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! Looking at tickets for evening session fri 31st. If purchase tickets for arthur ashe or armstrong will there be other games on on smaller courts we can also walk around to check out? Or is evening just games on the 2 main courts? Thanks! 🙂
Hi Kate, there should still be some matches happening on outer courts at least into the early part of the evening that Friday (at least doubles). And Grandstand usually has a singles match that doesn’t start before 5pm that will probably still be going on. PJ
Hi pj
I thought some folks might want to know about this exhibition event to raise money for Ukraine just announced. Tickets are $25. it’s in Armstrong so people can get a close-up view for not very much money.
“Wednesday, August 23 for an exciting tennis exhibition featuring stars like Alcaraz, Svitolina, Tiafoe, Pegula, Eubanks, Berrettini, and more. Proceeds will benefit Ukraine relief efforts”.
https://www.usopen.org/en_US/visit/stars_of_the_open.html?cid=August2023IntrotoFanWeekNI_08082023_phpt_chemal_ctfw__endcid
Hey Courtney, thanks for pointing this out. I’ll be there myself and can’t wait!
Hope to see you this year at the Open – lets try to connect!
Absolutely!
PJ- I purchased 2 tickets in Ashe and 2 tickets in Armstrong on Friday night session Labor Day weekend so my family of 4 could switch back and forth between the stadiums and see the most possible tennis. Does your mobile ticket get scanned every time you go in and out of the stadium and do screenshots of the mobile ticket work? I have 2 teenage boys going with my wife and I, so switching phones every time we changed between matches would be a huge pain.
Hey Preston, your tickets are not scanned again after you enter at the East and South gates – just visually checked by the folks at the stadium entrances and section ushers. However, it’s possible due to the relatively new anti-counterfeiting measures on the Ticketmaster mobile tickets that a vigilant staffer may notice that the “Hold Near Reader” icon is static if you use screenshots. Much more likely that they would notice that at Ashe than at Armstrong. I’d say try it – but be prepared to use the “transfer” button in the Ticketmaster app if you need to so you… Read more »
Hey there, update from USO: confirmed it doesn’t work to transfer a ticket via Ticketmaster after it has been scammed – but you usually can use screenshots to access seats once you’re within the grounds because ushers at Ashe and Armstrong and Grandstand do not re-scan tickets – just visually scan quickly. Use screenshot of “wallet” view not the one with the moving barcode.
Now that I live in NYC I see some folks posting about buying tickets directly from the box office. Is that an option the week of qualifiers or will they all be sold out/sold prior on ticketmaster?
Hi again, the box office will be open during qualies and the advantage is no service fee – but generally the inventory offered on site is the same as what you see online. PJ
Hey PJ – will a night session Ashe ticket get me into the grounds during the day? I know you’ve answered this somewhere before (I think the answer is no) but wanted to double-check. Ashe tickets for Rd 1 and 2 also seem quite high!
Hey Marty, unfortunately not – just a 6pm entry time. And yeah, prices are pretty high this year across the board!
What is going on this year PJ, ticket prices are 60-100% higher than previous years. I have been waiting and waiting for them to go down but nothing is happening!
Hey Stefan, standard ticket prices are indeed higher from last year, so resellers are posting for more – and demand post-COVID is also higher given more people eager to travel and attend live events, which drives the dynamic pricing higher. I’m not seeing 60-100% increases from last year, but definitely higher across the board. PJ
Unless I’m missing something i’m seeing grounds passes are 200$!! That’s absolutely outrageous since 5 years ago they were about 70$, if the USTA were truly wanting to promote the game of tenis they would do something about this
tennis is dying thanks to Pickleball
My tennis courts are being taken over .
Ground passes are useless. Just get a nosebleed Ashe. If it rains youre covered, if not feel free to roam the grounds
Pat – Good for you finding a 7th row seat for such a great price. I’m showing my inexperience of buying tickets but I didn’t realize there were such codes. If you or P.J. could let me know where to find the codes I would greatly appreciate it. Also, are there codes for Round 1 on Monday and Tuesday for Armstrong?
Hi Kathy, some organizations offer private codes that aren’t meant for the general public, so I don’t post them unless I’m sure they are meant as such. PJ
Hi PJ, Thank you so much for creating this resource! It’s clear how much care and effort went into this – as somebody who’s never attended a professional tennis match before, it’s been invaluable trying to plan for visiting the US Open this year. I wouldn’t have known where to start without it. I’ll be in NYC from 8/29 through 9/5 and can only attend the US Open on one day. After looking through a bunch of options on Ticketmaster, I bought tickets for 9/4/23 (Labor Day). I chose to get Armstrong day session tickets sitting in section 1, and… Read more »
Hey Cole, thank you for your kind thanks! You chose to do one of my favorite personal itineraries on the Sunday and Monday of Labor Day weekend; Day Armstrong PLUS Evening Ashe; I do it almost every year with friends. Yes, you will get (almost certainly) 2 Men’s R16 Singles and 2 Women’s R16 Singles matches on Armstrong, followed by one of each on Ash Evening. And yes, there is likely to be some overlap. Last year, I believe a women’s match with Ajla Tomljanovic on Armstrong was still going on around 7pm when Medvedev and Kyrgios started on Ashe.… Read more »
Hey, P.J.- What an article. Super job. An asset to American tennis. Me and my Dad used this to help us buy tickets in 2019/2022 (Actually spotted you during an Armstrong RO16 session, think Matteo vs Rublev? was a bit of a small world moment, ha. I had only seen your image on this site for a brief moment doing research back then, but I guess the article made a strong enough impression on me that I remembered you. We were sitting a few rows back on the baseline and i think you were to our right in a corner… Read more »
Hey Ray! First, huge thanks for your nice words and great to hear you had and enjoyed that experience in Armstrong and are doing it again this year! And that’s so cool you spotted me (yes I was at that Matteo match in the first few rows of section 7) – if you see me this year please say hello! I always do some last-minute decisions/purchases when I have flexibility and it usually works out. But I’ve found Fri/Sat/Sun of Labor Day weekend (perhaps except for Sun evening) tend to be some of the least “elastic” in pricing over the… Read more »
We will be flying into La Guardia, since the venue is close to there, do you recommend a hotel or Airbnb close to there or is there another nice area close with a short and easy train ride? Thank you!
