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.












Why would there still be standard tickets left on ticketmaster? There seem to be barely any– does this mean they aren’t ideal?
Hi Lauren, it’s all a function of supply and demand and whether USTA has released (as they often do, unpredictably, no rhyme or reason) additional standard tickets closer to the event. Doesn’t mean they aren’t ideal, but as I mention in my post every once in a while you will see resale options that are actually better deals.
Hi PJ – Any idea what is driving the much higher than normal resale prices this year? Trying to decide whether I commit and buy now or at this price wait to see what the weather looks like!
Hey there, I think it’s a combo of (1) post-COVID crisis everyone is willing to travel and take more risks in crowds; (2) there’s rising excitement (finally!) about the new generation of stars, including and especially Carlitos – and the prospect of Novak v Carlos final is probably on a lot of folks’ mind; (3) USTA raised standard prices across the board again, which coupled with dynamic pricing for standards and heavy demand is driving up prices on resale market; (4) ticketmaster is displaying all tickets WITH fees this year for the first time, as opposed to waiting to show… Read more »
Hi I was wondering what your opinion was on getting tickets for Louis Armstrong on Sunday the 3rd. The tickets right now seem around $500 total for a decent seat, which seems higher than usual. Do you think it’ll go down closer to when the tournament starts or would you say it would be a better deal to go with a grounds pass for around 200?
Hi there, unfortunately no way to predict on the pricing or availability. Last year it did not pay to wait for that particular session, according to my notes. That said, lowest resales including fees were hovering around $350 and ranging up to around 650 for killer seats. I’m not a fan of grounds passes in general for reasons I outline in the post, but especially not for Labor Day weekend.
We have Sep 2 night session tickets for Ashe but have not bought grounds passes yet to come for the day. Can we buy grounds passes at the ticket office onsite the morning of Sep 2? What do they cost?
Hi John, unfortunately no way to predict price or availability – it can vary a ton year to year and there’s no transparency to the system. Sorry!
Thanks PJ. Sounds like tickets are trading like a commodity with TicketMaster being the main exchange. Currently GA tickets for Sep 2 are at least $200 (on StubHub). Is there a face value price if they make more available for that day (non-resale tix) that can be bought at the BJK ticket office?
Hi John, the box office on site doesn’t have any other tickets beyond what appears on the main Ticketmaster website – so if they aren’t shown on the site, they won’t have any others at the box office. They sometimes release more closer to or day of, but there is unfortunately no predictability or transparency to the process. PJ
Two more quick questions. Can you buy an evening ticket and enter during the day session to observe the grounds
And does a water bottle count as a “bag” or Dan we go thru the express entrance. Thank you!!
Hi Fran, unfortunately not. Entry for evening ticket is 6pm. And with just a water bottle yes you can go through express line!
Hi pj, very helpful info. I’ve been watching the Ticketmaster site last two weeks and procrastinated. Prices are way up. If I’m trying to go next wed thru Friday, should I take a chance and wait for prices to go down next week or will it sell out?
Hey Fran, the chances of any session “selling out” — meaning no resale tickets are available at all — are exceptionally slim. I’ve only seen that happen a couple times in the past with sessions involving Federer and Serena. Your chances of finding a good lower-priced ticket for Wed and Thurs (Round 2) are much higher than for Friday (R3), as demand for Friday historically is always really really strong regardless of who plays. I can’t emphasize enough there are no sure ways to predict and it’s like playing the stock market!
Thanks so much for this amazing guide! Is there any way to get an evening reserved seating stadium ticket and also get grounds access? From everything I’m reading, it appears that only the day stadium tickets come with grounds access. Am I misreading, or is that correct?
Hi there, you’re welcome! This is a common point of confusion: any ticket of any kind gives you grounds access (via the East or South Gate). And once you enter the grounds you can stay as long as you want. A reserved seat in a stadium ALSO gives you access to that seat for a specific session.
Aha, that is NOT at all clear on the main Ticketmaster US Open page. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
howdy PJ. thank you for all the helpful detailed info on your site!
gf and i are going to one of the night sessions but we havent bought tickets yet. we dont really care who we see play, we just want to experience attending the us open for a few hours.
my strategy is to to buy tickets on stubhub once we arrive at the stadium at 6pm. hopefully prices will have dropped by then.
which night would you recommend? and would you recommend arthur ashe or louis armstrong? lastly any other recommendations to optimize our experience?
