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.












I got tickets to Tuesday AM in ash and with Djokovic injuries and Federer playing at evening session I missed the chances to see one of them =(
I would like to know if you guys know if Federer would be in practice tomorrow during the day ? That would be my only chance to see him, any info is a hope
Hey Jose, yes almost certainly you will be able to catch Fed practicing probably sometime around 3-4pm. Check schedule tomorrow am… Fingers crossed for you! PJ
Thank you P.J.
PJ, Tell me, how does it feel to be a walking oracle, a veritable font of US Open knowledge? We used two more of your tips this year: One: LIRR. True, it is much faster than the snail rail that is the 7 train. During rush hour, when the Mets are in town, it is a mob scene, but I imagine the 7 train was the same, if not worse, and at least it was faster. The ride back was great. Two: Quality over quantity. Three sessions with better seats, getting 2 in Ashe and 2 in Armstrong or Armstrong/Grandstand.… Read more »
Huge thanks, Michelle!! So happy to hear it worked out and really appreciate you sharing your experience! Now back to the Berrettini match I’m watching on Armstrong… 🙂
You’re so great for taking the time to always keep this site updated with your comments and insight. But enjoy the tennis!
Amazing effort – thank you so much for this incredible gift. Heading to NYC for a 1.5 day biz trip this week, found your website and decided to go on the way from the airport – only possible because of your “how to be in the know” website. One suggestion for an update – I was going to pack light to do 1 cinch sack & purse so I didn’t have to do the locker thing but just discovered the us open website states “No laptops” and only “1” bag. Oh well… Going to take your advice and seek out… Read more »
Thrilled to hear it, Maureen, thank you! And great suggestion will do! PJ
Hey everyone, it’s Monday Sep 2 and I’m headed out to the Open all Day/Night with friends and family. So as not to be “that guy” on his phone all the time, I will not be checking or responding to messages until late tonight/ tomorrow morning. Thank you so much for understanding!!! P.J.
Hope you enjoyed the day and got to see great matches. Hope you took a night off from fastidiously updating this site!
Tom, you’re so kind. Thank you! I had an incredible day yesterday and stayed off my phone so I could really be present. Had the best time. P.J.
PJ I just wanted to share that I tried using TickPick.com for Courtside at tickets on Saturday Friday. The prices went up twice while the tickets were in my cart trying to check out a total of an increase of $400. I do not consider TickPick a reliable site for resale tickets.
Just want to thank you for this wonderful website. We go once a year and were there yesterday, 9/1. Got fantasic tickets for Armstrong after following you advice on where to sit. Section 1, Row S. Had your website up as I was booking it on another computer so I could really check my seat choices. Actually drove from Northern CT and parked with no trouble in Lot A. At least I think it was A – same lot as Citifield. Easy walk to the stadium. Best eight hours of tennis ever and worth the splurge for great seats!
Hey Joan, thank you so much for this wonderful note – made my day! Fantastic to hear you had such a good time. And thanks for sharing the experience on the walk from the Citifield stadium parking. FYI just to clarify in case other readers may be wondering too: Lot A is actually different — it’s a smaller, special lot that requires a special permit, which several people sell on resale sites like Stubhub – map here Thank you again so much, Joan! P.J.
My mistake. Definitely parked at CitiField. Got there early- around 10am as we were so worried about traffic. Lot was not full that early. Hard to get to The Open from the Hartford area so decided to drive. Beautiful walk to the stadium and a most memorable day. I am SO glad I had your website to really check the seats out. Huge help. Got the tickets from Ticketmaster and actually got a great price $300 (plus fees)!!!
Hi PJ, I’m going tomorrow night on Ash but I was wondering, can I come earlier in the afternoon to see games on Louis Armstrong ? (rublev/berrettini for exemple)
Thanks
Hey Ben, your evening ticket only gets you access into the grounds at 6pm — so unfortunately not unless you have some other kind of day ticket. P.J.
P.J. thank you so much for your work on this site! It has been tremendously helpful (and I’m getting anxiety just thinking about where I’d be without it)! I was wondering if you had any insight on the parking situation at Lot A by Ashe. For folks who park there with a permit, do they have to walk all the around to South Gate (or even further to East Gate) by way of outside the grounds or is there a way they can enter the grounds directly from/closer to Lot A? Thank you so much for your help!
Hey Michelle, thank you for your super nice thanks! Honestly it’s been a few years since I got a pass for lot A, so I don’t remember… I definitely just walked and don’t remember it being terribly long. Sorry can’t be of much help on this one. Perhaps someone else reading who has parked in A?? P.J.
Ok, and no worries! If I may bug you once more – from your experience, do you think they’ll close the Ashe roof from start to finish on Monday (9/2/19) given the on and off storm forecast? Or even if it rains a bit at the start of the match, do you think they’ll leave it open until it really starts to pour? Thank you, again!
Hey Michelle! I do think it’s pretty likely they will keep closed on both Ashe and Armstrong all day to prevent having to delay play by drying courts… I’ll be there too, so very interested to see how they approach it. Counting blessings for roofs on both courts today! Have fun!! P.J.
