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.












Hi P.J.,
Thanks for all of the wonderful and thoughtful tips and advice on your site!
I’ve seen a lot of comments here about ticket prices for lower levels/Courtside being found for $200-400 or so, but every session I see on Ticketmaster and other sites start at around $500-600. Am I missing something in terms of not looking at the most opportune times? I check late every night for the next day, but prices never seem to come down! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Hey Sam, you’re welcome! Usually it’s impossible to get Courtside on Labor Day weekend for under $600 – and demand has gone up in recent days. There were many tickets a few days ago for low $400s for tonight, but looks like they are gone and cheapest is $499 (which is still really good for Labor Day Momn evening). References you saw for $200-300 were for Mon-Thurs sessions and sometimes grabbed at the last minute on TM or Stubhub just as session was starting (and sellers were desperate). If you’re going to be on the Grounds anyway, I’d consider waiting… Read more »
Thank you for such an incredible guide! My son and I are going tomorrow for our first time and are so excited! I can’t seem to find a definitive answer to this, are we allowed to bring an iPad into the grounds?
Hi Ronald, yes no problem! Have a blast! P.J.
PJ what an informative collection of info all in one place. Thank you for organizing it and presenting it like this.
I am going with my uncle on Wed 8th, wondering if you would suggest the 12pm or the 7pm session? I’m th in king if we go to the noon one we can just hang ans walk around the complex forever maybe catch some doubles matches whereas the 7pm with its six o’clock admission is prettt limiting. Also when it says Men’s/Womens Quarterfinals does it mean BOTH or Either?
Regards,
Eesti
Hi Eesti, thank you! First, to clarify yes you’d see both 1 men’s and 1 women’s QF regardless of which you choose. Really hard to say… both have pros and cons. In evening, they’ll likely put the biggest name(s) or what they think will be the most exciting match-ups on at night (would likely be Nole-Berrettini if both win tomorrow, although if Opelka wins they may well put him evening because he’s American so you never know), and the atmosphere is pretty awesome in Ashe evening sessions. However, the level of tennis at this point is extraordinary and will be… Read more »
Hi PJ, We have tickets for tomorrow morning (Arthur Ashe). I know they open the gates to grounds around 9:30am, but when is the earliest that we can get into non-reserved seating in Louis Armstrong stadium? To get 2 seats around the front rows in non-reserved section of Louis Armstrong, how early do you think we should get in? (I know it’s hard to tell but approximately). Thank you so much! P.S. In case possible, it would be cool if you add a search feature in your Q&A section, so that if a question is asked before, we wouldn’t ask… Read more »
Hi Mosal, you’re welcome! Yes you can head over to Armstrong right when gates open and grab a seat early! And yes, great point – totally should figure out how to add a search feature… A lot I’d like to do to make navigating this blog easier and hope to do over the next year before the next Open! P.J.
Hi PJ! I just want to say THANK YOU for this amazing website. I followed your tip “quality over quantity” and only went to two sessions this year. I bought one courtside ticket, section 47A for day session yesterday at 300$ and one for night session at 200$. The experience were amazing. That was my first time at courtside and it’s truly a different world. I was wondering if this happens every year that the price of courtside tickets are much lower than face value (around 1000$ for Saturday) even at labor day weekends? I can’t wait to attend next… Read more »
Hey Alex, thank YOU so much for letting me know! I’m thrilled to hear you guys had such am awesome time. It does indeed happen much more often than most people think that resale tickets end up getting offered for less than the standard value tickets, even after fees… That usually happens closer to the actual date, though. And because USTA uses dynamic pricing for their standard tickets (and usually trickles them out over the summer versus showing all available early on), it’s always a big guessing game. So the best strategy is to get a sense of the range… Read more »
Maybe a mundane question – does carrying a water bottle (right size, right material, etc.) prevent you from using the express lanes for entry?
Hi Narayana, you can still use the express lane as long as you don’t have it in a bag! However, in recent days during peak times there has been little differentiation between the bag and express lines – they’re trying to move everyone in as quickly as possible and at times it can be a little chaotic 🙂 P.J.
I’ve gone several times this past week and there is no longer a “no bag” express line. The large blue banner indicating where to check in still says “check in with bag” (to the left) and “check in no bag” (to the right). But they are not diffetentiating. It’s extremely frustrating that they can’t even take the time to change the banner at the entrance! Argh.
PJ – you are the Bomb!!! I have been reading your blog since I purchased tickets last year and followed everything you said including the section 56 seat at Ashe!! Just got home from the 16 day round and even though all my faves lost today, we had such a fabulous day with many thanks to for making it so much easier. The LIRR train was so nice, plenty of room, easy to access, and a lot less expensive than a taxi/Uber. We will be coming back next year for sure.