Hey Sherri, my friend Melissa has a lot more detail on hotel options and recommendations here. PJ
last year I saw Tiafoe on armstrong …..considering his move up…where do you think he’ll be placed on saturday 9/2? Also…how do I find resale options for hopsitality tix?
Hi Patricio, if Tiafoe is in the half of the draw that would play Saturday during Round 3 (we won’t know that until Day 1 schedule is released, see my FAQ #1 for explanation) then I’d say he will almost certainly be scheduled for Ashe given his move up in the rankings. For resale options, do you mean to find them or to sell ones you have? It’s rare to see them posted for resale, but Stubhub probably one of the best options. PJ
Great insight P.J! I’ve heard from the front desk staff at BJKNTC that the box office releases more ticket on the morning of qualifiers and that they’re available to buy in-person. Have you had any experience with this?
Hi Max, thanks! Interesting, but I’m not sure that is 100% accurate. The box office on site is open during qualies, but I don’t believe staff has the ability to sell tickets that aren’t also posted onto Ticketmaster; generally they are accessing the same inventory you see on Ticketmaster. USTA does indeed set aside some tickets (like “house seats” on Broadway) and releases some of them (both to the box office and online) as we get closer to the event — but there is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the patterns of when or for which dates/ stadiums. So… Read more »
Great write up P.J. My girl just bought us men’s semi-final and final’s tickets for this year’s USO at Arthur Ashe, but I am making her resell the final’s ticket because I was okay with seeing the semi-finals. This will be my first live tennis experience. Do we get to see both semi-finals matches (played on the same day)? What else could we do with admission besides watch the matches?
Hi Jeremy, thanks so much. I’ll be at semis this year too and can’t wait. A few years ago, the Open split the Men’s Semis into two separate Day/Nigh sessions, each requiring a ticket and featuring only 1 of the men’s semifinal matches. So check to see if you have a Day or Evening session ticket. If Day, you have option to enter grounds as early as 11am (possibly earlier but usually 11am that day) and your Ashe session starting at 12 will begin with the Men’s Doubles finals, followed by the Men’s first singles semi no earlier than 3pm.… Read more »
Hey I just wanted to encourage people to constantly look at TM for release of standard tickets.
I see on TM now, Day 3 AM in Ashe, a single Courtside seat for $469, Sec 46 Row J.
It wont last long. But it is proof that dreams can come true…if you check TM a lot!
TM releases standard seats throughout the summer for each stadium. It is a slow trickle. But they are usually gone in the blink of an eye. Right time, right place.
If we pay for a night session are we seeing one match or two? The tickets we bought say “mens/womens quarter finals” is this one match or two? The evening session starts at 7pm what time can i expect the matches to end? I obviously know this will vary widely but a range would be great.
Hi Luke, for that session you’d see 1 men’s QF singles match and 1 women’s QF singles match, beginning at 7pm and ending usually not earlier than midnight. PJ
Hi P.J., this guide was very helpful, thank you! My friend and I are watching the USO (or any Grand Slam) for the first time and trying to decide b/w the following:
Which of these options would you recommend based on price/value and watching the biggest names? Thank you for your input!
Hi Luigi! Apologies for the delayed reply. Just looking at each of the sessions you list and seeing some better options… E.g.
– Tues QF Evening: 322B $170
– Wed QF Evening: 322D $199
I’d probably recommend the Tues QF for $170. Unlike in earlier rounds where you can’t always count on it, they always put the biggest names during QF and Semis at night. Night sessions on Ashe are really fun. And B in Promenade isn’t bad!
