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 there! Greetings from Virginia Beach. Trying to plan our first trip to the US Open this year. Planning on going week 1 Tues – Thurs. Any suggestions you may have for the type of tickets to purchase for three days would be great. Thinking evening ticket the day we fly in, all day and evening on Wednesday 8/31 and then maybe Thursday day only and depart in the evening. Thoughts? Thank you so much!
Hi Sandra, sincere apologies for missing this when you first submitted it! My answer depends a lot on your budget and priorities. I always recommend quality over quantity, so would probably recommend something like: – Tues evening Ashe – best seat you can afford – Wed Day: Wait until schedule announced the day prior to decide how much to spend (e.g. if a favorite player is on Ashe, then get best seats you can afford – or if you see an exciting matches scheduled for Grandstand and it’s not going to rain then choose Grandstand – or just get a… Read more »
Hi, thanks for the great blog. I’m thinking of buying a multi ticket package for Armstrong for the first week. Not sure I’ll go to all sessions, is it possible to re-sell individual session tickets from a multi ticket package?
Hi JJ, it’s very difficult to resell Armstrong tickets for the M-F of the first week. I would not recommend it. There’s usually a glut of tickets available, so I’d counsel you to purchase only sessions you really want to attend. P.J.
Thanks for all the information on the website. We would like to go on Friday 9/2 and Sunday 9/4. Would it be better to get an Arthur Ashe or Louis Armstrong day ticket for either of these days? Also, we would like to get Arthur Ashe night tickets for one of these days. Would one of these days be better that the other to get Ashe night tickets?
Hey Derek, that’s a tough one – both have advantages. I’d probably go with Armstrong Day Friday– you get guaranteed seats for 1 good Men’s R3 match and two ladies matches plus ability to see lots of great outer court action on a day that’s busy but not insane (and plenty of stuff happening on outer courts during 3d round); and Ashe night Sunday is always a good night to be there for round of 16 play. P.J.
Thank you for this great info! My sibs and I are gifting a long weekend to our parents to attend 2022. Any ideas for things they might need for the weekend that we can put in their surprise package with the tickets? I am thinking skort with lots of pockets, sunscreen lotion, fold up poncho, small umbrella? What do you wish you had the first time?
Hi Erte, you’re very welcome – and what a great idea! Everything on your list is perfect. I’d maybe add a drawstring bag that passes the “bo backpacks” test (like this) and a lightweight portable phone recharger for their iPhone or Android. P.J.
Hi PJ,
Thank you for putting in so much effort & sharing your wealth of knowledge and experience – so generous! I was a bit overwhelmed when I started to plan a short family getaway to NYC for the U.S. Open. Great information – comprehensive with tons of details!
Will take your advice to get the court seat in Ashe. However, I noted that most of the resale tickets are sold in pairs. How to get 3 seats together since we are a family of 3?
Thank you!
Katie
Hi Katie, you’re so welcome – and apologies for the delayed reply! It’s true many resale tickets are sold in pairs, but quite a few are listed as individuals enabling purchase in 3s. If you haven’t already, I’d start with Ticketmaster and enter “3 Tickets” in the dropdown in the upper right — then click the map view to expand the sections and look at the dots that are darker colored (indicating they’re available). I find it easier to evaluate options that way versus trying to decipher from a list view by section and row. Let me know if you… Read more »
it works! thank you! We are planning to get court seats either Day 1 or Day2 on Ashe – any recommendation? or should we wait until Friday when we can see who will be on either day in round 1 – not sure if it is gonna be super expensive by then? thanks
Hi Katie, you’re welcome! It depends a lot on whether you are dying to see any particular players, or whether you just want to have the courtside experience and will be happy with just about anyone. If the latter, I’d recommend getting tickets on the resale market fairly soon – there are some available now for considerably less than the standard price on both days (many under $400 on resale market, whereas comparable standards are upwards of $700 each). The prices the Friday before will change in response to demand once the matches are announced: if, for instance, if Nadal… Read more »
Hi PJ, thank you for taking the time to create this info for us newcomers. My mom and I are flying in and attending our very first grand slam during the first round Aug 29-30. Our main objective is to watch Rafa, and I know you mentioned there’s no absolute way to know what session he plays. My question is would it be reasonable to buy 2 Ashe tickets for both Day and Night session the day he is scheduled to play? Or is there a better way of going about it. We’re thinking of sitting in the 100’s level… Read more »
Hey CJ, my pleasure. Here’s what I do almost every year: wait until Friday before on August 26 and bookmark/ keep refreshing the daily schedule page starting at about 3pm ET – they usually release the Day 1 and 2 schedule for Ashe on Friday at some point between 4-7pm ET (I can’t guarantee, could be earlier or later, but that’s been the trend). Prior to that, get familiar with average trending prices for various sections in the Ashe 100s. As soon as the schedule is announced, put all your budget towards that one session where Rafa is playing on… Read more »
Okay PJ! Thank you for getting back to me. Super excited for this years open!