Stephanie, thank you so much!! You made my night – so glad you had such a great experience! I’m back out there all day/night tomorrow myself and cannot wait. Safe travels back and thank you again for writing! P.J.
PJ you are the best, thank you for making our FIRST US OPEN great already. I have tickets for the evening session on the 8th. We wanted to come early (around 2pm) just to eat lunch, shop and enjoy the atmosphere, but would we need a ticket to the afternoon session in order to get in early to the grounds? (I apologize if you already answered this question a million times, I just couldn’t find the answer anywhere)
Hi Tiffany, thank you so much! Yes, unfortunately you need a day session ticket to enter early – evening tickets only allow access at 6:00pm. There’s a chance one of the security folks may bend the rules if you arrive earlier, but it’s risky to chance that. P.J.
THANK YOU!! Happy Labor Day!
PJ, we have evening tickets for tonight and are going to get there at about 5PM. I know the gates open at 6PM for our tickets. Is there anything for us to do for an hour? Can we pay to get in early?
thanks!
Hi Brett, so sorry for the delay and not to have replied in time – just seeing this now! Hope you are there and getting settled and have a wonderful evening. P.J.
Hi! Love the insights! We have GA tickets for tomorrow (Monday) and have to leave by about 4:00. What’s the best game plan for getting in to see good matches?
Hi Roy! My strong recommendation is to arrive and get in line at the East Gate by 8:30 or 9:00am (gates open at 9:30 but there will be lines to get though security) then walk as quickly as you can to Louis Armstrong and stake out a good seat. One of you can guard the seats while the other goes to grab food, bathroom breaks, etc. Armstrong will be packed tomorrow for the men’s matches, but if you get there early you will be a happy camper! P.J.
Thank you!!!
Quick follow up: if we’re more concerned with getting any seat at Armstrong – rather than a great seat – what’s the latest we can arrive?
Hi Roy, really hard to say – every day is different. Tomorrow’s first match at 11 is a ladies singles and don’t think it will be packed – but Labor Day is usually a busy day, so can’t say for sure. I’d recommend trying to get into Armstrong as close to 11am as possible just to be on the safe side. P.J.
Will do, thanks’
I would recommend going around to South Gate by 9 am. Was there this morning and only about 20 people in line. Plus security rewarded us by giving the first 20 people in line free sports drinks. Thought he was joking but then he actually did it. East gate is okay too and is closer to Armstrong but will definitely be more people there and could be a longer line.
Great rec, Lucas, thanks!
PJ, Thanks again for all your guidance! Our family had a great time on Friday. We loved walking around the grounds and watching an amazing day/night of tennis…Alcaraz, Fernandez, and Tiafoe. Wow! The 58A seats were so cool for watching Alcaraz-Tsitsi up close. We weren’t planning to stay for the evening session, but I was happy the kids didn’t want to leave. Luckily we found a set of 4 court side Ashe seats at a reasonable price after the session started. Hope you’re having a great time at the Open this year too! I think you mentioned being there again… Read more »
JC I’m so happy to hear this – you are so welcome andthanks for letting me know!! Yes I’m headed back tomorrow and will be in those same seats tomorrow night and cannot wait. Take care and hope you get back to NY for another open down the road! PJ
Anyway PJ, glad to see your website is still going strong though I won’t linger too much here because it is too painful to read all this. I recognize all the emotions and then start to miss NY and the US Open terribly. Best city and best tennis tournament ever. I want a lobster roll with a Grey Goose Honey Deuce! When I went the first time I thought I would just be a one off, in order to finalize my Grand Slam as a tennis fan. Then after 5 minutes on Ashe I swore to myself I would come… Read more »
Second year in a row I cannot go to the US Open, coming from Europe :-(. Well unless I would first have spent 14 days in Mexico for example but can’t do that this time of the year with my job plus not enough leave left. On top of it, now that vaccination is a requirement for attending, holders of a Championship Plan were given a chance for reimbursement but at very short notice and I missed that deadline because I did not see it in time. I put my tickets up for sale, at the price recommended by Ticketmaster… Read more »
So sorry you aren’t able to make it this year – and also very sorry to hear about the challenges you’re having reselling your tickets. The demand for tickets overall this year is vastly diminished — not only because of COVID, but also because of the pullout of Federer, Rafa, and Serena — so you are not alone and hope you can recoup at least some of your investment! P.J.