Hi! Thank you so much for compiling all of this information – this is truly an incredible resource and it’s apparent how much effort you’ve put into it. I’ve never attended any professional tennis matches but am planning to visit the US Open this year, and this has been so valuable for me to get an idea of what to expect. I’ll be in NYC from 8/29-9/5. I can only attend the US Open for one of these days. Like everyone else, I’d love to see the top players (particularly Alcaraz), but good seats in Ashe are extremely pricey, so… Read more »
Hi Cole, thanks so much for the kind words, and very sorry it took so long to reply! That’s absolutely correct on Labor Day Monday — one of the best days to buy Armstrong tickets for that very reason (same applies on Sunday). I think that’s a great strategy to wait and decide on whether to get Ashe seats in addition for Monday night after the schedule is released the day prior. Monday evening Ashe almost always has good availability right up until the day of (versus the rest of the weekend, where demand is always high because of all… Read more »
Hey PJ thank you so much for the great resource. My wife, seven year old daughter and I have one day (Sunday Sep 3, first day of round of 16 I think) to see the open. Would you recommend the day Ashe option over the night just for more opportunities to see more players and to enjoy the grounds, or are there also matches on smaller courts in the evening as well. I looked at the pdf schedule from last year’s day seven and it didn’t seem like much was going on in the evening outside of Ashe. Which do… Read more »
Hey Brian, you’re most welcome! Ashe evening sessions can go really late (rarely end before midnight) assuming you stay for both matches – so given your daughter’s age I’d probably recommend the day session. Outer courts will feature doubles matches and juniors (except for Armstrong, which will have several singles matches but crowds for general seating will be intense) – and there will likely still be several going on after your Ashe session ends (probably around 530/6pm). Enjoy!
Done! Thanks again!
What an invaluable resource! There are 4 of us going to this year’s quarter finals at night on Tuesday Sept 5th @ 7:00pm…..we would like to walk around the grounds during the day prior to the matches. I believe our night tickets don’t allow us access to the grounds during the day, correct? If so what is our best bet for doing so? Greatly appreciate the article. Thank You! 🎾
Hi Dianna, thank you! Sorry for the delayed reply. Evening session ticket holders can enter the grounds at 6pm. PJ
There are unlock special codes working now on Armstrong for Wed day sessions. Last year I waited until the the weekend before to buy tickets for week 1 and will do so this year BUT I found a 7th row single ticket on the shade side of Armstrong for $150 (Wed using unlock code HBCU). After day 1 and day 2 in the sun, a Wednesday in the shade in a comfy seat to relax sounded very appealing.
You are amazing for creating this resource! I had a question on the ‘how to get there’. I booked a hotel right near the moynihan train station and saw your note about the 15 min from midtown to the Port Wash stop on LIRR. When I look online it looks more like a 45 min ride. Can you clarify or am I missing something? Thanks for your help!
Hey Heather, thank you! It’s only about 18 minutes from Penn to the US Open stop on the LIRR, which is actually called “Mets-Willets” (in the direction of Port Washington, but not the Port Washington stop). PJ
We took PJ’s advice about this last year and it was GREAT. Easy to take the LIRR and we stayed right by the Moynihan train station too. It’s simple once you get the hang of where the train is in moynihan. There are people in the station who will help you – and it’s a beautiful station that has been completly redone. We even got breakfast to go sandwiches in the station and ate them on the LIRR on the way out to the Open.
Thank you for that, Megan! PJ
What does “Grandstand only” mean?
Hi Shawn, can you give me a little more context?
I had the same question! Several resale sites (and a portal my wife has access to via work WorkingAdvantage) have several tickets available that say “Grandstand Only”. This doesn’t seem to be an official US Open ticket type…
I’m interpreting these to be normal Grandstand Day session tickets but the name of the ticket is confusing. Any ideas?
Hi Bob, be very careful about any tickets that say “Grandstand Only” – that is a misleading designation and most likely it’s just a grounds pass that someone is trying to pass off as a reserved seat. If it’s a Grandstand reserved seat, it should say so and have a section and row number that corresponds to the Grandstand seating chart. PJ
“Grandstand Only” is a designation you’ll see on StubHub and SeatGeek, but as your chart and the official ticket site show, a ticket to Grandstand includes first-come, first-served access to Grandstand, Armstrong, and field courts 4-17. Hence the confusion.
Hey Shawn, thanks for pointing that out. That’s a pretty confusion designation for newbies, but at least it does actually include a reserved seat in Grandstand (I’ve seen far more misleading ticket titles out there!)
Likely making clear your grandstand ticket won’t get you into Ashe. Which is a good thing because Ashe is just an absolutely awful court to watch tennis and a complete waste of your time while at the tennis center.
I could not agree more. It’s absolutely awful. All of it and I’ve sat in every section including the Corp suites many times.
Hey P.J., thanks for the great info. Q for you – can you buy just a grounds pass for the mens semi-finals on Fri, Sep 8 and chill outside Ashe and enjoy the atmosphere and matches on the big screen?
Hey Steve, you’re welcome! Closer to the event, they usually release (on Ticketmaster) grounds admission tickets for Friday-Sunday of the finals weekend. Assuming they do again this year, there should be plenty available so you won’t need to worry about getting online at a particular time or having them sell out. PJ
Hey PJ – your blog is amazing. Thank you for taking the time to put this together to help people like us who have never been to the US Open. We are planning on going Labor Day weekend with our 3 kids (ages 11 to 17) who all love tennis. I was thinking we’d do one night session and one day session with one of those in Ashe and one in LA so we can get the full experience. Can you give me your suggestions on which session (night or day) you’d do Ashe and which one you’d do LA… Read more »
Hi Eloise, thank you! Really appreciate the kind words. My recommendation for biggest bang for buck and combo would probably be: Fri OR Sat Night Ashe + Sunday OR Monday Louis Armstrong Day, deciding ultimately based on which ones will get you the best seats in your price range. Armstrong is great for Round of 16 (Sun and Mon) because you get SO many matches in one day (there’s only one session on those dates, no separate day and night session… a full day of tennis that always stretches into the evening). For Amex options: (1) Center Court Club is… Read more »
FYI-
I am seeing outrageous ticket prices selling by resellers trying to make quick bucks.