Hi PJ, GREAT blog.. the information you have in here is so detailed, thank you for taking the time to write this, because for me, it has been my number 1 source of information. My husband is the big tennis fan, and we are coming from Mexico. This would be our first tennis tournament so we are very excited. Our plan is to go to 2 matches… we want to go to quarterfinals (day session, because night session prices seem to increase a lot!), and then we were thinking about going to a night session in armstrong for R3 (1.… Read more »
Hola Talia! Muchísimas gracias por las palabras tan amables! (Me encanta Mexico querido y lindo :). First, going to QF Day session is a great strategy: prices are always SO much lower — relative even to round of 16 — because so few people can take off work during the week and most tourists come for the weekend. The only downside: for those days only, the tournament tends to put the biggest names on at night (not the case for other rounds, but always the case for QF) – so while you are guaranteed to see great tennis, you are… Read more »
Gracias por contestar PJ! so now I’m rethinking everything based on a few comments I’ve seen below.. we will be in NY sept 2nd-8th… if we want to go to three sessions, which ones do you reccomend us going?
Con mucho placer, Talia! It’s a great question, but really tough to give a definitive answer given all the possible combinations. Here would be my personal picks for that timeframe if I were taking first-timers, considering budget and overall experience: 1. Friday Sep 2: Day Session Ashe ticket (relatively inexpensive Promenade seat so you save your budget for other sessions, but so you have the opportunity to see some big names play (and rain insurance in case of rain)… but also the opportunity to spend a good part of your day wandering around and seeing matches on outer courts to… Read more »
Hey!
Looking at evening Armstrong session tickets and don’t see the upper bowl being sold/available. Are folks with day grounds passes allowed to stick around and sit upstairs or who occupies those seats? Thanks so much.
Hey John! Yes, upper bowl is (except for a handful of seats) unreserved seating available on a first-come basis to those who line up outside. Demand varies wildly depending on the day and the match. YES if you have a Day session ticket of any kind, including a grounds pass (which I don’t recommend in most cases, see my Tip #3) you will have access to those seats even for an evening session. P.J.
Hello PJ! I’m very excited for my first trip to NYC this September and as a big tennis fan my top priority is to visit US Open. I’m coming from Bulgaria by myself and I’m considering going to the Quarterfinals night season on Arthur Ashe Sept 6. I carefully read your article (you’re absolutely the best, thank you!) and I think I’m obsessed with the idea of buying a ticket in Loge, row A (sec 122-116 or 134-104). This is what I can afford without compromising with the quality of the view. I found a ticket for section 135, row… Read more »
Zdravo Ivelina! I have visited your lovely country and am so glad to hear you’ll be visiting us in NYC and coming to the Open! You picked a great night: Sep 6 is the first night of QF, and oddly — with no explanation– historically prices are always better that night than the second night of QF. My notes from last year show the average price for good Loge seats for that session on the resale market were around $575 throughout the summer. 135 is a great section to be in the front row of Loge. It’s unfortunately really really… Read more »
Hi PJ! I have been assigned the task to buy tickets for my group of 4 for the US Open this year. It is all of our first time going! Given timing, and work/travel constraints we have landed on day session for Saturday, September 3rd (which I’ve seen you mention may not be the best with big crowds). Our budget is around $300 each, and we want to try to go to Ashe if possible. Any suggestions? Also, I’ve been trying to be patient about getting tickets, even though I am normally an impulse buyer (haha)…do you think there is… Read more »
Hey Josh! I would sit tight and keep monitoring for good deals on the resale market as we get closer. $300 per ticket is a healthy budget for that session, but USTA has raised standard Loge prices for that session to around $310-375… so keep monitoring and aim for something in Loge that comes in around your budget – there may well be resellers as we get closer that need to sell tickets and lower their prices. I advise you NOT to pull the trigger on Promenade seats for those prices anytime soon — there will be plenty right up… Read more »
would you recommend 3rd round day or night match on Arthur Ashe? Thanks
Hi again! Depends a lot on your goals and priorities… There’s nothing like a night match on Ashe, really special atmosphere – but one advantage of a day ticket is that you can stick around and see other matches on other outer courts, some of which extend into the evening (there won’t be a ton of singles matches on outer courts during round 3, but there will be several and also some great doubles – see 2021 daily schedule for those days to get an idea). If you opt for a 3d Round day session, definitely recommend Friday over Saturday… Read more »
Great. I was thinking of purchasing sec 62 row J seat 1-3. Would you receommend purchasing tickets now or wait until nearer the time? Thanks
Hey Anj, looking at my notes from last year the average price of courtside resale tickets for that session was around $750-850. Prices went up for a few weeks in August, then back down to that average as we got closer. So hard to say whether to buy now or wait. Row J is the last row in that section. If it were me, I’d probably wait a bit to see as more folks post their tickets for resale. As I’ve mentioned to others, though, it’s like reading tea leaves or playing the stock market: impossible to predict what will… Read more »
PS : my goal is to see a top ranked player. Djokovic, Nadal, Alcaraz etc 🙂
Hi is it possible to sell resale tickets bought on us open website via ticketmaster ? If so how? thanks
Hi there, here’s how through the official Ticketmaster channels:
1. Download the US Open app if you haven’t already
2. Tap on your event to view your ticket(s) then tap SELL and select the ticket(s) you’d like to list.
3. Enter the amount you would like to list your ticket(s) for. The amount you’re entering is the price per ticket.
4. Set your payment methods, tap SELL TICKETS
You can also log into your ticketmaster account online and should be able to do from there too.