Thank you so much PJ! Using all the tools you provided I was able to find a good deal on Section 13 Row A seats on Ticketmaster!
Do you know how they check proof of vaccination? Is a photo of your vaccination card good enough?
Wonderful, Yohan!! Thanks for letting me know! Yes, photo of your vaccination card will be accepted. Have a GREAT TIME! Those seats are amaaaaazing. P.J.
Hi! If I buy a grandstand seated ticket today and the only grandstand match appears to be at 5pm what time can I go in and is there anything else playing on grandstand today?? So confused 🙂 thanks!
Hey Alexis, there are 3 doubles matches on (three GREAT ones!) then a singles match (schedule here), scheduled to begin at 11am (but likely will be some rain delays)… So you can enter grounds as early as 930am with that ticket. P.J.
Ugh waiting on family to decide and looks like I missed the window to buy for grandstand today 🙁 if you show up and tix are available can you buy reserved seats then??? Waaah
Oh no, sorry! They usually close ticket sales on Ticketmaster 59 minutes after the session starts. For future reference, you can always check Stubhub or other reseller sites after that time because they often keep them up. I THINK the Box Office on site will still sell tickets to a session in progress even after 59 minutes, but not 100% sure. P.J.
Hi PJ, Great content. I just realized that 2021 US Open is now splitting men’s singles semis into two sessions (session 22 and 23) instead of 1 (session 22) – effectively doubling the ticket price. It used to be session 22 has two men’s semifinals and session 24 is men’s final – up until 2019. In 2021, men’s singles final is brand new session 25. Did you see any announcement made by USTA that they are changing it this year ? Feel like US Open is robbing fans in a broad daylight. To make up revenue drop in 2020 due… Read more »
Hi Joe, thanks so much. Yes, I actually posted about that big change back in April (when USTA made the announcement) before tickets went on sale but removed the update a few days ago assuming everyone had seen by this point – I will put it back in now. You can look at in different ways — another angle is that more fans get to enjoy a Men’s Semi because of the new split. The average price of the Day session is substantially less than the average price of the combined semis session in years past (ditto the evening session)… Read more »
Hi there! Thank you for the tips. Quick question: If I’m watching a match at Arthur Ashe and decide halfway through that I want to watch a match at Louis Armstrong or Grandstand because it’s closer, can I leave Ashe and just enter Armstrong? Not sure how it works.
Hi Arjun, you can – however only a portion of the seats in Armstrong and Grandstand are unreserved (first-come) so depending on the day/match you may have a long wait to get in. Demand for those GA seats can be intense over Labor Day weekend. PJ
I am a Ashe season subscriber in the Loge section. There are occasions when I need to sell my tickets. I only try to cover the cost of my ticket, and for most sessions, usually sell at a loss. This year the USTA has been offering tickets online on Ticketmaster at a significant discount to the prices they charged their season subscribers. Therefore, I can no longer sell my tickets for anywhere near what I paid for them.
This is really wrong !!
Hey Brian, I hear you. The fact that USTA uses dynamic pricing for standard tickets is frustrating for all kinds of reasons and ends up having the kinds of negative impacts on others like you. Looking at it from different viewpoints, I end up having conflicting feelings. On the one hand, USTA is a nonprofit that does enormous good and invests in player development and other efforts that keep our sport growing and thriving – and I get the they need to act as a business to protect their “bottom line” (which certainly is suffering big time this year due… Read more »
I also have the feeling that it’s difficult to sell the tickets this year. I also think that a number of people have asked for reimbursement of their plan because of the vaccination requirement. I would have asked for it had I seen the notice earlier.
Ever come from LGA and store luggage?
Hey Phil, super easy – LGA is very close, and there’s no size limit to store luggage. P.J.
Thanks we’ll give it a go!
Have tickets for day session (starting at noon) on Ashe for Tuesday, Sept. 7th. What time do the grounds open?
Hi Valerie, grounds open 9:30am that day. P.J.
PJ, There is such discrimination/discrepancy in ticket prices for those buying just one ticket! On some resale sites, when I enter “2 tickets”, I see $250 courtside. When I change to just “1 ticket”, prices are $250 for Promenade! Makes me so frustrated.
Wondering if there are other solo people experiencing the same thing and if there are any thoughts on how to get around this situation (other than looking fast for a significant other!)
Thanks
PJ, we are driving tomorrow and sooooo excited!!!! We are coming from NJ and since there is NO Mets game – we should put ‘126 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368’ in the GPS?
Hey Dynah, I’m so excited you’re excited!! Going to be another great day. This year is turning out to be so exciting for unexpected reasons. And weather looks great. That address totally works. Once you get in the area traffic police will direct you if there are any diversions, but should be easy to get into Citi Field parking. Have a blast. P.J.