They are trying to gain momentum from Wimbledon but from my experience going to the US Open every year, ticket prices will slither down…
I have gotten half price tickets 2 hrs before the doors open !!
Most of the sellers are from outside the USA and chances are that most of them can’t make the trip.
just be patient folks!!
Here is my analysis- the US Open is in late August and 80% of the kids
are already back in school or gearing to go back to school and no
parents after spending so much money on school supplies are willing to
spend more money. Going to NY is expensive if you are out of town. In
addition, the season of FOOTBALL and the baseball playoffs, and other
sports in the US- so the US Open is competing with other interests.
How do you know they are from overseas? They have to have US bank accounts to get payouts.
Hi @ChrisG,
Not trying to dispute your comment, but could you possibly elaborate on your experience?
How much was “half-price” for you?
And how do you know if resellers are really just overseas buyers looking to make a quick buck? Do you have evidence that supports this claim?
Just wanted to know so that I have all the facts before buying my tickets…
AT- While those folks wait in line for the gates to open( long lines), I just take my time to eat the cheap delicious food at Flushing Chinatown and check the tickets 1-2 hrs AFTER the gates open- there will always be no shows!! AA tickets are cheaper than ground(go figure) Missing 2 hrs of tennis is not going to kill me as there are games till 1am. The 1st week is the best week because there are so much tennis matches. Lastly, pray for bad weather (rain or hot) -less people attending Tip- I always bring 2 bottles of… Read more »
Hi P.J.,
Thank you for this awesome guide! My dad and I are planning to attend the US Open for the first time… We have decided on taking the LIRR from NYC, do you recommend the Penn Station area for a hotel, or the Grand Central area for a hotel keeping in mind we will be using the LIRR and most likely staying late into the evening?
Thank you!
Hey Adam, my pleasure! Definitely Grand Central. Nicer neighborhood, and you also have the option of the 7 train if you’re there REALLY late after LIRR stops running – only 30 min on the 7. PJ
The area around Penn Station is one of the last [expletive] in Manhattan. At least stay a few blocks west and enjoy Koreatown or East near the north entrance to the highline. Do nit stay in the vicinity of Penn Station. The area around Grand Central is not someplace a tourist would find at all interesting. At all. Stay in a nice area and take the subway to Penn Station and switch to the LIRR.
What an amazing article, thank you so much for your advice and shared knowledge. It’s gonna be my first US Open and I’m currently aiming at a 2023 Spectator Grand Slam (was in Melbourne, Paris in London this year!). Anyways, according to your experience is there any chance the Grounds Tickets for the first 2 days go down in the upcoming weeks ? Because 120+$ a Grounds ticket thats crazy !! It was never over 30$ for all other Slams this year… Thank you so much for your help.
Hey Cyril, thank you! And how cool about your Spectator Slam 🙂 🙂 Grounds admission tickets usually don’t go any lower than around $100, even on early days — and like all other tickets, they are subject to “dynamic pricing” so they can go up and down based on overall demand. However, do keep an eye on Ashe Promenade seats for Day sessions early in the tournament over the next few weeks. Last year for Day 1 and 2 there were many Promenade seats available in the $30-60 range in early August. In general, I urge folks to buy these… Read more »
Great advice – thanks.
Question: I know they stopped taking cash a few years back.
Do you know if they accept a Visa prepaid gift card?
Thanks
Hi Karen, I’m 99.99% sure the answer is yes based on this post on Visa’s site.
Hello! Thank you for this superhelpful article, going to the USO first time this year from Europe, superexcited, and now i know what to expect. But i’m confused about semis evening session, i decided to wait and look for some good deals. Tickets were starting at 150 initially or something like that, and now the cheapest is 320, which is too much i guess for Z promenade row. So now i don’t know, if i should wait until the day of the game or get something now before it will go up even more. Maybe you can give me some… Read more »
Hey Alex, you’re welcome and excited for you to experience it! For the Men’s Semis DAY session, there are still tons of standard promenade seats available as low as $130 and good ones around $200. But that is indeed the case for the evening session, and while I always hesitate to make predictions on prices (have been wrong so many times) I wouldn’t expect things to change too much for the evening session based on last year — it’s one of the highest demand sessions (on par with Men’s final). That said, I don’t think the situation will get much… Read more »
Hi P.J.,
Thank you so much for all of this amazing info. How will I know if it’s men or women at 7pm on Sat sept 2? I want to buy 3 tix at Armstrong as a gift for a tennis fan.
Thanks,
Erin
Hi Erin, you’re most welcome! There will be one men’s and one women’s singles match for that Sat evening Armstrong session (unless in the rarest of circumstances they decide to feature an exceptional doubles match, which they did e.g. last year when Serena and Venus played and on another night when Nick Kyrgios was playing dubs). Whether they put men or women on first at 7pm is unpredictable: last year, they put the women’s match first, but in 2021 they had the men play first. PJ
Hi PJ, A super helpful article with so many details. The photos look super cool as well. This year me and my wife are planning to go to the US open for the first time so debating which ticket to get. We are tight on budget so can visit possibly one day which will be either 3rd/4th/5th Sept. Given your experience what will be the best ticket for us if we want to see some top players like Novak, Daniil l, Ruud, and Carlos? Shall we shoot for the day and night session on 5th? Do you think we will… Read more »
Hi Sandipan, thanks! Given your objectives, I’d recommend Monday Sep 4 (round of 16) or Tues Sep 5 (quarters), and make your decision based on the best seats you can find for your budget — and definitely go for day and night sessions. Because a lot of tourists leave town Monday, there are often great deals for quarterfinals (esp day session). Hope that helps – let me know if you have more questions as you dig deeper into options! PJ
Thank you. That’s helpful. So if I decide to go on Tuesday Sept. 5 (both day + night sessions) I can except either Carlos, Daniil, Tsitsipas, Rublev or Novak, Ruud, Rune, Sinner (given the current rankings) to play given that there are no early surprises. Am I understanding correctly? I already started looking into the options and hope to make a decision soon. I really appreciate your help. Cheers !