If you need more help, call Client Services at 718-760-6363 or email: usopenticketoffice@usta.com
great, thanks for your help
Hey PJ, sorry, one more question: do you have special recommendations for seats in on the loge or higher courtside section for tall people? I am 2m and the pictures look like there is not a lot of legroom. Many thanks, Christian
Hi Christian, it’s true there isn’t a ton of legroom but generally it’s not too cramped (pretty much the same situation in Loge and Courtside). I’d recommend an aisle seat so you can at least dangle your legs a little off to the side if needed. In addition, if you click on any section to expand the seat map in the Ticketmaster view for any section, you’ll see the individual dots for each seat: Loge Row N and Courtside Row J have many “accessible” seats that sometimes go unsold and Ticketmaster (closer to the event) sometimes releases these for resale… Read more »
P.J.–great blog. We’ve taken advantage of your knowledge in past years and really appreciate it. Are there any COVID restrictions that you’re aware of at this moment? Last year we were all blindsided a week before the event. usopen.org doesn’t seem to address it. Thx
Hey Ted, thanks and great to hear it! Here’s all they’ve said so far: “Our goal is to ensure that your 2022 experience is both enjoyable and safe. We will be continuing to follow CDC, New York State and New York City COVID related guidelines and advice from our medical consultants to establish and implement health and safety protocols for the 2022 US Open. We will share more details on specific US Open health and safety protocols as they become available. Please be aware that, based on recent guidance from local governmental authorities, at this time, ticket holders will no… Read more »
Hi PJ, thanks for all that usefull information. As a German fan, who is plannig to come to NY to watch tennis this summer, I have one (not really to tickets) related question. What is the situation reg. beverages (beer) in Armstrong and Ashe? I am able to get quick refills inside the stadiums during side changes? Are there certain blocks (we are interested in lodge level), which are closer to the “source”/ beverage stations? Best, Christian
Hey Christian, great question 🙂 Armstrong is really easy to get refills and still watch the tennis (as long as you have a reserved seat) — you can still see the court while you’re on that deck, even if you have to wait for the next changeover. Ashe a little less easy – but there are quite a few stations/places selling beer and there are TV monitors so you can watch. I’d prioritize best seats you can afford over proximity to particular stations, as it won’t make much of a difference. P.J.
Just want to say thanks P.J. This is a great piece of work that reflects your love of tennis and your kindness. Back when we were Manhattan dinks, my wife and I made trip over every year without a lot of thought or price sensitivity. Today, we are cost-conscious parents in suburban Maryland, so your advice on finding good deals is especially important to us. This will be my 14 year old daughter’s first Open — and so a very special experience for me. She is a pretty serious player (JTCC Champs) so I think she will savor every moment.… Read more »
Martin, huge thanks for taking the time to share this wonderful note! I deeply appreciate it. And how special you’re taking your daughter. She will LOVE Day 1 — it’s a great day for a serious player to go. SOOO many matches happening all over the grounds, and she will find it so exciting and cool to see so many of the lesser-known players that your fair-weather fan has never heard of — and will be able to see them up very close on those outer courts especially. Let me know if you have questions as you explore the options.… Read more »
Thank you, and thank you for this great resource. We are going first time ever to a Grand Slam, and taking our kids too. We bought Armstrong tickets for 09/04 Sunday but I missed your sun exposure warning for east seats in a hurry, so I was able to resell those with a slight profit in an hour and buy 4 south/west side tickets. It was amazing to see how blue tickets turned into double priced pink reseller tickets in a matter of few hours. Closer to the tournament, hoping to find better deals for Ashe evening session to complement… Read more »
Hi Yavuz, so glad it worked out for you – good luck as you work on the next part of your planning! P.J.
Just found this blog today! I have gone to the US Open before when others bought tickets. This is my first time navigating the experience of purchasing tickets myself. I was going to go for a grounds pass, thinking f this would be the best option for my budget: Many, many thanks for informing me that a Promenade ticket for Ashe could be a better deal than grounds passes. Planning to go during the week to avoid crowds. Looking forward to exploring your blog for even more US Open hacks. 😊
Hey Michelle, thanks so much for letting me know! Feel free to loop back if you have questions as you explore options. PJ
Hi! Quick question – looking at some Armstrong tickets and what does partial view of video board mean exactly? And any other Armstrong shade tips (I believe I read sections 2-8 are best for that but I wasn’t sure what time of day the shade factor would kick in). Thank you!