PJ, how am i seeing that the parking tickets online are 150$- is this for real? Do i need to buy beforehand or just go there and pay $25? What should I do please?
Hey Dynah, just go and pay $25 when you arrive – no need to buy a parking pass in advance! P.J.
Thank you for the informative tips. I was lucky enough to score an Ashe courtside ticket for under $130. Couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw it.
Wei, I LOVE hearing these stories! So glad you were able to grab it — did you go, or are you going tomorrow? Let me know how it was! P.J.
I already went, it was great. Just wanted to come back to thank you. I almost bought one the day before when it was around $250 which is already a fantastic deal. Then I woke up and saw the price, it was Row A too, not that it really mattered in the end as there were many unoccupied seats, I moved around several times to dodge the sun, lol.
That’s awesome, Wei! So glad you had a great experience. Thanks a million for letting me know! P.J.
Are they really strict on the small backpacks? I have a small backpacks
Hi Steven, generally yes – there’s always the chance of getting a lax security person, but I’ve seen so many folks get tagged over the years and told “sorry, you’ll have to go back and check that.” P.J.
A lot of stadiums now allow a see through carry bag.
We have one that measures 11″ x 11″ x 6 ” with 2 strap handles.
Easy for security to check.
Hi Murray, the only issue is that sometimes you get “by the rules” folks at security who — even though it defies common sense– will say “sorry, it’s a backpack.” If it looks like a drawstring bag, no issue at all. If it looks like a backpack, you may encounter folks who give you a hard time. P.J.
How about those 18 year olds today on Ashe?!? Electric atmosphere!!
OMG, yes stunning!
Good time for Canadian tennis. 🎾🎾
Hi PJ & friends!
I have a friend who unfortunately forgot his CDC vaccine card but has his vaccination information documentation in his Walgreens account. Has anyone who has attended this week seen if this would be an acceptable form? I know it’s not technically listed on the us open site but am curious if anyone has noticed how strict they are being when checking 🙂
Hi Bernie! Good question for the community… My gut based on what I’ve been hearing is that it would be fine. However, you might suggest to your friend to check if there’s an app for his state (like NY has) that enables him to put in the second vaccination date and zip code of where he got his shot — which then produces an electronic pass. P.J.
Can anyone share their experiences on bag checks? How strict are they with bag sizing? I bought drawstring bags that are slightly bigger than regulation (15×13) and I worry that they’ll make us leave them in lockers at the gate. (I dare you to find 12×12 drawstring bags on Amazon 😉!)
Hey Natalie, I’ve never seen anyone measure. The official rule is “12x12x16” but I would be shocked if anyone gave you a hard time with 15×13 – you should be fine! P.J.
I have a soft Trader Joe’s bag that is slightly larger than their regulation and haven’t had trouble.
Thanks PJ! Wanted to follow up and say he got in no problem showing the Walgreens proof, you’re the best for managing this blog!
YAY! That’s awesome, Bernie. Thanks for letting me know! P.J.
I think they may have given you misleading or inaccurate information regarding THURS SEPT. 9TH. There are no tickets available for purchase and the doubles semis and wheelchair finals will indeed take place during the day. Do you have news on where tickets can be purchased of indeed there will not be a Community Day?
Hi Jack, I have posed this question to several folks working for the Open and continue to get the same answer: yes, there will be matches on Thursday, but no, there are no tickets on sale for the day session and current plans are not to allow free entry until the evening session. I’m continuing to probe at higher levels of USTA leadership because I’m concerned staffers are confused and don’t have correct information. Will update if I find out anything more. It’s baffling to me too! P.J.
I can confirm that I and some friends have booked reservations at the Amex Centurion Lounge at 12pm and 1pm that day. It would seem weird that they would allow reservations for that day if it would not be open to the public. I think they are just staying hush hush about it because of covid etc… I goess we’ll see…
Hey Jack, getting mixed messages even from senior USTA officials. I think there is still confusion even within USTA – or they haven’t decided whether to announce publicly. According to them, entrance “definitely won’t be free” – but gates “will open at Noon” to ticketholders… Except currently there are no tickets on sale for Grounds or Ashe. Really frustrating. I’ll keep you posted if I hear anything else — please do the same. P.J.
I don’t know if this helps but I have a series package and I only have tickets for Thursday evening session. If I remember tomorrow I can try to check with the subscriber office.