P.J. I’m just writing this as a huge thank you for your advice to make my father’s 70th birthday present and my first visit to the U.S. Open a wonderful success, and time spent wisely. Sorry for the wall of text. At first I was a little weary that I chose Louis Armstrong Round of 16 Day Passes for the competitive matches, but overlooked all superstars will strictly be competing at Ashe because I came across your website half an hour before the Amex Presale went live and I was skimming and kind of rushing. When I bought. My father… Read more »
Roberto, I am absolutely overjoyed to hear that it was such a success for you guys! I was watching those Armstrong matches on TV today, and was wishing so much that I was there too! Thank you very very much for taking the time to write about your experience and let me know. Means a lot, and I’m so glad to hear it. Safe travels and thanks again!
PJ,
Wanted to thank you for your exceptional blog. I took your prescient advice back in July and booked court side, third row baseline seats, on Armstrong for the third round night session. As you know, it was the five-set thriller between Monfils and Shapovalov. It took about a set to fully acclimate to seeing and following the ball from that close up, but the overall experience exceeded the hype. My dad and father-in-law cannot stop talking about the match.
Chris
Chris, I am so psyched that you had a great time and were able to see such an exciting match!! Thank you SO much for taking time to write such a nice note to let me know – seriously appreciate it! P.J.
Hi. I bought tickets for the Wednesday evening session. The ticket says Mens/ Women’s quarterfinals. Does this mean I can choose whether I attended the men’s or women’s quarter finals or can I attend both?
Hey Alicia, you get BOTH a men’s QF match AND a Women’s QF match in the same session – enjoy! P.J.
Hey PJ, thanks for the tips! If I didn’t get a ticket, where would be the best place to wait for a fan who needs to leave early? I’m hoping to get in even if it means I can only watch it on the screen outside Ashe. Thanks
Hey Chris, One good place is the area just outside the special entrance to the Courtside level (take escalator up one level or the stairs to the right as you enter Ashe). This way if a Courtside ticketholder is leaving early you might be able to get in there. P.J.
Thank you for this extensive information. I made all of our travel plans based on your advice. Stayed near Penn station and took the LIRR. No hassle or stress. unfortunately had to come home a day early and miss the matches on Labor Day due to the hurricane. Thank you for providing all of this information!
Susan, thank you so much for letting me know! But I am so sorry the hurricane messed up you plans. Hope you’re safe and sound and not impacted by it. Stay safe! PJ
Hi PJ!
Thanks for a great and informative website! Heading over to NY this week and can’t wait to take part in the actions.
I pulled the trigger for the Women’s Semifinals on Thursday (Prayinf Serena comes through!!!!) earlier this week after monitoring for a few days (it seems like most prices have gone up by $100 since then). But it was actually paper tickets that’s being mailed to me (bought it via TickPick). Now I’m getting a little paranoid. Who still uses paper tickets nowadays? I’d think most are e-tickets no?
Hey Teresa! That will be a super exciting night regardless of who gets though! If you had purchased those from an individual on something like Craigslist I would have raised a red flag — but I have had that experience myself and as long as through a reputable broker like TickPick you are protected and I’m sure will be fine. Bring their # just in case – but I wouldn’t worry. Have a blast! P.J.
Hi, I have tickets for Arthur Ashe but I want to see Rublev vs Berrettini on Louis Armstrong: how does the GA works on Louis Armstrong stadium? Is it hard to get into? Do I leave my seat if I go out for a bathroom/snack quick break? Many thanks!
Hey Niccolo, the situation can differ wildly every day and every match with GA seating at Armstrong… Today at one point there was a long long (long) line during the Coco Gauff doubles match, but otherwise heard people had a relatively easy time getting in. Once you have a seat, you just need to work it out with the person next to you to hold it for you while you go to the bathroom or grab a snack (which is available within the stadium). P.J.
Awesome info and thank you for it. So… I have tickets to tomorrow night at Ashe. I have a 4 hour drive and wanted to get the center early and hang out, eat etc. is it true I can’t enter until 6pm?
Hey Jack, you’re so welcome. Yes, unfortunately evening session ticketholders can’t get in grounds until 6pm. P.J.
Not unfortunately. I can’t think of a good reason from a spectator point of view why an additional potentially 20,000+ people should be on the grounds making it even more crowded for the day people.
Fourteen days down and seven to go. 🙂
Thanks for all the great info. We have Ashe tickets for the night session tomorrow (Monday Night). Gates open at 6pm. In your experience, can you get in earlier, or what is the right strategy for the shortest entry? and is there a way to grab super cheap grounds passes for before so we can enter late afternoon, and avoid night session entrance lines?
Hey Brandon, sometimes if there aren’t big crowds you can get away with a little earlier like 530… but usually not esp on Labor Day weekend. Best strategy is not to bring a bag or check it to get in “express” line. Best strategy for cheapest Day ticket is to check Ticketmaster at 11:45am tomorrow (before sales close for grounds/armstong/Grandstand) to see if any resellers have lowered prices a ton — or to check at about 1245pm for same in Ashe… Sales close at 12 for the former and 1 for the latter. Good luck! PJ
This is a.m.a.z.i.n.g. THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!