Sure thing! You’ll be assured to see some top players if you to the day and night session on either day of Quarters… Note, for Men’s Quarters and Semis, they almost always put the biggest of the stars (the most popular, not necessarily highest ranked) on the evening session (this trend does NOT apply to earlier rounds). See my FAQ #1 and click the orange “Learn how to make educated guesses” bar for details on how scheduling works and why we can’t make any predictions about which day various seeds will play until the Day 1 schedule is announced the… Read more »
Thanks PJ. Much appreciated. I am getting tickets for day and night session for 5th Sept. Hope if there are no early surprises I can expect Carlos/Daniil/Tsitsipas, Rublev or Novak/Casper/Rune/ Sinner on the men’s matches. I am following your annotated Arthur Ashe shade chart and trying to get some seats in the 302,340, 320, 321, or 322 sections for day and may be around 315, 316 or 321 for the night. Do you think that’s fine? Thanks, Sandipan
Hey there, my pleasure. For Day seats in Promenade, definitely target South or West; upper rows in most all of North Promenade get shade, but lower rows in North (320-322) can get sunny. Night sessions just target lowest rows you can get!
Hi there, based on my schedule, I’m only able to fly in for Labor Day and am going to attend with a Ground Pass with a friend. This will be Round of 16, so my plan was going to be to enter via the East Gate when the gates open and rush to the GA Sections of Armstrong (101-103 or 110-113) that I believe you’d recommend (combination of Baseline/Shade). Would love to hear your thoughts on success in getting front rows in these sections if I get there right when gates open. Also curious about etiquette if I get there… Read more »
Hey Chris! Definitely aim for the seats on the Umpire (West) side to maximize shade. Some of the sections you listed behind the server are actually all reserved seats, not part of the GA seats up there. Can’t really say on chances for front row – but if you get to the East Gate really early and are one of the first people to clear security and get into Armstrong you have a chance (higher odds if a women’s match is scheduled first). Everyone is completely cool about people saving seats for friends when they go to bathroom/ food, etc,… Read more »
The ushers on Court 17 last year were not nice about people saving seats for others during the Carreno Busta-Thiem match. If someone ran out to use the bathroom or to get food, the ushers would yell that saving seats is not allowed. It also took forever to re-enter due to the high profile competitors for a 1st Round match. Once re-entered, you had to get find whatever seat was available, and it wouldn’t be until the next changeover that you could get reunited with your seatmate.
Great point and great example, Tom, thanks. Depends so much on the match and situation. PJ
That’s how it’s supposed to work. The seats are unreserved. Period. The longtime supervisor for Ct 17 changed in 2022 I think it was so the new one is doing it right.
I miss the the fistfights that would occasionally break out on the old Grandstand when people tried to save an entire courtside box of seats all day. The poor guy whose name I won’t reveal — he still works the USO — who was the area supervisor for around the last 10 years or so didn’t know how to handle angry fans. Wimbledon does it properly and fairly. If you leave your unreserved seat for any reason it’s open. Full stop. It doesn’t matter about your hubby waiting for you, your kids still sitting there, your friend, your medical issues… Read more »
WOW, what a comprehensive article. Thank you, seriously, for the amoutn of effort you’ve put in to this. My GF and I are planning on attending Friday Sept 1st, so the third round… I’ve never seen live tennis, let alone a major. Right now I am eyeing on splurging for courtside seats in Louis Armstrong for either the day or night session. Would you recommend one over the other? Should I coax my GF into just spending all day there with me? Also, we have Chase, but I am not able to log in to the Chase Lounge site to… Read more »
Hi Chris, thanks! This is really tricky… First, whether to try to coax your GF to spend the entire day/evening… depends on how into tennis she is 🙂 Second, there are some amazing courtside seats for Armstrong available that evening at a decent price (see e.g. section 7 row D, or section 10 row F) – whereas day session is a lot more pricey (more demand because day session allows grounds entry at 930am versus evening session ticket doesn’t allow grounds entry till 6pm). And I LOVE evening sessions at the Open. So if you think it would be satisfying… Read more »
Waaaaaaaaaaaylp, I made the plunge and bought day tickets for Louis Armstrong Friday the 1st (third round) in section ONE. Oof, four digits for the two tickets (total, not each) felt rough, but I am SO. EXCITED. Doors open at 9:30am, what time do the matches start on the outer courts? And at Louis Armstrong? Are we going to look like dopes if we aren’t in our seats the entire day session in Louis Armstrong? I know we’ll want to check out the other courts and amenities, but I don’t want to be “wasting” time away from these amazing seats.… Read more »
Hey Chris, that’s awesome! You will have a great day for sure. Matches start at 11am on Armstrong and many of the outer courts (a handful start later). You absolutely can leave your seats without fear of judgement to go check out exciting stuff you want to see happening elsewhere. And yes, with your ticket you can stay as late as you want and go back to access the unreserved section of LA for evening session if you wish. Finally, yes, there’s definitely more merch at the site than you see online! PJ
Hey PJ,
My dad and I are going to the US Open for the first time. It’s been a lifelong dream for us so we’re definitely splurging on some court side seats. We have tickets to Louis Armstrong on our first day and I was hoping to get us night Arthur Ashe tickets for the same day. My question was, is there overlap between the daytime and evening sessions at Louis Armstrong and Arthur Ashe?
