside in very low rows.

FAQ #8: What Matches/Players Can I Expect to See on Each Court?

Once the tournament begins, see the official Daily Schedule of Play for the day-by-day match schedule once available. The US Open will likely release the 2026 Tournament’s Day 1 and Day 2 Schedule on its Daily Schedule of Play page and the US Open app on/around Thursday August 27th (start checking mid-day, usually released late afternoon/early evening).

To get a sense of what types of matches are played on which courts for specific dates, I recommend reviewing the recent year’s schedules for the specific day(s) you’re considering attending:

–> See Full 2025 US Open Daily Schedules (All Days, All Courts)
–> See Full 2024 US Open Daily Schedules (All Days, All Courts

FAQ #9: What are the rules around entry and re-entry?

• Any DAY session stadium reserved ticket for Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand gives you the same exact privileges as a Grounds Pass: You can enter the grounds when grounds first open (9:30am daily and 11am on Finals weekend) and stay on the grounds as late into the evening as you want. However, your Day session reserved seat in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand only entitles you to those reserved seats for the Day session matches (then you have to exit your seats) — after which you can stay on the US Open grounds as late as you want and access general unreserved seating on every court (except Ashe, which has no unreserved seating).
• To enter the US Open grounds, you must pass through security then have your ticket scanned at either the EAST GATE or SOUTH GATE (see map above).
• If you have a reserved seat in a stadium, you’ll have your ticket re-checked upon entering that stadium.
• If you have tickets for Day and Evening sessions (Ashe or Armstrong) on the same day, you will NOT need to exit the US Open grounds and re-enter again. Your ticket will be checked as you enter the stadium.
• If you are in Armstrong for the Day session (either Courtside reserved or GA seating), you’ll need to leave your seat between Day and Evening sessions as they clean up. However, you may stay inside the concourse area of Armstrong (the inner-stadium areas with food stands).

** I took the photo above at the 2016 US Open from a corner courtside seat in Ashe watching the Nadal-Pouille round of 16 match on Labor Day.

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Box 4: What to Bring and What NOT to bring (Backpacks not allowed!)

Be sure to review this list of prohibited items before going!

To help clarify some common confusions:

• You CAN bring a drawstring bag (click here for example) but NOT a backpack with two straps
• You CAN bring a digital camera with video capabilities (however they do NOT allow “Video cameras or recording devices”, which includes GoPros)
• You CAN bring a plastic or metal water bottle 24 oz or less to refill on site (but NOT anything glass!)
• You CAN bring a fanny pack: but if you do you’ll still need to go through the “with bag” security line
• You CAN bring sunscreen in lotion form only, NOT aerosol cans
• 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: $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 from to your mobile wallet (e.g. Apple Wallet or something like WalletPasses on Android)
• Sunglasses and sunscreen (lotion not spray)! If you forget, La Roche offers free samples just inside the EAST gate entrance.
• A backup phone charger (e.g. a Mophie) if you have one – although there are Chase-sponsored free chargers on site.
• A lightweight white towel to protect exposed skin from sun or to sit on when in unreserved seats, which can get hot and uncomfortable.
• Reusable plastic water bottle (to refill using any of the many water fountains). Evian is $6 for a small so bring your own!
• If taking subway (7 train), fill up your subway Metrocard in advance for your return trip in advance if taking 7 train so you don’t have to wait in long lines; If taking LIRR (my favorite) you need to get your ticket before boarding
• A small umbrella if rain may be in the forecast
• Dress in layers as it can get hot during the day and occasionally chilly at night
• Contacts wearers: A very small bottle of contact lens solution in case you get something in your eye
• FYI: There are two entrances to the grounds: (1) the main entrance, the “East Gate,” located near the Subway/LIRR; and (2) the “South Gate” entrance near the iconic World’s Fair “Unisphere” (globe) – see map above. While lines tend to be shorter by the South Gate, the wait may end up being about the same because there are fewer attendants and metal detectors.

Box 5: FREE GROUNDS ADMISSION ANTICIPATED ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10

One of the best-kept secrets is that for years the US Open has offered free grounds admission on the second Thursday of the main tournament (gates usually open at 11:00am or Noon, must arrive before 5pm) — offering an opportunity to see the Men’s Doubles Semifinals plus all-star wheelchair players, the world’s top juniors, and incredible collegiate players.

If you are a serious tennis fan, particularly if you’re a doubles player, this is a day not to be missed.

FINAL TIP: “PAY IT FORWARD” WHEN YOU CAN!!

If you have the opportunity, consider performing a random act of kindness for fellow fans during the tournament. Our tennis community is big, but relatively speaking, it’s small… Our passion for our sport is infectious; do something kind for someone today, they’re likely to pay it forward. Last year, a reader emailed me saying he had an emergency and couldn’t go to the tournament but had amazing New Grandstand seats – he asked if I knew anyone that would really value them for free so they didn’t go to waste. I was able to share with a fanatic who’s in town on a budget, who as you can imagine was elated. In past years, I’ve gifted a lot of tickets myself – and it always feels wonderful. It takes seconds to “transfer” tickets from Ticketmaster/Ticketmaster Exchange to others simply by putting in an email address.