Hi Cherie, some of the seats in the upper 1/3 of the lower courtside Armstrong seats can’t see all of big huge video board (which shows shot replays and what TV viewers see and the scores) because of the overhang of the upper deck. It’s really not a big deal… but better to avoid those seats if you can, as there are usually tons of options in Armstrong where that’s not the case. Here’s my shade map for Armstrong to give you a SENSE of what sections get the most shade (I took that photo around 2:30pm)… The upper 1/2… Read more »
Are the verified resale tickets on ticketmaster OK to purchase..there seem to be an awful lot of them.?
Hi Wendy, yes absolutely – lots of built-in protection. What you see is very normal and what we see every year. P.J.
Hi there, so much information on here it’s mind blowing haha. I’m coming from Australia and very worried about buying tickets even through Ticket Master that are verified reseller. From what I can see this is normal practice but will the ticket have my name on it or it doesn’t matter whose name it is on there? I’m hoping to buy tickets for both days and sessions of the quarterfinals in a hope to see as many of the top players as possible (mainly Federer like everyone else I suppose). I’m going to try and take your advice and not… Read more »
Hi Cindy, glad you’re coming over to experience our Open! I was at the Australian Open just before the pandemic in Jan 2020 and it was wonderful. You can rest assured verified resale tickets through Ticketmaster are totally reliable, lots of built-in protection. The “name on the ticket” doesn’t matter anymore – it’s all e-ticketing now with electronic watermarks to prevent fraud. Absolutely do take your time for the reasons I mention in the blog. Let me know if you have more questions as you weigh options ahead. P.J.
Thanks PJ, I haven’t even been to the Aussie Open and I live here! Haha
Not sure if I read it here but if you buy tickets through Ticket Master with an overseas credit card you can’t resell them again on the same site?
Also any recommendations for a hotel/accommodation within walking distance to the tennis?
Thanks again 🙂
Hi Cindy, you gotta get to Melbourne for the AO – it’s awesome! 🙂 As for Ticketmaster resales, you can only resell through Ticketmaster if you have a US bank account. (To make matters more complicated, thanks to a change in US law beginning in 2022 Ticketmaster is now required to ask sellers to provide taxpayer ID information if they make more than $600 on a sale(s), and Ticketmaster has to file a 1099 form with our Internal Revenue Service). My friend Melissa has a page with recommended hotels near the Open here. P.J.
Holy moly! That does get complicated for resell.
Ive been keeping an eye on the Qfinal sessions and prices have seemed to come down a little.
And thanks for letting me know about Melissa’s page for accommodation near the Open.
Any idea (look into your crystal ball) if Federer will be at the Open this year?
Hi Cindy, sure thing! Still looks like Federer’s first tournament back will be the Laver Cup – highly unlikely he’ll change his plans. P.J.
Hello PJ, Lower promenade 301, 303, 305, etc all have sets of 2 seats in the first 2 rows. Looking at the interactive map there appears to be a railing in front and a wall just behind. I’m considering either a pair of these or the row right behind – row E in those blocks. However, the height of the railing and wall in the seat map is concerning. Any first-hand experience of what these are like? This will be our second session, a day session, we don’t need the best seat but we would like to be able to… Read more »
Hi Jon, the concrete wall/railing in front row of those sections with the cut-out (over entrances/exits) doesn’t really go up any higher than the railing in other sections — the first rows are just set relatively further back than other sections without the cut out (reflected in the row letters of the “first row” (just a couple seats) being Row C and the first full row being Row E). The first couple rows in those sections (C and D) are indeed better just because they’re closer — the “wall” is just concrete that doesn’t obstruct your view. So in short,… Read more »
Hi PJ, my husband and I are coming in for a wedding on Sat Sept 3 and we were thinking of spending Fri the 2nd at the open. What would you recommend?