A reminder to everyone considering last-minute ticket sales: Ticketmaster continues selling tickets for 59 minutes after a session begins as long as tickets, including resale tickets, remain available — I.e. until 11:59am for an Armstrong session beginning at 11:00am, and until 12:59pm for an Ashe session beginning at Noon.
have you ever seen TM release additional standard tickets in the days leading up to a match? Right now everything (in my budget- $350ish MAX) for Tuesday night is a verified resale and all promenade of course. I know TM standard tickets would be expensive as well (like $280 + fees for standard tickets) but better than $350+ fees!
Thanks – enjoy the match assuming you are watching!
Hey Courtney, yes I have – especially for sessions where demand ends up being less than expected due to players not advancing. However, they tend to do that more with Courtside or last-row Loge — less frequently with Promenade (they tend not to hold many back on reserve in Promenade). It’s kind of like “house seats” on Broadway: houses hold good seats just in case VIPs call at last minute and need them. P.J.
took the plunge and bought a loge for Tues PM. found a reasonable price (relative to the real world!). If they schedule Roger for a FOURTH day session (or if Goffin wins by some act of God), I am jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge!
Have a great time tomorrow!
LOL you will have a lot of company on that bridge if that happens! And thank you!
thanks! I can’t imagine what a great decision I made by purchasing both the day and Night tickets on Tuesday – at the moment they release the day1 schedule! Whole day US Open – Federer djokovic and Serena for 110 USD – the most worthy money that i have ever spent!
Awesome!! Have an incredible time!! P.J.
No Nole shockingly! But it will be a super Tuesday regardless. Medvedev v Wawrinka! Roger v Grigor!
I think I heard the ESPN commentator say that Stan would be back “Tuesday night” … Maybe they know something we don’tmabout the schedule.. hmmm…
Heartbroken about Nole, but agree on Tues – will be two fantastic matches. See response to other comment re: commentator…
oh heartbroken no Nole! federer is at the night session!
I was stalking Ashe resale prices for today (day and night) and the prices didn’t come down. I was surprised to see that, especially for the night match, and especially even after the event started.
And yes, Courtney, I’ve seen it happen, even today. TM released 2 standard loge seats at about 12:45pm for the Noon Ashe start time for Sunday.
That is very very interesting. Good to know! Thanks. I use one of those page monitor apps that alerts me if a website page changes. I dont rely solely on that, i check and refresh a lot.
But page change monitoring has been really helpful for me in the past when waiting for a particular band (Radiohead) to start selling fan presale tickets since they don’t always give the exact UK time.
To all the people who are hoping Roger will be Tuesday night, some things Ive learned this past week… That I should have listened to PJs advice and waited for the schedule before buying. Twice I took a gamble on Federer being scheduled for AM and twice I was wrong. I was able to resell my ticket but I did take a loss. Looking back, gambling, buying, then being wrong and reselling (which doesn’t always happen) and the anxiety of it not selling was really stressful !! I was very fortunate I could resell my two tickets for the two… Read more »
Hey Courtney, thanks so much for sharing this! To you and fellow readers: my only reminder here is that there are still no guarantees that Fed (if he wins today) will be scheduled for Tues Evening vs Day QF session. The odds are exceptionally high it will be Evening for reasons I’ve outlined to others in comments below, but they are not 100%. P.J.
I know what you mean about 1 ticket vs 2 tickets.
Just for fun, I entered 1 ticket for today’s Ashe.
The second I changed from 2 (the default) to 1 ticket, the choices decreased significantly at least for courtside.
Hi. This Guide is amazing! Thank you very much. Short question: If I have Arthur Ashe Night Session (want to purchase) can I access the ground and LA during the day already?
Thanks, Severino! Unfortunately not. Your evening ticket only allows grounds admission at 6:00pm. You’d need a Grounds Admission ticket or an Ashe/Armstrong/Grandstand Day session reserved ticket to enter prior. P.J.
Hi
Looks like the USTA learned their lesson from the big crowd at Court 5 wanting to see Coco Gauff and Caty McNally play doubles on Friday. They are scheduled for Armstrong for today’s doubles.
Absolutely!!
And if they win, they might be on Armstrong again tomorrow, because Rnd 3 doubles are generally completed by end of Monday. Just happened to see that Kyrgios & Copil withdrew from doubles, so that’s unfortunate for fans.
Schedule just out – they kept approach from last year! Both men’s singles on LA
Even better than last year — Monday has four singles matches on Armstrong! Great value for one ticket. I got my seats in sec. 1; would love to say hello if you’re around. Thanks again for this amazing resource.
Hey Kevin, so excited myself! My friends and I will be in section 7 rows B-C (but I’ll be at Ashe for the Osaka match). Wearing a grey collared polo. Would be great to say hello! P.J.
And LA was packed to full capacity for that match. Great crowd. I arrived just as they were warming up, and there was shockingly no line to get into LA, and it wasn’t bad finding a pair of seats. Once the match started, couple games in, then the crowd started to gather. I imagine there must have been a line to get in at that time, although I don’t know for sure since I was already inside at that point. Once the Coco McNally doubles match was over, it emptied out before the men’s match. I was dreading waiting on… Read more »
PLEASE HELP,, I’d really LOVE to see Federer in the quarterfinals. Could you please advise on which day, time and court he might be there. I realize that your answer is not 100% certain but I really appreciate your opinion. I will be in NYC Monday pm, Tuesday and Wednesday only.