Hey Maura, thank you, would be great if you could check. At present, there are no Day tickets for sale on Thursday – reserved or Grounds- and I’ve now been told by 5 different staffers that there will not be free admission on Thursday as usual. So the operative questions: (1) Do they plan to sell Grounds Admission passes for Thursday (on site, or perhaps release them on Ticketmaster over the next few days; (2) Will they allow Thurs evening Ashe ticketholders to enter before 6pm? P.J.
This is not a rumor only speculation that the grounds of the tennis center on 9/9 day session hours can be a privately ticketed admission for employees of sponsors (example – JP Morgan thousands of employees) , first responders, essential workers and others. Community Day usually has a theme with stage performances so it is not only about Tennis.
Apparently I was told there will be the free community day…!
Like I said, keep asking until you get the answer you want haha. Although it seems strange you’ve been told no so many tiles and I get this. 🤷🏼♀️
OMG! I will text the very very senior UTSA official who told me otherwise and see if they can circulate this and get a definitive answer. Thank you!! P.J.
That text reply makes it officially a free entry community day or a too large to make information error by the USTA rep that replied to you. Several high ranked players are still in doubles contention so there will probably be a large turnout especially since only ESPN 3 and ESPN+ is providing coverage.
Still awaiting confirmation from yet another high-level source at USTA – will keep you posted. I’ve pushed them to push for clarity at the highest levels ASAP… it’s crazy there is so much internal confusion!
Hi PJ,
Thanks for this wonderful blog.
A quick question about tomorrow.We have courtside tickets in grandstand, but I see seppi vs otte in court 17 is happening at the same time as berrettini vs ivashka. Would you recommend one over the other? Thanks so much!
Hey Kevin, I had courtside Armstrong seats in 2019 during 4th round and saw him close up and was floored. I’m pretty shocked they haven’t put Matteo (Wimbledon finalist!) on Ashe or even Armstrong yet… So if I had good Grandstand seats, that would be my very happy spot. That said: the great thing about having reserved seats in Grandstand is the flexibility to do other things and go back… so perhaps get there early to stake out a good spot on #17, watch 5 games, and see how you feel… Are you thrilled to be there? Does either player… Read more »
Thanks for the tips! I found it really remarkable that Seppi beat Hurkacz at his age. What did he have in him?! That said, we got really good seats at Grandstand and it would be so wrong if we skip Matteo. Awesome but still difficult choice. lol
I only just noticed Matteo starts an hour early. So I think we are going to see Matteo first and then head to Seppi. Shall see if we will be able to find seats at #17 on labor day weekend though haha. Thanks to you again!
Hey Kevin, will be awesome no matter what! Have a blast. P.J.
Hey pj!!
I know you can’t predict who will play in what court but you may know Labor Day weekend patters a bit more.
Medvedev is DAY today in Armstrong. If he advances do you expect him at night in Ashe?
I want to be ready to buy tickets as soon as schedule comes out though as always tempting to buy now!
I think Armstrong is sold out for today. Can you imagine?! not a ticket left! Then again It is a pretty great line up.
Thanks as always!!!
Hey Courtney, yeah they put a stellar lineup on Armstrong and looks like fans responded. However, I think there were still some seats available but Ticketmaster and Stubhub closed sales 59 minutes after the start of the session (ie 11:59am ET) as they usually do (there are still some tickets showing as available on SeatGeek). They TEND to alternate players between Day and Night sessions, but not always – and there have been some years where they’ve put a player on 3 consecutive day or night sessions (including Serena, Fed, Nole)… so I always counsel people to be very modest… Read more »
First, THANK YOU for the info on SeatGeek yesterday. Though Stubhub and TM did stop selling tickets one hour after the match started, thanks to you, I checked SeatGeek and I was able to get a last minute ticket, already two sets into the Tsitsipas-Alcaraz match for $75 Loge row A! crazy price, great seat, historic match! Thanks! Next, thanks for the insightful answer about potential scheduling. I know it’s risky to buy in advance, and prices may be lower tomorrow but there are matches I just don’t want to miss! Looking at the men’s draw for Sunday I can’t… Read more »
Hi PJ, I have waited to buy the tickets for Sunday 9/5, 11am Louis Armstrong – thinking that the prices will come down if some tickets are not sold close to that date. Historically, is this the case pls? Should I buy today or wait till tomorrow? Or wait till Sunday morning, day of?