Hi Danielle, that’s a great day to go. Is this your first time at the Open? How serious are you all about tennis (and how much do you want to watch)? For most folks, I’d probably recommend a day ticket on Ashe in Loge section so you can see at least one match on that court and a big name– but plan to spend a good chunk of your day checking out courts all around the grounds (see my Tip #3) – and stay as late as you want in the evening watching matches on the outer courts. Ashe evening… Read more »
Hi PJ, Thanks for your advice last year. I had queued up last year to buy tickets on day 1, minute 1 of Amex sales. This year I will take your advice and try to bide my time before I buy. It will take some discipline to hold off for fear of missing a good deal. Will probably go for good seats in Armstrong on September 4th. Any thoughts on a good price for baseline seats a few rows up from the bottom? Or do we need to see what is happening to prices since we will have foreign tourists… Read more »
Hi Ted, you’re most welcome! Sunday Sep 4 is always one of my favorite days to go to Armstrong too – and that’s an area I target too. The average prices in 2021 for Armstrong seats that day were $259-425 — so if you find resale tickets in that vicinity for the first few rows you know you’ve got a great deal. I would not rush – take your time and keep monitoring, more tickets will surface both standards and resale throughout the summer. PJ
Hi PJ are tickets purchased on Sunday the 5th classed as the “Amex early access” tickets? I am just confused as according to the website the AmEx early access ends 04/06 at 11:59 and the general public starts on 06/06. We have managed to purchase our tickets on the 5th without using AmEx but in the Ticketmaster purchase confirmation is states “Tickets must be purchased with an American Express Card” (which they haven’t been) – so basically we are now worrying that we wont get them when the time comes… Any idea how that early AmEx access works please? I… Read more »
Hi Petra, I wouldn’t worry if you purchased them and got a confirmation – they will not rescind them if you didn’t use your Amex; you would have been blocked from completing the transaction if there were an issue. Do you recall if the ticket you purchased was a red dot on the map or a blue one? If a red one, you purchased a verified resale ticket (which were listed at the same time as the Amex pre-sale). In any case, wouldn’t worry if you got a confirmation email. P.J.
Thank you so much for all the useful information! My plan is to see each match of Daniil and hopefully get some front row seats for the first few rounds. Do you know which sections give you the best chance to get signatures after the match? Thanks!!
Hi Austin, you’re welcome! On Ashe (they probably won’t schedule Daniil anywhere else), sections 47-48 give you the best shot (players enter and exit under sections 42/43) – see my map here for a sense of what those sections look like. PJ
Hi P.J. Your site is super helpful and has a lot of great detail! This year will be my first year attending with my wife. We want to attend a day session on Sept 1 (Thursday) for Armstrong and an evening session on Sept 2 (Friday) for Ashe courtside tickets. Our budget for tickets would be ~2k overall. My plan is to buy tickets for Armstrong on June 6th and wait on the Ashe tickets to find better deals that fit my budget. My biggest worry is that tickets will sell out or be too expensive if I wait too… Read more »
Hi there, you’re most welcome! You will have absolutely no problem with that budget for those sessions. My strong advice is to be patient on both counts – especially Armstrong for that Thursday. Typically there is not huge demand for that session, and last year average prices went down (both on the resale market and standard tickets, which can fluctuate because of a pricing algorithm) as we approached the tournament for that session. I’d suggest you prioritize those courtside tickets first, taking your time to monitor for a great deal in the days/weeks ahead; after you purchase those, then apply… Read more »
Hey PJ, Sory you got covid! Hope you are all better now!! I wanted to share something I learned last year. If you are on the grounds or at any court except Ashe where the top stars play, keep an eye on what’s hapening in Ashe (the only court you cannot enter for free). As PJ mentioned, tickets stay on sale for one hour after a match has started, and sometimes Stubhub and such sites keep selling beyond 1 hour. On the first Friday day I was at Armstrong and the the match ended very quickly. I noticed that Tstsipas-Alcaraz… Read more »
Great advice, Courtney, thank you! P.J.
Hey PJ, I feel like I’ve heard of early access night session tickets where you can enter the grounds at 4pm, but I’ve never been able to find them. Have you ever heard of them?
Hi Tim, to my knowledge that’s only been offered in the past as a perk with a very select number of hospitality ticket offerings (e.g. Ashe courtside or Loge special hospitality packages enabling access to some of the special lounges) that usually carry crazy price premiums. P.J.
It’s the Holiday Evening Plan Sept 2 -5. Four night sessions. You used to get a separate pass to get in at 4pm but this year the ticket alone will get you in from 4pm. I don’t buy tickets myself. I’ve been sneaking in since they opened the joint in 1978. I see no reason to change now. As far as the rest of you suckers, it won’t be a bad thing if No-Vax Djokovic can’t get into the US. No Fed or Djokovic and possibly no Nadal and/or Serena should take some air out of the crazy ticket prices.… Read more »
That’s correct about the Holiday Evening Plan, thanks very much.