Also, I’ve purchased seats in section 24, Ashe 12:00 on Tuesday. Is this section generally good and who is likely to be playing? Your site is Awesome and a gift!!! Thanks much.
Hey Debbie! If he wins today, there is an extremely strong likelihood they will schedule Federer for Tuesday night (Sep 3) for his QF match (they do stick with the pattern I outline in my chart under FAQ #1 for the dates played based on Day 1 and 2 through Quarters). It was already low odds they would schedule Federer for a 3d consecutive Day session as they did today – but it would probably be unprecedented to do 4 in a row. Moreover, for QF it’s been a clear pattern in recent years that they put the biggest names… Read more »
I believe I heard the ESPN commentator say, just after the stan-nole match, that Stan would be back Tuesday NIGHT to play medvedev… So you might get to see Roger daytime after all!!
Hey Courtney, FYI – I’ve heard commentators make that mistake numerous times over the years. Highly highly doubtful they know (or would divulge). There are few scheduling things that surprise me anymore, but not putting Federer on Tues night would be a huge shocker. P.J.
Hey with my luck you can count on Roger in the day session!! I can’t imagine it not being Serena and Roger in PM. Still, I covered my bases and going cheap day and good seat night. I cannot wait for Daniil and Stan! And it was very sad for Nole to retire. I can’t stand him and even I felt bad! , you could see in his face in the press conference that he is REALLY worried about the future. He may not have said that but it looked like he was very very troubled. That’s a shame. Have… Read more »
Hi PJ. Hopefully one final question before we go and enjoy (thanks to your amazing advice). What time do they let Ashe ticket holders in to the stadium for day sessions? I see Federer is practicing on Ashe today at 930. Any chance to watch? Thanks.
Hi Liz, sorry for the late reply! Yes, Ashe Day session ticketholders should be able to go into Ashe anytime after you enter the grounds, which open at 9:30am. Enjoy!! PJ
I am willing to pay whatever it costs to get my wife the best seat possible to see Federer play DeMinaur. If I predict the future correctly, I’m hoping they both win tomorrow and clash in the quarters during the evening session on Ashe on Tues. Where are the best seats to secure the highest odds at getting a Fed autograph on his way off the court?
Hey Mayo, with the caveat that I’ve noted to others that Day v Night session scheduling predictions are risky due to inherent unpredictability… I agree with your assessment that there is an extremely strong likelihood (I’d guess 90%) that they will schedule Federer for Tuesday night. It was already low odds they would schedule Federer for a 3d consecutive Day session as they did today – but it would probably be unprecedented to do 4 in a row. Moreover, for QF it’s been a clear pattern in recent years that they put the biggest names available in the evening session… Read more »
Unprecedented, unless you’re the almighty #22 seed Maria Sharapova! 🙂 Last year she played all 4 rounds at night (though the first was on Armstrong) until she lost.
Great memory, Kevin! I wasn’t counting that one because first was on Armstrong… 4 consecutive nights on Ashe I THINK would be unprecedented at least in the last decade, but there well be other examples. P.J.
Hey PJ thanks for this incredible page. If you were to go to the Sunday day session for Ashe promenade (way up there). What would be your strategy and what matches would you see?
Hi Mariano, you’re most welcome. Today’s Ashe Day session is one of the hottest tickets in town because it features Federer v Goffin and Serena Williams v Martic. Prices are stratospheric. I would go to Ticketmaster and, after clicking on today’s session, look at the lowest price seats in the column at right and also click on any section of the actual stadium map to see individual seats (represented by red dots showing all the resale tickets available) and find one in your budget (if that’s possible! so expensive today) and get the lowest row you can afford. P.J.
Thanks! Sorry I wasn’t clear with my question as I do have tickets! Actually on my way to the stadium now :).
I was wondering if you had Ashe tickets, how would you spend the day session there? I’ll definitely see Federer (way from the distance as I have promenade tickets) but would you recommend leaving Ashe to see other matches today?
Oh sorry!! Good question. I’m a Serena fan, so I would be staying for that match. But if it doesn’t appeal as much you might consider heading over to Armstrong (the Coco doubles match will be electric, followed by highly anticipated Medvedev match). I personally would DEFINITELY head over to Court 17 to cheer on Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Jamie Murray in their mixed match, would you should be able to do even after the Serena match. Going to be an exciting day, have fun!
Great advise! Getting ready to get in Ashe. Thank you!!!!
ENJOY!
Do you have to show your general admission tickets to access Armstrong and Grandstand?