Hey Jas, excited for you! There usually isn’t overlap on Days 1-6 of the tournament, because Armstrong also has separate Day and Night sessions like Ashe– and they try to start evening sessions in both stadiums on time. It’s only Day 7 and 8 when Armstrong has just session (but usually 4 matches) when there’s some overlap. Even on those days, I’ve often bought reserved seats in Armstrong AND Ashe evening session, occasionally leading to some painful moments where I had to tear myself away from Armstrong or miss the first few games of something on Ashe, but never with… Read more »
Hi, P.J. I always come back to this article when it’s time to buy USO tickets. It has served me well over the last 2 years. I am looking to buy tickets once again this year but they seem to have become more expensive. I have gone on labor day weekend over the last 2 years and got decently priced tickets for Monday day session in 2021 and Monday night session last year, I am looking to go on labor day weekend once again this year but ticket prices seems to be keep increasing. Should I buy them asap or… Read more »
Hey Aakash, welcome back and so glad to hear that! Prices are up — but in addition, Ticketmaster now (thankfully!) is now displaying prices WITH fees from the very start (versus adding them at checkout), so that sometimes makes it appear even worse. For Monday Labor Day night session (one that I’ve targeted almost every year myself), I’d personally counsel waiting and keeping an eye out for some standards to get released or some nervous resellers to lower prices (no guarantees of course, but that’s what I’d do). Monday Day is a bigger question mark – but my guess is… Read more »
Hey, P.J., thanks for your response. I meant to say I am shooting for a 2nd round/3rd round game too which would be Wednesday/Thursday. Would you suggest waiting for buying tix for those days? I am not able to go to the Monday night session as it isn’t conducive for a friend. We are torn between either Saturday/Sunday/Monday of that weekend. What would be your recommendation? If we go saturday/sunday should we snap up tix asap as prices seem to be going up.
Hey Aakash, unfortunately it’s really impossible to predict what will happen with prices – it varies every year, always surprises. There usually isn’t a lot of movement for the Sat/Sun sessions, always very high demand. The rest of the sessions are always pretty unpredictable! PJ
Hey, P.J. thanks for your response. I ended up grabbing grandstand tickets for Wednesday, Section 6, row B. Do these seats usually get shade and do you think I should venture onto LA unreserved and other outer courts during the day when the seats I have for grandstand seem to be practically on the court and I get to see 4 games in grandstand? Also, I am torn between grabbing an Armstrong night session on Thursday(first few rows) versus an Armstrong day session on Labor day(Section 4-8 middle rows but more expensive). Is the Armstrong experience at night worth it… Read more »
Hi Aakash, you’re most welcome. Those are going to be sweet seats. You won’t, however, get any shade – there’s virtually nowhere in courtside Grandstand that gets shade. But at least you’ll have the sun at your back in the hottest time of the afternoon since you’re on the West side. As for whether to leave your seats, depends entirely if there are other matches that interest you… As a general rule, I’d say yes, venture out and explore a bit – and take breaks! You’ll have so many options for matches on Grandstand and play will likely continue into… Read more »
Part of the “privilege” of having the first few rows of Armstrong is getting to walk up 28-30 steps every friggin’ time you want to leave you seat for a drink/bite/bathroom etc…. It’s a horribly designed stadium which replaced one of the greatest courts in tennis. It makes me very sad. 🥲
I do miss the old Armstrong myself, and have similar reservations about the way Courtside is designed at Armstrong. But I do appreciate the fact that more folks can access Armstrong reserved seats than in previous years – and that it has a roof in case of rain and good ventilation. It’s not perfect, but still really like it.
Hey mate! Thanks for taking the time to write this awesome blog, was really helpful! This is my first time so if it weren’t for you I would’ve been sat in the blaring sun all day haha. Just booked my tickets for Ashe on the opening day. Can’t wait.
My only other question was: Is it guaranteed that the defending men’s champ always opens Ashe on the first day of the tournament? Just wanted to make sure me and my buddy can watch Carlitos 🙂
Hey Zachary! You’re so welcome, great to hear that!! It is NOT guaranteed that any player will play on any particular day. See my details on this under FAQ #1, orange button about “how to make educated guesses.” Carlitos became my favorite player last year when I saw him from the front row at Ashe during R1, so I’ll be prioritizing his sessions too. For that reason, I’m waiting until the Day 1 and 2 schedule for Ashe is posted on the Friday before the tournament; that way, I can apply my full budget to the best seats available for… Read more »
Great tips on your website PJ. Thank you. Wanted to ask where the General Admission areas are in Armstrong. Also why are there no tickets for sale in the upper deck of Armstrong except for sections 101,112,113 and 114.