Hi P.J. – thank you for a top article! Super helpful and informative as I look to attend my first U.S. Open. I finally got into following tennis closely a year ago, and could not be happier with the decision, I am obsessed! I am aiming to go the first week, ideally Labor Day weekend, but could do the start of the week if it turns out to be a better deal. Is a Day Session Reserved my best option for the time frame I am aiming to go (singles matches are my preference, especially on the men’s side)? What… Read more »
Hey Collin, welcome to the ranks of the obsessed! LOL. As this is your first time — and if you’re just thinking about 2 day — I’d strongly recommend Thursday of week 1: get a Day session reserved seat on Ashe, best seat you can afford, and plan to spend a good chunk of the day (and night!) watching matches on non-Ashe courts. Benefits: a LOT cheaper than Labor Day weekend, so you’ll be able to get a better Ashe seat; lots of play on outer courts during 2d round, with less intense crowds than Labor Day weekend. See my… Read more »
Thanks for the reply! Definitely going to try your suggestion of a Day Session on Thursday week 1 and then Evening Session on Sunday Labor Day weekend. I have just gone on to the official ticketmaster site, and the prices for Loge seating are reasonable for what I am looking for. I noticed there are a lot of unavailable seats currently (looking for 1 ticket on Thursday, and potentially 2 tickets on Sunday). Is this the case of them holding back tickets to release throughout the summer – something mentioned in your article? Some resale tickets are there, but available… Read more »
Hey Collin, my pleasure! Yes sounds like a great plan. Definitely hold out for a while – (1) there will almost certainly be more more standard tickets released for both Thurs Armstrong Day (and possibly for Sun Evening Ashe); and (2) there will be more people putting up tickets on the resale market for both sessions, so you may well find a better seat on the resale market for around same/slightly more than a standard (possibly even less for the Armstrong session). P.J.
Very informative article ! I am planning to go to the US Open this year and its my first time. I have a specific player I want to see and its very important for me to get decent seats to see their match. I’m on a strict budget looking for tickets around $200-250 in lodge level. I’m planning to wait till the US Open schedule comes out. Will waiting till that time comes be risky of missing out on good and reasonable seats? Also, will they let you enter the practice courts even if you haven’t purchased tickets for the… Read more »
Hi Stormie, in most cases, I do think it pays to wait until the schedule comes out for the particular day your favorite player is targeting (see details under my FAQ #1). But the risk depends entirely on which session and which player you’re targeting – $200-250 is reasonable for Loge seats in rounds 1-2, but not necessarily after that. Practice courts inside the grounds (which are most of the courts) are only accessible if you have a ticket (there are some practice courts outside the grounds, but you’re not likely to see main draw players on them, more likely… Read more »
Thank you for the helpful reply P.J. !
Hi PJ! Thanks for writing up such a detailed guide. I’m debating if it’s worth purchasing the Ashe promenade tickets as it seems to be a pretty good value through the Amex buy one get one free deal. But I see your advice is to wait and check throughout the summer for better deals. Ideally, I don’t want to spend too much on tickets. What would you recommend for someone on a budget?
Hi Jessica, you’re welcome! Most of the sessions where that deal is offered are ones where there’s always a glut of available Promenade seats for sale throughout the summer, so there’s always a chance you could get better seats for not-too-much more if you wait – but if you can’t beat that deal if you’re targeting those upper Promenade seats and on a tight budget. P.J.
Wow this is an amazing site! Ty for sharing. I’ve never been to the US Open and your site has got me very excited. I do have a question, with this being my first time I’m considering tickets at Armstrong stadium 11am the first day. I saw a few tickets available in section 1 row W. Should I grab or wait, ty again I can’t wait to tell mt friends about your awesome site.
Mike
Hi Mike, thanks!! Strongly suggest waiting and taking your time in the weeks ahead to make your decision on which ticket to get for that first day. There will be a glut of available seats in Armstrong at rock bottom prices for that first day – you will be able to do much better than Row W if you take your time! P.J.
Thanks P.J. appreciate it, I’ll keep checking. One more quick question. The fan week for qualifying, any suggestions on which day and what time I should arrive, thanks again
Sure thing! For Fan week qualies are (Tuesday Aug. 23 through Friday Aug 26). Thurs-Friday are my personal favorite days to go because players are advancing closer to determining who will get spots in the main draw. Note Saturday is Kid’s Day (so avoid unless you are bringing kids) and Sunday post-qualies but before main tourney begins is nice because there are many main draw players on practice courts and crowds are also light. You don’t have to go particularly early because crowds will be relatively light. Check the schedule the night before. P.J.
thanks for all the info! quick question… did your ashe courtside seat come with access to any of the hospitality offerings or suites? like the 1968 lounge?
Hi Kelsey, standard courtside tickets come only with the privilege of accessing the entire courtside level — which brings with it access to m much better food/drink offerings and less crowds — but not individual suites (purchased by companies or groups) or the special lounges. P.J.
Hi P.J. — really appreciate all the work you’ve put in to this amazing resource. It really helps simplify a very complex buying decision! I am looking to buy 5 tickets for my family for the Friday Sep 2nd Day session. I am aiming for well shaded Armstrong tickets. My total budget is $1,000. Do you think this is feasible? If I split us into separate 2 seat and 3 seat purchases, does that typically make it much easier? Lastly, how much better do you think we could do if we increased our budget to $1,250? In the Amex pre-sale… Read more »
Hi Chad, I think you should be good with that budget for that Friday Day in Armstrong. Stay patient and don’t panic buy. What you see now is not indicative of what will be available throughout the summer, non-resale and resale. $1000-1250 is a healthy budget and you should be able to find seats together (or, as you say, 3 and 2 in rows next to each other) if you keep checking! P.J.