Hi Mel, no – once you’re in the grounds you don’t need to show anything to access any GA seats. PJ
Hey PJ, First thanks again for all the constantly updated info! So helpful. Your responses to other peoples comments are also helpful to me! What a great forum the comments thread is. Second, that was nice of you to mention my name with my Amex tips, etc. So…I have given up on trying to predict Roger’s schedule (esp after having predicted incorrectly twice! BTW, I was able to sell my Sunday night ticket and recoup my cost, so I’m happy about that). However, I am thinking about going on Tuesday AM – so I am double-checking with you that singles… Read more »
Hey! THank you for all the contributions!! So happy to hear you could resell Sun evening ticket. To confirm: Singles ONLY on Ashe. Ignore Ticketmaster title for that session for Armstrong – misleading. Yes, same rotation (ie Federer and Serena’s halves of draw for TUes) As for the drama… Sitting here stupefied by the drama on Ashe and Armstrong (from home). Family all screaming every couple of minutes with all the amazing shots. And yes, I was crying with everyone else during the incredibly moving moment between Naomi and Coco. They both deserve all the fan love in the world.… Read more »
Thank you for confirmation! And Rublev is on FIRE! There IS Russian collusion in America right now- It’s called Rublev and Medvedev!
Ha! Indeed. Rublev played out of his mind. And Monfils is crushing it. Great to see Shapo playing so well too. But looks like this match is Gael’s.
not so fast… Shapo is holding on! This is the year of the last names ending with Vs and Cs
Amazing match. I’m so excited for Shapo’s future. And Auger-Aliassime. Love them both so much.
I made it over to the fifth set after watching the two fun ones in Ashe! More great tenni!
Last minute jitters! I am unable to download the two sets of tickets (Monday AM and PM) to my iPhone. I get the error message that asks me to try again. I have had that message appear three times several hours apart. I just took screenshots of the four tickets. Please confirm if that would suffice. 2. My iPhone has been acting up and there is a non-zero chance it may hang right as we step up to the ticket-scanning person. What would you recommend as a paper back-up? Would having the Order #s help? 3. I now find out… Read more »
Hey Madhu! 1. Screenshots are supposedly not supposed to suffice, but in practice they do. When you say you’re trying to “download,” do you mean you are trying to view them in the Ticketmaster app? Or in the US Open app by linking to Ticketmaster? if the latter, forget about it – it’s totally glitchy. If you haven’t tried yet downloading the Ticketmaster app and logging in that way, try that just for peace of mind. But as long as you have screenshots, you’ll be fine (just don’t tell them they are). 2. No paper backup possible. I’d text your… Read more »
Thanks! About downloading tickets, I did download the TM app just now and I am fine now with the four tickets for Monday. I just bought two Ashe PM tickets for tomorrow for $466 or so in Section 324 or 325, Row 5. Didn’t you say the corner views are a bit better than perpendicular ones? Of these two tickets just purchased, only one is showing up in the TM app at the right per ticket price of $233. Do I have to wait a bit or log in again? On Mon AM session, can one tell which two women… Read more »
Great on all counts! Most important for Promenade is being in lowest row you can get (and 5th is great). Not sure about the ticket – I’d contact TM customer support if it doesn’t show up soon.
For Monday, yes correct – will be winners from today. P.J.
I also had a problem with my tickets appearing for Labour Day night at Ashe. I purchased the ticket and the barcode wasn’t loading. I called and they said it’ll take a couple of hours due to the amount of tickets that are being sold and transferred. Sometimes there are glitches and the barcodes get locked. If that happens, just call TM.
I was at the Nadal-Cilic R16 match on Labour Day night. A guy in front of me was stopped and pulled out of the line because he had screenshots. The person checking tickets explicitly told him “no screenshots” and asked to see his ticket, saying, “I don’t care if it’s from TicketMaster, Stubhub. You cannot use a screenshot.”
When you get into the grounds, they print out the seat locator for you. That would obviously suffice.
Hi P.J. — Not a question but a note of gratitude! Thanks to this page and to a very helpful response you wrote to a question I submitted about getting tickets for 1, I’m having the time of my life at the Open — and without sunburn! I held my fire (and gambled a little)… and managed to score courtside seats for Federer’s/Serena’s second round matches (section 51, row D) at face value. And I was just able to snag row A loge end at a reasonable price for Gauff-Osaka tonight by waiting it out — just as you suggested.… Read more »
YES!!! I’m so so glad to hear it! And very grateful for your super kind note, thanks so much for taking the time to let me know. Enjoy!! P.J.
Hi P.J,
I have tickets to ashe on Monday night for 4th round. I thought it would be one mens and one womens last 16 match but I see now that the women’s matches are all on Sunday. Does that mean I just get one match on Monday night in ashe?
Thanks
Dave
Hey Dave, don’t worry – you will get one men’s and one women’s (and a GREAT women’s one at that). Mon features top half of women’s draw (ie players competing today who win their matches today). Pj
Thanks P.J!
Hi PJ – We will be at both day/night sessions in Ashe tomorrow (132 row F for Federer and 105 Row B for Djokovic – woo!). and will want to catch the Medvedev match in Armstrong GA seats. Schedule says will not start before 5. Will they empty out the stadium at some point and allow then reentry for that match? How should I play that to get decent seats? Thank you again for all you do!