Hi Dynah, I’d recommend checking tomorrow afternoon once the schedule comes out and make your bets then… it depends so much on the lineup they announce. Today’s Armstrong lineup was amazingly strong (including Medvedev and Sloane Stephens) – and tickets went like hotcakes after it was announced. If they put 2 men’s matches on Sunday Armstrong (they probably will just put 1) and/or a big name(s), then prices may stay same or go up… More likely, though, you’ll get a great deal if you wait till Sunday morning. I just can’t promise, it’s like trying to time the stock market!… Read more »
I’ve just returned from all day and night at the Open, and had a great experience. The LIRR ride out and back from Penn Station was a breeze despite worries about the impact of the storm; my daughter took the subway back and said that was fine too, with normal wait times. The vaccination status check-in took very little time, and the line at security was shorter than I’ve ever seen it. From the time we exited the LIRR station to after we cleared security took 10-15 minutes total. One tip for day session people who stay until the bitter… Read more »
Randall, that is incredible to hear – and really appreciate you sharing that late-night experience! So glad you had such a good experience! P.J.
I don’t know if I still need to take evasive action for Sunday day session but I was wondering if you know whether you can take the western route from the Citifield parking lot to the South Gate in order to avoid the crowds. From Google maps, that would be Shea Rd. to Meridian Rd, which looks like it will bring you just outside of the gates near the Grandstand. Do they shut down Meridian Rd. for the Open? Also, is there any advantage to buying a Parking Pass to Lot F relative to just parking at Citifield? I have… Read more »
Hey Ted, Mets aren’t playing this Sunday so Citi Field parking should be a good option in the AM and wouldn’t bother with a paid pass. I’d recommend arriving by 930 to avoid crazy lines if you can at either East or South gates. You can just walk over the boardwalk from Citi Field towards East gate then around the curve towards the South gate (along ave of the americas) if the lines are bad at East. Meridian Road is usually closed to cars but open to pedestrians, but haven’t been over there yet this year myself. P.J.
Loved the article. Helped me thru my first day at the us open today (got reserved grandstand tix)
I was thinking about trying to go next week, perhaps for the day wednesday quarterfinals. I was wondering if there’s potentially a day where the open offers a free grounds pass? Someone I sst next to mentioned it and thought everybody could get in for free on thursday. Do you know if thats accurate?
Yhanks Again!
Hi Jesse, so great to hear that, thanks! In previous years, the US Open has offered free grounds admission on the second Thursday (usually called “Community Day”), and folks can watch matches on outer courts featuring some doubles, juniors, and wheelchair play — however I got confirmation last night from USTA that it is definitely cancelled this year. Hopefully they’ll reinstate next year. P.J.
I think this year they were going to let people in on finals weekend (not to courts but to grounds) to be able to watch on the screens, buy stuff, etc. will see if I can find where I read that.
Hi Maura, would be great if you see anything in writing on that. In past they’ve put up for sale on Ticketmaster (closer to the weekend) $25 grounds admission tickets for Finals weekend. P.J.
Can you buy tickets on-site ?
Hi Murray, yes you can at the box office, located just to the left of the East Gate – see my grounds map towards the top of this post at end of Tip #1. Strongly recommend you check Ticketmaster first online, however: the box office will only sell standard tickets, and you may find resale tickets that are better and cheaper – especially at the last minute. P.J.
Great 🙂
We are going next year so planning ahead.
Thanks for all your help on this site.
You’re most welcome, wishing you all the best in the meantime! P.J.
I have noticed that the smaller courts have only 3 ball-people. Ashe, Armstrong etc have 6. Is this a COVID thing?
Nerdy question I know. But I did ball boy duty at a celebrity tournament a million years ago
Hey Allen, great question. I’m pretty sure it’s always been this way because the back courts are bigger on those bigger show courts (although on a tangentially related note, a huge change this year in not having line judges physically on court and instead relying on the camera technology set up on the lines). Anyone else know for sure? P.J.
Ya. I miss the fans deliberate clapping when a player challenged a line call
Great article!
For the finals when the gates open at 11, when do they let you start parking in the public lots? Driving from out of state so trying to see what time I should arrive
Hi Danielle, great question – I’m not sure. I am almost 100% confident that they will be open at least 2 hours prior. I can’t find anything in writing on this, so if any fellow fans have experience to share would be appreciated! P.J.
What a crazy year unlike any other – crazy weather + Covid have all sent ticket prices plummeting. So many face value up for grabs but resale bargains galore especially the closer to a match you are. Just picked up a few Armstrong Reserved seats for $28 each tonight…hoping Shapovalov puts on a show!
Hi Noon, may I ask if you waited until the day of to purchase these Armstrong reserved tickets or prior to tonight?
Day of! Got them about about 12:30pm for 7pm match. Never seen them so low before…
Thanks Noon. I appreciate your reply!