Thanks P.J. I may have just failed to follow your advice to not panic buy, or maybe it was a decent deal? The Amex pre-sale just released some more seats. And I found 5 together for $1100 in row M in the SW corner, which is where we wanted to be for shade. I figured even if I could have saved a $100-200, it may have taken hours of time throughout the summer and I guess I’m not that patient 😮
Thanks again for creating this awesome site. Can’t wait to see some tennis up close!
Hey Chad, those are great seats and you made a good call given the combination of factors you mentioned! Hope you have a fantastic time! P.J.
Hey PJ, I got shut out trying to buy Armstrong reserved for Sat 9/3. Will they release more tickets once public sale starts or we just have to rely on resale/stubhub?
Hi Corey, they will likely release more tickets throughout the summer on Ticketmaster — and there will be many resellers looking to unload tickets too. Saturday Armstrong is always high demand, but you will find reasonable options if you just stay patient and keep looking. P.J.
WOW, what a great site. I’ve been going to the US Open since I was a kid and the matches were in Forest Hills. A lot of useful tips & information, even for someone that has been going to the Open for years.
Mark, that is music to my ears coming from such a seasoned fan. Thanks so much for taking the time to write! P.J.
Just got my Ashe tickets(cheaper than the ground tickets-that the trick)
Hey, I owe you ice cream
Thanks for the great blog.
This is my 5th times to the US Open and love every minute of it 2wks in NY-love it
Hey Chris, great to hear it! P.J.
WOW! This is going to help me! Husband mentions every year wanting to go so this year i’m trying to surprise him. This is helps with the over whelming get the most bang for your buck on your first visit! Of course i’m still a bit lost but it’s a start for 2022 planning. I need shade (skin cancer stuff) and he really wants to watch his favorites. Let’s get planning! I want to surprise him but don’t want to choose wrong!
Hey Kelly, that’s awesome! Take it from a hard core fan, surprising one of us with good tickets to the Open is a dream come true – he’ll be thrilled. Happy to help more as you narrow down choices… P.J.
Thanks! PJ I do have a bit of budget so not super economy. What would you splurge on the last 4 days as a first time spectator?
Hi Kelly! My picks would probably be (#1) Friday night Men’s Semi session (you’ll get the best match of the day, because they will schedule the biggest name or best match for the evening session)- and you get the awesome Ashe evening experience; plus any of these depending on budget: * Thurs Evening Women’s Semis: Great deal because you get 2 women’s matches for this session * Saturday Women’s final – which tends to be more affordable. Keep in mind, however, that women’s matches are best of 3 sets (versus men’s best of 5) so if a blowout it can… Read more »
AWESOME! Huge help — Thanks so much! I’m looking forward to watching from the court instead of the couch!
You’re most welcome, Kelly!
Hi! So the presale today was not good. By the time I got out of the queue, there were no blue dot seats available in the shady sections I want. I know you say to wait, but just want to get this “off my plate”. Do you think they will release any more presale tix this week before public sale starts? Your site is the best…..shared with many friends, so thank you!
Hi Doreen! It really isn’t worth the effort in the vast majority of cases. They will almost certainly not release any more presale tickets before the public sale. You can also expect a similar scene on June 6 as hordes panic buy… Then, in the weeks that follow, expect more seats to be released (albeit randomly). And if they don’t materialize in the sections you’re looking for, you’ll hopefully find something decent on the resale market. P.J.
Hi. I would like to go the weekend of Fan week just to have a US Open experience. Any suggestions?
Hi there, Fan week (Tuesday, Aug. 23 through Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022) is awesome! If you don’t have kids, I’d avoid Saturday (Kid’s Day, which is great if you have kids!). Thurs-Friday are amazing days to go see world-class players vying for a spot in the main draw. You won’t see the famous players, but you will see incredible tennis up close without crazy crowds (and you may well run into some famous players or see them on the practice courts). Sunday is great because there are many main draw players on practice courts and crowds are also light. If… Read more »
I used all your tips and tricks as a first-time attendee last year and can’t thank you enough. We had an amazing experience and felt so ready and informed to hit the ground running with all your insights and tricks of the trade.
Elisa, I am thrilled and gratified to hear that – THANK YOU for taking the time to let me know! P.J.
What is the minimum age requirement for purchasing tickets? Wondering if we need to buy tickets for a 2 and 5 year old.
Hi Jule, the policy is: “Children two years and older require a full priced adult ticket.” P.J.
This is so helpful. Thank you for this site. I’m gonna be in town all Labor Day Weekend, never been for my Dad’s 80th and my 50th birthday. I’m thinking of this for the Saturday….get a reserved Courtside seat for the grandstand, and then get in line sometime for Armstrong to stay for the night…..
What time do you recommend I possibly get in line for an Armstrong seat for Saturday night if it looks intriguing and we want to leave the grandstand? Is it clear where the “line” is for the evening Armstrong session?