Hey Liz, you scored by getting both Ashe sessions tomorrow!! For Armstrong only one session beginning tomorrow (no night) so they will not clear stadium prior… Lines will be nuts for LA tomorrow – so unless you’re willing to skip Serena match and head over immediately after Fed I’d suggest buying a Courtside ticket for LA too… PJ
Thanks. Will likely take our chances with GA for LA – tix are too expensive for a ‘run over’. Want more flexibility. We also have tix to both sessions on Monday in lodge – hoping that Nadal will play the night match. Odds of that happening in your opinion? I know it’s 50/50 but what does your gut tell you 🙂
Sounds good! Odds higher for Nadal on night than Day, but after today’s 3-Days-in-a-row for Fed I stick with my no predictions rule 🙂 Have a great time!! PJ
LA emptied out today after Townsend’s match. It was full again for Monfils. I think most people going Sunday will be there to see Coco. Hopefully it empties out for the men’s match a bit.
PJ, this is an unbelievable resource. To a new tennis fan it feels like you need a PhD to understand even the basics of the US Open and you have several doctorates! I’ve seized on your excellent tip that attending a practice is a sure way to see your player of choice if decent seats are out of reach. Do you need tickets for practice? Would you expect a big crowd for Federer practice tomorrow, or a decent shot at a good view? Thanks again for holding open office hours for us this weekend ??
Hey Jessie, LOL THANK YOU!! Federer practice tomorrow will almost certainly be on Ashe bc first match … So only Ashe Day ticketholders will have access – and may wrap up before people take seats. (Note: ticket of some kind ways requires to enter grounds and see practices on practice courts). PJ
SUN SCHEDULE JUST OUT — FED DAY. Once again underscoring the point that you can never count on any Day/Night prediction with certainty.
Not just that, but also they put 2 womens and 1 mens on Armstrong, unlike last year. (Possibly because Dimitrov-deMinaur, on Grandstand, is the only match with 2 non-seeds.)
YIKES. That is mildly infuriating. I hope they don’t repeat that for Monday as well. A lot of folks (including myself) who paid top dollar for Sunday and/or Monday Armstrong seats did so with the expectation of 2 men’s matches. P.J.
Still a lot of standard tickets available (plus resales), though maybe not as good seats as you have. Plenty behind the server & corners, but scarce at the net — I guess many people have that “50-yard line” mentality from other sports!
Lol – they really need to understand the end zone is where it’s at!!
I can’t believe they did that. I wonder if they’ll do the same for Monday. I gave away my tix to Grandstand for Sunday & Monday with the expectation that Grandstand would only have doubles and one women’s R16 match.
Now that Kyrgios is out, I think it’s possible that Monday’s Grandstand match will be Rublev-Berrettini, if only because the likeliest WTA option is Mertens-Ahn, and Ahn is American.
I think that’s a very good call – would put money on that myself. Still really surprised about their decision to switch gears from last year’s strategy to put 2 Men’s R16 Armstrong Sun and Mon v Grandstand, but it is definitely a good call overall for fans (and Grandstand subscribers). Assume they’ll do the same tomorrow. P.J.
They seemed to have reversed from the schedule last year. Last year on Sunday, they put a woman’s R16 match on Grandstand plus doubles. This year it’s the men’s R16 on Grandstand. Also thought they’d do the same for Monday but they surprised us and did what they did in 2018
Exactly. It was a huge surprise to me yesterday. And as I have tix for Armstrong tomorrow, I was personally grateful to see they stuck with the 2018 approach for tomorrow!
PJ,
Why do you think Grandstand got a men’s R16 match on Sunday? Why did they not continue that for Labour Day Monday?
Do you think that next year, it’ll be the same as 2018, on both days. Where Grandstand gets one women’s R16 match and both men’s are on Armstrong for both Sunday and Labour Day?
Hey Tom, I suspect it’s because of one of two factors (either or both): (1) they had a number of Grandstand series subscribers complain last year about not getting any men’s R16 singles matches; (2) probably more likely, they were hoping to spread out crowds on the grounds given the high volume of attendees on Sunday and avoid serious bottlenecks at L.A. Hesitant to predict on how they handle next year – I was very surprised myself. I plan just to update post to let people know how they’ve handed and note that it’s a gamble if the purchase Grandstand… Read more »
I’m at Times Square. How long will it take me to us open tomorrow’ at 9am (taking the subway)?
Hey Javier, about 35 minutes ride on the 7 train. PJ
Thanks another quick question. It is very posible that Federer plays tomorrow at prime night right???
Hey Javier, it is very possible indeed (and more likely than not), given that he was scheduled for two consecutive Day sessions. But as I note under FAQ #1, there are always surprises and precedents of players getting 3 consecutive Day or Night sessions in a row… So we won’t know 100% until schedule comes out (imminently this afternoon). PJ
SCHEDULE JUST OUT — FED DAY. Once again underscoring the point that you can never count on any Day/Night prediction with certainty.
Any experience with the bag check this event? Is it a complete cluster or reasonable?
Debating on if we go back to hotel and dump shopping packages or do bag check. For PM session
(Have Am Ex so no fee but is it hectic)
LOL, so far this week I’ve heard nothing but good things – no long waits, easy. But everything is different on Labor Day weekend, and this year attendance is setting new records, so hard to predict for PM today or tomorrow. (Amex card won’t speed up). I imagine heaviest times are mornings this weekend – and between 530-6pm before gates open for evening session. If you can, please let me an others here know how it goes! P.J.
I have tickets for Wednesday’s night session. I know they open the gates at 6 so what time would you recommend getting there?