Hey Scott, sorry for delayed reply – just replying now to many comments in the queue and didn’t see this when I replied to your first comment. The GA seats are in the upper deck except, but they do have some reserved in that upper deck as you see in those 100-level sections (cheaper than courtsides). PJ
Hey PJ! Loved this article so much, I want to go to the games with you this year!
Thank you, Rachel!
Hi PJ, my son and I were planning to go this year to celebrate my 50th. We’ve never been, and he’s never been to NY. But I fear we dropped the ball by not buying tickets earlier. I read many of the comments and it seems you agree that prices are significantly higher this year. That being said, do you think prices will go down still? Have u seen them go down yet and have you seen any standard tix get released? It’s tough planning from the other side of the country when we don’t have tickets and our primary… Read more »
Hey Robert, thanks for your kind words! So the frustrating short answer to your question is: they might, but no way to know for sure; and the likelihood depends on the many variables, including which particular day/stadium you’re looking at. I live in NYC and I can tell you that every year I do a combination of getting some tickets in advance (when I spot great deals) and also wait until the last minute because I have some flexibility and want to make decisions based on who gets scheduled for various sessions. For instance, this year I decided to splurge… Read more »
Hi PJ, my wife and I will be attending our first US Open on Monday September 4th and your Tips are great. I noticed that Ground Pass and Louis Armstrong Stadium tickets give you first come first served access to General Admission areas of the Louis Armstrong Stadium. There are no matches in the Grandstand that day since it is the field of 16. Can you please tell me where the General Admission areas are in the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Thank you so much.
Kind Regards,
Scott Armstrong
Chicago, IL
Hi Scott, thanks! There actually will be matches in Grandstand on Day 8, but only Doubles (see this detailed breakdown of what was on various show courts from last year, which is illustrative of what to expect). Armstrong General Admission seats are on the second level; this virtual venue map gives you a sense. PJ
Hey, I would like to buy semifinal tickets of Friday and right now for day ticket it is showing Men’s double/semifinal, which means if I buy this ticket I can watch both the games? It was little confusing to me. Thanks for the help.
Hi Priam, yes it’s a bit confusing. There are 2 separate ticketed sessions on that Friday: (1) DAY, which includes one of the men’s singles semis following a doubles match; and (2) EVE, which includes only the second men’s singles semi. So if you get the Day ticket, you can go to both the doubles and the men’s singles semi. PJ
Hello – Thank you so much for such a comprehensive blog on navigating the Open. This year will be our first time to attend; we’re very excited! I purchased 2 tickets for Armstrong for Day 1, morning session (section 7, row H) I’m second-guessing myself now if this was a smart thing to do? You mention in the blog that on the first day it’s fairly possible to get a General Admission seat on Armstrong/Grandstand. So maybe we should have done that? How does someone know which seats are available for General Admission? If we want to stay for evening… Read more »
Hey Lauren, thanks for your thanks! First, section 7 is one of my faves at LA and an 8th row seat in that section is awesome. Yes, it’s usually pretty easy to get a GA seat in Armstrong that day– but (1) you can only access Courtside level with a reserved seat, and it’s a really wonderful thing to be down in that section and so close to the players because Armstrong is a big stadium; (2) you’ll be able to be more efficient with your time if you want to leave your seat to go check out action on… Read more »
Hi there
What a brilliant and comprehensive blog.
Do you know when current holders of the US open normally play? E.g mens winner plays on first day, day session? Thanks
Hi Phillip, thank you! I’ve got a detailed explanation of how that works under FAQ #1 — click the orange button “Learn how to make educated guesses about who plays when.” The short answer: there is no way to start making any predictions until the Friday before the tournament when they release the schedule for Day 1 and 2. PJ
Hey PJ: Last year I didn’t purchase any tickets before July 31 and then another set of tickets during the 2nd week of August–and I got great seats on Ashe for day sessions on the first Tues and Wed of the tournament. I’m feeling a little uncomfortable about waiting that long this year. We always have the added stress of finding 3 seats together –there are usually far more 2 seats selections. I’ve been watching the prices of certain seats over the past couple weeks and the tickets I’m tracking are only going up in price! And I’m definitely noticing… Read more »
Hey there, it’s such a personal decision about when to purchase, as there are so many variables and no way to predict what will happen with the release of additional standard tickets or prices on the resale market. My advice is always to get very familiar with the average prices for dates/sessions of interest before rushing into a purchase, but to act when you see what appears to be a decent deal within your budget for seats you’re excited about. Sometimes it pays to wait but there are no guarantees and, as you’ve noted, sometimes prices do go up. Prices… Read more »
I assume no way to know when they will release more standard tickets right?
Hey Korbyn, correct – unfortunately it is entirely unpredictable and varies from session to session, stadium to stadium. For instance, I saw 8 front row Grandstand standards pop up this morning (Jul 22) for Day 1 — and they were gone within 30 minutes. Also saw a handful of new standard courtsides released for Ashe today (pricey, but one is front row behind the server). PJ
Awesome blog! Will be my first US Open visit this year ( we are from germany ). And your blog is the best that i can imagine to get prepared. Already got some nice ticket deals for 2nd and 3rd round.
We got Night Session Tickets for friday, sept1 on courtside 17 in arthur ashe for only 150$ each…sounds almost too good to be true. Hope its no scam haha.