Hi P.J., First of all, I have been using your site for several years, and just love it! Do you know if they might offer ticket “upgrades” this year? Sorry if I missed it, I just think it might be worth it to spend additional money, esp. given the current prices… I have a Holiday Twilight series and I will ask of course when I get there tomorrow, I thought I would raise the question to you first, if you know! with this “dynamic” pricing, it is difficult to know anyway how they would even “value” the tickets for any… Read more »
Hi Rachel, I’m thrilled to hear that, thank you!! You can always try for upgrades at the box office by the East Gate – there should be many options at many sessions this year! But as far as I know, the only way to do this is by phone. You might try calling the ticket office first to see if they can do by phone, but pretty sure just at Box Office: 1-833-287-6736. Enjoy!!! P.J.
Great, thank you so much P.J!
Enjoy great tennis!
I was told that they would not allow upgrades but that doesn’t mean that person was completely informed…I always ask a few people if I really care or want a different answer (especially in week one 😉)
LOL, yes asking multiple staffers is definitely the right strategy! Two days ago, the automatic “bot” in the uspen.org chat box had a typo I had to alert them about gate openings times (said gates were opening at Noon Thurs Sep 2-12 instead of Sep 9-12).
Will Djokovic be more likely to play for men’s semifinal (9/10) day or night game (if he advances)? Thank you so much for this wonderful blog!
Hi Alan, you’re welcome! My strong bet would be they schedule Djokovic for a night Semifinal (ditto QF) if he advances. Most likely he’ll be scheduled Sun Day (because he was Tues and Thurs night this week) and Mon could go either way (they may put as 2 consecutive days, knowing they’d probably do 2 more consecutive nights if QF and Semis because they tend to put the biggest name(s) at night for QFs and Semis). As I say in FAQ#1, though, there are always surprises every year so one can never predict with too much confidence! P.J.
would you think he (Djokovic) will be scheduled this Sat pm at Ashe or the day session? Also as newbie-can fans watch practice courts? thank you this site is my everything!
sorry I see you answered this lower in the chat! got your answer thank you
You are so welcome! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any other questions. PJ
Hi P.J., thanks a lot for sharing this information.
Just a silly and logistical question: if I buy two tickets from ticketmaster or stubhub, how does the other get the ticket (because it is possible that I would be inside for the day session and the ticket will be for the AS night session). Thanks!
Hey Julian, not silly at all! If you purchase from Ticketmaster, you’ll immediately get the tickets in your account and will have the option to select any number of them to “Transfer” to another person– after which they’ll receive an email inviting them to accept them. If you purchase a ticket from a reseller outside of Ticketmaster, you’ll get an email via Ticketmaster inviting you to accept the tickets… and once in your account, you can transfer them as you wish to anyone else. In short, all roads lead through Ticketmaster. You can do this from anywhere, including at the… Read more »
Yes, thank you very much for your clarity and time!
Sure thing, Julian!
The gates won’t open before 11 this morning the US Open has announced. There was a lot of flooding and damage to grounds that they are cleaning up and it’s probably still been difficult for staff to get there since subways still a bit messed up. Check websites before you leave for the latest!
Adding this update to top of my post now, THANK YOU!
What are the odds Novak will play evening at Ashe on Saturday (if he advances)
Hi Kevin, relatively low. While it would not be unprecedented, there’s a higher % chance they’ll schedule him for Day Saturday after putting him on two consecutive night sessions. That said, they’ve scheduled players for three consecutive Day or Night sessions in the past, so no way to predict for sure. My bet would be he’ll be Day Saturday and Night Monday if he advances. P.J.
Everyone be sure to check subway status Thursday am to make sure they are running without delays. Service was suspended late Wednesday night due to flooding. https://new.mta.info/ I’d like to take this moment to point out something: the entrance line mayhem, the last minute vaccination requirement chaos, courtside seats going for for $100, the men’s seeds dropping like flies, a Round 3 match between two qualifiers ranked 130 & 141, sideways raining inside ‘roofed’ Armstrong…only one explanation for this lack of equilibrium: No Roger. No Rafa. No Serena. No Venus. (PJ, my last post for a while, I know you… Read more »
🙂 🙂 🙂
Advice on the Chase Phone Chargers: Totally different system this year. To minimize contact, the chargers are stored in what looks like a vending machine/dispenser. At the Chase Charge booths, there is staff there to help you, but the process is part self-automated so you don’t really need to wait on a line unless you don’t know what you are doing. You must download an app called ChargeFuze (do this before getting there, save some time) and become familiar with ChargeFuze now and it will help you get your charger faster. https://www.chargefuze.com/how-it-works. Also, be prepared to enter your Chase card #… Read more »
Amazing reporting, Courtney, THANK YOU!!