Hi Kiera, if you’d like to arrive with lots of extra time to walk around grounds, maybe grab food/drinks, get to seats early, etc., I’d recommend arriving around 5:30pm to get in line so you’re able to enter fairly quickly after gates open at 6pm. There will be a line at that point, but it will move quickly once they start letting people in. P.J.
Where exactly is the entrance for GA seats for Armstrong? What time do they start allowing people to sit?
Gate B entrance – you’ll see signage… But this weekend you’ll also likely see very long lines going into it. They start allowing people to sit when gates open at 9:30am. P.J.
So, bought tickets for Monday September 2, expecting some singles matches. Now it looks like only doubles. Is that correct? Oh and tickets are for Armstrong court.
Hi Laura, not sure what you’re seeing causing that impression, but for Monday Armstrong you can can expect 2 Men’s Singles R16, 1 Women’s Singles R16, and 1 Men’s Doubles 3d round. It’s on Tuesday Sep 3 that Armstrong will only feature doubles. P.J.
Thank you!!! I was looking at online brackets that showed only doubles on that day. Glad it is wrong! Thanks for all the info on this page, very helpful as this is our first time at us open! Looking forward to trying the melon drink as well ?.
You’re so welcome! I’ll be in Armstrong on Monday too – it’s one of the best investments for tickets in that stadium now that they have separate day/night sessions on first 6 days… with only one session on Sun and Mon of Labor Day weekend, we get more matches and further along in the tournament. Enjoy!! Along with those honey deuces LOL… P.J.
I am at LA tomorrow too – section 18
Hey Van, that’s awesome. I’m actually going on Monday – will you be there then too? PJ
PJ, Sorry to keep bothering you again. Late Thursday night, we pulled the trigger and got two Armstrong Day (13-Row L) and Ashe Night (109-Row K) for this Monday ($473 and $500 total). Could we have done better, I don’t know. I was looking for rows A-D in Armstrong, but they were just too expensive. I have been looking at Ashe Sunday night (tomorrow); lot of Upper Promenade tickets for around $200 each are available; others are far too expensive. Is there anything to be gained with those $200 tickets, other than being able to say we saw Federer, Serena… Read more »
Hi Madhu, not a bother! 1. Some people in Upper Promenade definitely bring binoculars, so not gauche! – but there are also huge screens in the stadium, which most prefer to look at when wanting to see close-ups. There is an undeniable thrill of being present during great match-ups, and Promenade can by fun when fellow fans are really into it. But once you’ve been up there, you will appreciate lower seats even more. 🙂 2. Not many, but yes sometimes esp when players have night matches – see today’s practice schedule as an example. 3. Questionable. Apparently 4″ diameter… Read more »
Again, many many thanks for your sagely – and almost instant – advice/response.
PJ – on Sunday, with grounds ticket, can I watch on Armstrong and Grandstand?
Hi Daniel, absolutely. Just expect big crowds at both trying to get to the GA seats. P.J.
Hello P.J., I am so honored to comment that you are an absolutely phenomenal person to not only provide ALL the extremely useful, valuable and generous information but your time and effort to continuously respond/update to ongoing questions is simply amazing and you do it with so much warmth and class! If there is anyway I may personally provide a small donation for the upkeep of your blog, please email and let me know, you so thoroughly deserve it! Now, I won’t wax too much on this post (too late right, lol) but to say a big THANK YOU PJ… Read more »
Dear M.B., I am so touched by your kind, thoughtful words and so gratified to know my post was helpful for your first experience. I LOVE the Open so much, and nothing makes me happier than sharing the excitement and experience with fellow players and fans, so it truly makes my day to hear that you had such a great time – and I love that you’re going back for Quarters! Every year I end up going to at least one more session than planned because I can’t help myself. Thanks too on the nudge to aim for 5.0… 🙂… Read more »
Hello again P.J., you’re so very welcome for everything. I got the US Open fever, lol. Thank you again for sharing your inestimable time & lovely enthusiasm, I appreciate you!
Really want to see Gauff tomorrow night on Ashe but we have tix for Armstrong. I’m trying to sell my tix but no dice so far. Is there a way to upgrade from Armstrong to Ashe at the stadium tomorrow night?
Hey Geraldine, upgrades/changes along those lines are only possible when there are standard seats available — which there unfortunately are not tomorrow night. Only option is resale maker for tomorrow. PJ
Hi PJ, it’s Felipe here again. Given Nadal will play at day session tomorrow (Sat), what do you think is the chance that he will still play at day session again on Monday?
I think for Labor day it’s a bit different than any work days and day session is actually more popular. It then creats the motivation to put Nadal on day session. Does this logic make sense?
Hey Felipe, truly there is no way to predict. I have seen Federer play several Labor Day evenings in recent years and he is the most popular player. It is dangerous to speculate as many readers this year have already learned the hard way! PJ
Can watch matches from the club restaurant
If I purchase tickets to Friday Sept 6th, for the men’s semis finals…do I get the option of seeing both matches? I assume they are on different courts? Ashe and Armstrong stadiums…but the schedule says men’s doubles a noon then semi-finals at 4….is the other semi final after the first start at 4, on the same stadium, or are they played simultaneously on two different courts. And if they are, does my purchase of that day enable me to attend either? Or do you buy seats for each stadium for the semi finals?