But Thanks again! I am pumped!
Sebastian
Hey Sebastian, danke schoen! However, I must say that sounds very (very) suspicious. Let me know if you’d like me to help verifying… PJ
Hey PJ! Hope all is well with you and work isn’t driving you crazy! Question is: Given the men’s star power this year (Nole, Carlos,) which men do you expect to play in Ashe the first 2 days/nights? I know there is no guarantee. Also, how many matches are played on the day session on Ashe. I’ve seen years when 3 have been played, but it looks like it’s 2 recently. I ask b/c I see a resale ticket for Ashe Day at a very good price for loge behind server. In a shady section! I think I am going… Read more »
Hey Courtney!! 1) 100% Novak and Carlitos will be scheduled exclusively on Ashe. Almost certainly Medvedev too. Good chance they’d put either Tiafoe or Fritz, depending on the matchup. Beyond that, anyone’s guess! 2) Only 2 matches per session on Ashe now (1 men’s 1 women’s) – they made that formal change a couple years ago to make sure evening matches stay on schedule (only exception: if excessive rain they will try to play 3 on Ashe Day). 3) First day almost certain chance of getting a GA seat in Arm or Grandstand as long as you plan: for Men’s… Read more »
“Only 2 matches per session on Ashe now (1 men’s 1 women’s)” Sucks for the “serious fans.” For decades we had 4 matches in Ashe (then 3 😡) and they’d very often go so late you could just “stick around” for the night matches. Gratis — if you were truly a “serious fan.” With two matches (😡😡) not only 50% less matches but people wind up elsewhere so it makes the field courts much more crowded and much less pleasant. You need Ashe to siphon the “I must see Roger even if I have to sit in the stars” type… Read more »
Thank you so much as always. I have decided, with much anxiety, to wait until the Friday before, when the schedule is announced, to buy. My goal is to see matches that will be competitive and the likelihood that anything on Ashe will be is low… except that Alcaraz-Baez match we were both at last year was, surprisingly!
The waiting is the hardest part… as the song goes.
Take care!
Sounds great, and I will be doing the same!
What a great article on US open! Learned so much from it tonight on how to navigate through the ticket purchase! I live in Ottawa Canada and am planning to go with my 6-year old. It seems that all loge tickets are gone by scalpers … I’m debating if I should get a ticket around 500 there now or wait …
Hey Sandy, thank you! That’s not the case for every session, but it is true that for most sessions you need to go to the resale market. Which session are you looking at specifically? Prices vary a ton depending on the session… PJ
Hey P.J.,
Thanks so much for your awesome blog!! I am looking to purchase day tickets for Armstrong on Aug 31st. We have a budget, but as first timers and looking at current tickets and prices, what would recommend on section, etc?
Thanks!!
Reagan
Hi Reagan, you’re welcome! Sorry not to reply sooner. If it were today, I’d recommend Section 7 Row M standard tickets ($254) because (1) you’ll likely experience a good deal of shade and (2) it’s a great section and you will almost certainly be able to sneak up to empty lower seats in that same section (this is not officially allowed, but generally acceptable practice among fans as long as you do it within the same section that you have tickets in and you’re ready to move immediately if actual ticketholders show up). PJ
Hello P.J. First, thank you so much for sharing with us all this precious infos. I’ve been trying to find out all these things that you posted here and was having real trouble! Im just really glad i didn’t buy the tickets before seeing this. I’m from Brazil and a huge tennis fan, this will be my first tennis event ever! Im really excited and want to make the most of this experience. I have only one day and will be on the 30th, second round. I read everything and also some comments here and wanted to ask you a… Read more »
Oi Martina, sorry I couldn’t reply sooner! 1) YES – I have done that on many occasions and so happy I did. A great thing about evening Armstrong: you don’t have to worry about sun, so recommend strongly getting a seat as close up as you can. 2) It’s totally safe to stay late at the US Open and take either Subway or LIRR back into the city – then grab a cab to wherever you’re staying. 3) YES – you can show up to your reserved seat any time, as late as you want, and come and go as… Read more »
Thank you so much for your answer! I didn’t buy my tickets yet, now I’m considering buying armstrong day session and ashe evening session. I know there is no guarantee top players will play evening session, but thats what im guessing. Saw a courtside ticket on ashe, sideline 15, row K and im thinking on buying it because of all courtside tickets available, is the one i can afford and i guess is better a courtside anywhere than upper seats, right? Do you think it’s a good idea or there are better loge seats that i should aim instead of… Read more »
Hi Martina, sure thing! Sorry for the delayed reply. A few things: (1) For Aug 30, you’ll likely see a big name on Ashe both Day and Evening (no guarantee the bigger name will be evening) (2) There is no row K in Ashe courtside: be sure to double check before you purchase. That is either a false advertisement or perhaps you jotted down the information incorrectly. Yes, courtside Ashe seats are amazing and much better than Loge or higher. (3) Armstrong Courtside sections 1-7 are great. Totally personal preference. I usually prefer sitting near the baseline as close as… Read more »
Hi PJ, about the ashe courtside, guess I didn’t understand it very well, was navigating on stubhub and probably got some information wrong. Anyway, just bought my tickets on ticketmaster and wanted to thank you for the help and all the shared knowledge with this article. Thanks!
My pleasure, Martina, hope you have an amazing experience! PJ