Hey Roger, my pleasure! My answer would depend in part on your budget and how hardcore you are about tennis… If you honestly don’t care about who you see, then I’d probably recommend Armstrong courtside tickets next Wed (Round 2, cheaper than Thurs evening also round 2 just because of proximity to weekend). Target one of the closest rows you can get in Section 6 or 7. There are actually some great standard seats available for those sessions now and you’re unlikely to find comparable cheaper on resale market if you wait. You could also wait until the day before… Read more »
got tix! wednesday 8/30 7pm louis armstrong sec 7 row f seats 5+6
thank u PJ!
Roger, those are going to be SWEET seats. You’ll feel like you’re practically on court with the players. Have a blast and let me know what you think!
we plan to arrive 545 so we can enter promptly at 6 and wander around before our matches start. do you have any suggestions for food at the venue? or should we bring sandwiches with us? and is it okay to eat at our seats during the match? or will that be frowned upon by those seated around us? we want to be good US open citizens 😊
Hey Roger, sounds great. Just FYI if you arrive at 545 you may not be able to enter right at 6pm – just depends on how backed up security is and how quickly lines are moving… but you’ll still have plenty of time to leisurely make your way to a 7pm match. For food, there are many options but it’s really expensive – with prices up this year even over last. Tonight I paid $25 for a Poke bowl in the food court between Armstrong and Ashe – totally delicious and really great protein, but a LOT. Most sandwiches/ bowls/… Read more »
Hi PJ, Great information. I’ve been going to the open every year for the past 15 years, and your guide is spot on! I have an additional question. I have Ashe day session tickets for day 2 (Tuesday, Aug 29). I mainly just go to side courts. Anyways, I got assigned to a super important Zoom meeting from 5-7pm that I must attend/be present for on that day. I can do it on my phone, bht need some quiet. Do you know if it’s possible to leave the actual grounds (and sit in Flushing Meadows park) and re-enter with my… Read more »
Hey EK, thanks so much – means a lot coming from a seasoned fan!! So the really frustrating thing about that while you can leave and re-enter as much as you want throughout the day, you must re-enter BEFORE 6pm (they’ll stamp your hand). I think that’s in part because of the madness of evening session ticket holders coming in around that time (gates open for evening at 6pm). Sorry not to have better news! PJ
Thanks for the quick reply, PJ! Super helpful, although disappointing 😂. Follow-up: it says no computers or laptops, but do you have experience bringing in an ipad? Also, any advice on a very quiet area of the grounds if I do end up staying in there? I have an Amex, so maybe the lounge?
Hey EK, you’re so welcome and sorry again to be the bearer of bad news! Yes, iPads are allowed and I’ve brought one myself. I’ve only been briefly in the Centurion Lounge and honestly wasn’t paying enough attention to notice if there were any areas quiet enough for a Zoom call… Maybe try calling the box office on site this week (now that they’re open) and asking someone there if they might have a rec?? (718) 760-6363
The regular Amex lounge is loud as there are tons of people and many interactive games/activities to do. I’d recommend going to an area behind Courts 12-16. It’s less traveled with not much foot traffic. The problem is that wherever you go on the grounds, you’ll hear the score being announced by the chair, and the occasional roar of the crowd. You will find a quiet spot by the East Gate entrance, as that’s away from the courts. But there are no tables/chairs – there are places to sit with no back support but you’ll have people walking in the… Read more »
Hey Tom, agreed and thank you!!
Totally — I agree on all these fronts. I went to qualifiers yesterday to scope things out and ultimately decided that I’ll just need to leave at 4:45pm and be mentally OK with that. It will be too loud on the grounds. It’s all good. I walked outside of the grounds and sat next to the Queens Museum and picked up their wifi (free), which worked very well.
I was going to mention the areas behind courts 12-16 too and I agree with Tom’s info. I have often had to take calls at the Open and scramble to find. Sometimes near the practice courts it can be quiet but I’m not sure about a 2-hour conf call (mine were usually 15-20 min call). Good luck.