Notes on Wednesday Entry Lines 1) On Monday as many of you know, they did not have their act together and the lines to go through the entry scanners were looooong! At both gates. I got off the subway at about 11 am, saw the line that snaked from the subway to entry booths back to the subway and around again. I went immediately to the South Gate. Not much better. Once at the South Gate it took me about 35 minutes to get in. Factors to the delay were the addition of the vaccine card checks (I think that… Read more »
Courtney, thank you so much for pointing this out! In the madness on Monday I didn’t even think myself to look for that and my family and I had courtside tickets… So helpful to have confirmation on this, thanks again! P.J.
Sometimes in the past they have had a separate line to far right or far left for courtside (usually same line as the hospitality line). Today they combined with the credentials. I normally use the credential line so was caught off guard at a much larger line than usual (normally there’s no one waiting with credentials) so got into Ashe for the start of the Sloane-Coco-storm. The lines are still really slow moving three days in. Coming home was fun. I swam to the subway in time for it to be suspended, finally got into Manhattan only to have another… Read more »
OMG Maura I was checking the MTA site last night at the end of the Tsitsipas match and so worried about you guys – it said the 7 was running (seemed to be the only line in the entire system without incident) and I was so hopeful… What a nightmare. But what a trooper you are – the image of you biking in that mess 1.5 miles, amazing. You must be a fierce competitor on the court :). Kudos to you being so good humored about it. (And thanks for the important update on the lines!). P.J.
I actually suck at tennis haha. Much better a spectator 😜. The 7 was suspended for about an hour (and a typical NYC unintelligible announcement was made that no one understood telling us to move to another platform…it was comical and scary and annoying at same time. I’ll add it to my crazy US Open stories. I felt bad for all the confused non-NYers who really weren’t sure on that platform how they’d get back to hotel, etc. I met one of the chefs at the US Open in town from Idaho trying to get to his Airbnb…a lot of… Read more »
LOL 🙂 And oh I’m so familiar with those unintelligible MTA announcements, at stations and on train. Glad you got home safely and had some nice moments with fellow fans!
Hi, is it reasonable to expect Naomi Osaka to play in the night session on Sunday, Sept 5 (assuming she advances?)
Hi Jay, unfortunately no way to predict that. See my FAQ #1 for more details on that question. P.J.
I have fingers crossed for Osaka day session tomorrow !!
I hope you’re right. I plan to get tickets for Sunday’s night session so I’m hoping she plays then too (assuming she advances).
My group will be arriving by subway or train for this weekend’s matches. Hopefully they have the crowd control back log figured out by then! But if they don’t, my question is, is it possible to walk from the subway station to the South or West Gate since the East Gate seems to be the problem?
Hi Robyn, sounds like everything was vastly improved as of yesterday morning (Day 2)! Yes, South Gate only an extra few minutes walk past the East Gate. (Note: there is no West Gate entrance for the general public). P.J.
Maybe I am a slow walker but it is about a 7 minute walk from the entry scanners at the East Gate to the entry scanners at the South Gate BUT…when I did that on Day 2, and things hadn’t been worked out yet, the line for the South Gate was another 5-7 minutes walk from the actual South gate. It may not be worth the trouble if South Gate has long lines again. Every day is a new surprise this year! Now there is rain coming in sideways at Armstrong. Clearly the absence of both Roger and Rafa is… Read more »
Thanks again for your info and insight, I was able to get $11 Ashe tickets for 12 pm, but I came after work and saw some great matches before the rain and I’m now sitting front row Armstrong general admission!
AWESOME! So glad to hear it, Brad! P.J.
Hi, do you have an update for how long it is taking to get in the gates? My tickets are Friday-Sunday, and I’m hoping the vaccine checks are going more smoothly by then… but also hope it’s been figured out for everyone else’s sake ASAP. (Thank you for this page! We all benefit from your work.)
Hi Randy, yes sounds like everything was vastly improved as of yesterday morning (Day 2)! And you’re most welcome! P.J.
Hey P.J.
I just want to say thank you. I had an amazing Day 1 at the US Open and put all your tips in action. I saw Halep and Rublev in Grandstand. What an amazing intimate court. Of course Murray and Tsitsipas was a banger. And now I understand what you meant by saying select behind server courtside seats when I saw Kyrgios from the baseline throwing towel haha. The perspective is just different in terms of viewing the game.
Thank you so much for this blog.
Hey Prady, THANK YOU for writing to let me know you had a good time and for your kind words of appreciation – means the world. So glad you had an amazing day!! P.J.