Hey Billy, great to hear it and you’re most welcome! Courtside Grandstand is awesome, however two drawbacks: (1) A LOT of Sun and virtually no shade relief in the good seats (will your Dad really be OK with that?); (2) No roof if it rains, which could be a disaster given crowds (everyone without Ashe tickets would line up to get into Armstrong if it rains, as that would be the only option). If you can possibly swing it financially, I’d recommend considering Armstrong Day reserved on the West side of the stadium (see my shade guidance) and Ashe evening… Read more »
Dear P.J., In previous years, we’ve attended the Open as guests of other people but decided to buy tickets for ourselves for the first time this year. When I started to research, WOW was there so much more to consider than I ever realized! I felt totally overwhelmed and said that I wished someone could just download all the pros and cons and details I needed to know directly into my brain so I could make a decision that made sense for us… and the universe sent me this blog. Now we know exactly what kind of tickets we want… Read more »
Laura, you absolutely made my day with your thoughtful note – thank you!! I’m thrilled to hear it was helpful. Hope you have an absolutely awesome experience! P.J.
I am in nyc from 29 aug – 2 sept and would love to watch some fellow Brits play. Any tips for which tickets and courts to be on. I am an Am Ex customer so am eligible for early bird purchases. Any tips gratefully received
Hi Wendy, check out my FAQ #1 under Box 3: I’d recommend waiting until the day before to purchase tickets when you’re here after the schedules are announced. That early in the tournament you’ll have no issues getting decently priced tickets at the last minute, and you’ll be able to allocate your budget wisely based on who is actually playing when. P.J.
Fantastic resource. Thanks! I’m looking to go with a friend who is not into tennis on Day 4. We will probably arrive when it opens and leave at 6 pm. Looking at your pricing chart, it seems that Ashe promenade tickets are cheaper than grounds tickets? An Ashe promenade ticket gets everything a grounds ticket does plus has a seat in Ashe right? Seems weird.
Hey Brian, thanks! It’s weird but true. One of the biggest rookie mistakes is to buy a Grounds ticket when cheaper (or comparably priced) reserved seats are available in Ashe or Armstrong. The latter give you exactly the same benefits as a Grounds ticket — but with the added advantage of an indoor seat to retreat to if (1) a marquee player is on that you really want to see; (2) you’re tired and just want a dedicated seat to retreat to; (3) it rains and the only option is to see tennis under a roof. See my Top #3… Read more »
Great site man!! This year will be my first year attending with my gf (tennis fan) and I wanted to ask for your advice. I see that most of multi-session passes (Aug 29 – Sep 2) are only available at higher seats ~300 level. Do you know if later in the months, ticketmaster releases courtside tickets as package? I want to attend ~ 2-3 days. I’m looking into getting advatange of the amex pre sale on june 1st, but wanted to have a game plan before buying. Perhaps what would be your overall recomendation if budget would be total ~4k… Read more »
Hi Andres, thank you!! You’re correct that all the multi-session ticket packages in Ashe are always confined to the not-great seats way up in Promenade. The US Open does release individual tickets on Ticketmaster throughout the summer and right up until the tournament for Loge and Courtside seats, but they have never released these as multi-session tickets (and there’s no predicability about when they release, it’s totally random and you have to just keep checking). My overall recommendations for that excellent budget: (1) do NOT buy during Amex pre-sale unless you see seats you are really excited about and have… Read more »
Will be in nyc from 29th to sept 2….what tickets would you recommend….spending more on tickets on Ashe? Day or night sessions..and what about the earlybird tickets Ticketmaster us will be selling prior to June 6th
Hi Wendy, can you give me a bit more detail on your priorities, how much tennis you want to see, and budget? In general, I’d recommend my guidance under Tip #2 to go for Day sessions for reasons I outline there. However if you can also afford to add an evening Ashe ticket, I’d recommend it: the experience of Ashe nighttime is really special. I do not recommend the earlybird Amex tickets unless you are aiming for super cheap seats in Promenade or have a lot of experience — there will only be a small fraction of seats released for… Read more »
Thanks so much for the advice..going to wait awhile before purchasing any tickets.
Hi Wendy, you’re most welcome. Don’t hesitate to loop back with questions as you explore the options. P.J.
Hi! Even for the male finals you think it’s better to wait for June? I’ll be in NY only after the 9/10, never been to a Us open so don’t wanna loose the opportunity! I’m planning to buy something between the 329 and 332 (still studying the best area/row/price) Please help – I’ll be visiting NY from Brazil 🙂
Many thanks
Fernanda
Oi Fernanda! I think it probably makes sense to wait – however last year was a very unusual situation for Men’s Finals, so I can’t give a rock-solid recommendation either way. Last year demand was off the charts (in part because everyone was so excited to get back after 2020 wasn’t open to fans) and resale ticket prices were exceptionally high for Men’s Finals. My notes show that it was hard to get a ticket in Promenade for Men’s Finals for under $375 last year. (In 2019, average Promenade seats for Finals were 200-350). The advantage of waiting until individual… Read more »