Adding to what Tom says below, Court 16 is usually not scheduled for match play during the main draw (barring rain-delay catchup days) so those stands could be empty or almost empty, although I think it still gets used for player practice sessions. But I may have captured something interesting in one of my photos from last year (copy posted at https://imgur.com/a/LtGZKgT). The alley directly behind the backstops of Courts 15-16 appears to have a couple of picnic tables tucked in there (red umbrellas visible). Maybe something to scope out prior to your call.
Awesome, thanks Chris!
I’ve seen these before! Yeah, they’re a strange little nook, but it’s still a bit loud and precarious for the meeting I have to be in. It’s all good!
Just a few things know: The regular Amex Lounge is noisy! There are kids games, music blaring and large screen TVs to watch matches.
When you walk in, go upstairs and there is a sort of quiet balcony with couches and a few bar tables and chairs.
You might be better finding a quiet spot outdoors, weather looks great! (per Tom’s suggestions).
Also, wi-fi isn’t always consistently great, so if you don’t have a hot spot, just know you might have a bit if frustration with the wi-fi.
Courtney, GREAT cautionary point about wifi and cell service, kicking myself for not thinking of that.
Thanks, Courtney! Yes, I totally agree with the wifi and data on the grounds itself. It’s all spotty. I’ll have to just leave the grounds early and hang out, which is all good. I found that right next to the Queens Museum there is free wifi and it is solid! I tested it yesterday.
Hi PJ, Thank you so much for this resource! I’m bringing my 85-year-old mom for our first US Open. This is her “chance of a lifetime” to see her favorite sport. Thinking of splurging on Night Session tix on Arthur Ashe on Sunday, Sept 3. Should we opt for different day, session or court that same weekend?
Hey Melody, that is wonderful of you! Tricky question – depends a lot on whether she’s OK being a night owl for the night, and whether you’re planning to take public transport or not. Night sessions usually go until at least 11:45/Midnight – with the first match starting around 7:20pm (after warm up) and the second match almost never starting before 9pm. And Fri, Sat, and Sunday night that weekend are Mets home games, parking and traffic will be even worse than normal. Just looked at each Ashe session situation for that weekend and, as always, Friday-Mon day prices are… Read more »
These details are incredibly helpful, thank you! Unfortunately, we will be out-of-town tourists ourselves, so Monday night won’t be possible. But I’m going to keep all of your other recommendations in mind as I look for tix – thanks again!
You’re welcome! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have other questions as you explore the options.
Hey PJ I’m here again another year, thank you for this blog, do you know what time they post the practice schedule
Hey Jose! I haven’t tracked systematically so not sure, but I think usually by late afternoon the day before (with a lot more additions and changes on the morning of). I’m surprised there’s nothing up now (8pm Mon) for tomorrow yet!
Hello – Thank you for all that you’ve done and continue to do for all of us tennis fans! I will be attending the Open for the first time and am super-excited. We have tickets for Monday Aug 28. We plan to go to the practice session on Sunday Aug 27. We signed up for Fan Access, so we should be good to go. But, I don’t see any additional information regarding the practice session. I thought I had read that it was from 10am-3pm, but I don’t see that information any more. Is there a way to find out… Read more »
Hey Lauren, you’re welcome and so glad to hear it’s helpful! The practice schedule won’t be announced until the day before (and updated morning of) – download and check the US Open app then, and/or check this page on the US Open site. PJ
If I have only a reserved seat ticket for Armstrong day session, can I stay until the night session to see if there are any empty seats I could sit for the night matches?
Hi PT, just like any other ticket holder, once you’re in the grounds you can access unreserved seats for any stadium/ court on a first-come basis (except Ashe, where all seats are reserved) – but you’ll have no special privileges for evening Armstrong access because of your day ticket. You should have no problem getting seats though!
How hard is it to get GA unreserved seats in Louis Armstrong during R16 games? What is that process like? Thinking about getting ticket to Ashe but bouncing over either before or after Ashe matches depending on if we have day or night session. Is it impossible to get 2 together?