Hi Randy, only one ticket for Sep 6 that includes BOTH Men’s Semis matches plus the Men’s Doubles Final. Doubles starts at Noon, then a break, followed by both Men’s singles matches starting at 4pm, one after another– all on Ashe. P.J.
Hi PJ,
We have a fabulous day at the Open today. Enjoyed just having grounds passes, but tomorrow we go back for the evening session at Arthur Ashe. Question for you…When we left today, there was a HUGE line to get in at 6pm at the East gate main entrance. I mean this line looked like it would take an hour to get through. How can we avoid that for tomorrow evening (8/31)? Different gate? I would pay for a special pass to skip that line:) Ideas?
Hey Laura, great to hear you had a great time! A couple options: (1) try the South gate (see map under Tip #1)… it might be packed too, but the vast majority of people don’t know about it so sometimes it can be a bit lighter; (2) check any bags at bag check and do the “no bag” line which moves faster. Fri, Sat and Sun night of Labor Day weekend are always super busy… Anyone reading have other suggestions?
sometimes if you have a dinner reservation in one of the fancy restaurants, they will let you go through the hospitality line which is faster (maybe make the reservation, get the pass and cancel the res? haven’t tried that). The lines do move somewhat fast despite their appearance — by weekend the staff have a few days’ experience so they are more efficient — they also know the weekend will be crowded. Stand behind people who look like they’re alert and in a hurry — they’ll move quickly with their pockets and phones… if you have a ticket plan, they… Read more »
Thank you!!!!
Thank you for the quick tips. We went to the South Gate at about 5:30. We waited in a long line, but it moved quickly so we got in right at 6. The employees are all so nice, I have to say. And, there was no separate line for those without bags. Worked out just fine. Just wished Kyrgios was playing like he cared. Apparently, he was having vision problems. Didn’t make for a very interesting match. Osaka and Coco were fun to see regardless of the score. Thanks again!
My pleasure, Laura, and thank you for sharing that info! Agreed on the employees – I’ve likewise only met super friendly folks. Super surprised they got rid of the no bag line last night – eager to hear from those there today if that’s the case today as well. I was watching the Kyrgios match last night from home, which was really exciting until that point where he seemed to give up. And that Osaka Coco post-match moment was one for the history books. So powerful and moving. P.J.
Why are tickets so expensive at Federer matches this year? Tickets are starting at $300 as soon as schedule of play is announced. Early rounds never used to be this expensive and I come here every year!!
Prices are crazy for those sessions. But he is the GOAT. And everyone wonders how many more years he can keep it up. So there’s incredible demand for seeing him in person while he’s still performing so well… P.J.
I also noticed that the Labor Day weekend prices were increased a lot compared to 2018 (I have a series and see the individual prices for each session for the same seat) so they are starting higher to begin with if you are looking (for example $125 in 2018 now $160) They didn’t raise the first few days just LDW.
But I also find the Fed fans are the most fanatic and willing to pay whatever to see him.
Got burned on a purchase. Thought Fed would play tonight and lowered my ticket price for sale way down once Djokovic was announced and no one bought my ticket.
Courtside Ashe seat that is now too late to sell for tonight ! Arghhh
So sorry to hear it, Leigh!
It happens ! 50-50 luck
This happened to me before as well!
I feel your pain! I invested in courtside seats for Rafa’s R2 match once the schedule came out. He is my little brother’s favorite player so I wanted to surprise him with fantastic seats. Sure enough, we found out about the walkover 5 minutes after we got to our seats. Now we are seeing Rafa today from the upper level. You win some, you lose some.
Random question and tennis newbie here! When is the best time to get up to go to the restroom without missing the most tennis. Is the longest breaks between every 3rd game, between each set, etc? I found myself enjoying those delicious melon drinks last year and had to get up more often to go to the restrooms only to be held up at the tunnel entrance for a little while until I could get back to my seat. Thanks PJ!
Hey Chris! It’s a tough call. Best time not to miss too much is usually between sets (breaks are longer than between every 3d game) – but that’s often when most people get up and lines are longest. To avoid long lines, maybe try after the 3d game of the 2d set – that way you get back in time for exciting action of 2d set, but avoid rush between 1st and 2d set. 🙂 P.J.
No changeover after game one means you wait THREE FREAKIN’ games like I just did.
Keep in mind that even with the new only two matches on Ashe there is more tennis than most can last for. People are all pumped coming in at 10am and then most fade by 7pm or so after 9+ hrs in the sun.
Even I had to pass on freebie courtside Armstrong this evening because after 12 days I’ve temporarily hit a wall. ? Also don’t like New Armstrong.
Finally had an amazing 1st us open experience thanks to you. I am beyond grateful. I waited patiently and got a good deal, Hotel shuttle pick up, Uber drop off, Courtyard seats at ASHE, curb cab back to my hotel. The only thing you left out is some kiosk only accept cash. It was an amazing experience… thank you so much!!!!
Hey Elizabeth, I’m thrilled to hear it! Thank you for taking the time to let me know! And thanks too for the heads-up on some kiosks… just realized that’s the case for the draw sheets/programs. Any others you remember? I’ll add to my running list above. P.J.