Hi Erik, depends entirely on the match… Men’s singles matches with any popular players can be mob scenes requiring you to get there well before the match. Monday tends to be a bit lighter than Sunday. I’ve quite often gotten Day Armstrong and Ashe Night for Sun/Mon R16 so I have the flexibility, but it can be an expensive proposition (esp this year!). If you target a men’s match, definitely would recommend heading over no later than the end of the 1st set of a preceding women’s singles match – or earlier if a really popular women’s match is on.… Read more »
I bought two tickets to the Men’s Final last night on Ticketmaster at $37/each for section GA4. Did I just get a grounds pass? I’m from Texas and I’m bringing my daughter and I’m worried we might not be able to get in the stadium. Next cheapest ticket was close to $700 each with fees. If it is a grounds pass, why would they sell that on the final Sunday? Is there any chance of getting in the stadium with these tickets? Thanks for the great writeup and any help!
Hi Jacob, yes that’s unfortunately just a grounds pass – and no, unfortunately no way to get into Ashe Stadium with that ticket. The Men’s Final ticket prices this year are the highest I’ve ever seen them — partly fueled by the hope (which I share) that we’ll see a Novak-Carlitos final — although they were super high last year too. Last year, for comparison’s sake, the cheapest standard (non-resale) Promenade-level ticket in Row J for the Men’s Final was $552, and front-row Promenade resale tickets were going for $665-925 around this time. The GA ticket will get you into… Read more »
I bought two tickets to the Men’s Final last night on Ticketmaster at $37/each for section GA4. Did I just get a grounds pass? I’m from Texas and I’m bringing my daughter and I’m worried we might not be able to get in the stadium. Next cheapest ticket was close to $700 each with fees. If it is a grounds pass, why would they sell that on the final Sunday? Is there any chance of getting in the stadium with these tickets? Thanks for the great writeup and any help!
Hi Jacob, yes that’s unfortunately just a grounds pass – and no, unfortunately no way to get into Ashe Stadium with that ticket. The Men’s Final ticket prices this year are the highest I’ve ever seen them — partly fueled by the hope (which I share) that we’ll see a Novak-Carlitos final — although they were super high last year too. Last year, for comparison’s sake, the cheapest standard (non-resale) Promenade-level ticket in Row J for the Men’s Final was $552, and front-row Promenade resale tickets were going for $665-925 around this time. The GA ticket will get you into… Read more »
Thank you P.J.! This is incredibly helpful! Based on your advice we got standard tickets for Sep 4th Louis Armstrong round of 16 with seats Sec 8 Row N and for Sep 8th semi-final day session with seats in Sec 135 row N. Could you pls tell us how you can think about these seats (in terms of shade)? Also, we are still thinking about getting a semi-final night session ticket but it may be too expensive to afford… Do you think the semi-final day session will at least guarantee us to see one of those big names especially Djokovic… Read more »
Hey Stan, you’re welcome! You should have near-total (or total) shade the entire day in both stadiums for those seats! And yes, assuming Nole and Carlos make it, you’ll see one in the afternoon (they will be in opposite halves of the draw because they are #1 and #2 in the world, and they always put #1 and #2 in opposite halves — ditto for #3 and #4 in the world). My bet is they’ll put the Carlos match on evening if both make it to the semis, but it’s really anyone’s guess. Enjoy!!
How big can my drawstring bag be
12x12x16″
Hi there. What is the best time to arrive for a 7pm night session. Can I enter before 7?
Hi Deb, you can enter the US Open grounds at 6pm either via East or South gates with an evening session ticket. Entry to Ashe or Armstrong night sessions usually is available shortly after that (depends on what time the Ashe or Armstrong Day session ends).
This site helps so much– Thank you for constantly maintaining it and answering so many questions!! It seems like this year’s prices are crazy! I know there’s no way to truly know what will happen, but I trust and am interested in your opinion. We can only attend Sept 1 and are on a limited budget. As it stands, it looks like an Ashe promenade day ticket, for a group of 3, is $270-300/ticket. Because we’re a group of 3, do you think it is best to pay this price now or do you feel prices will decrease over the… Read more »
Hi Ashley, so glad to hear that and thanks for your thanks! Yes, crazy is a good word for the prices this year. I usually make the call about “when” based on a read of how many tickets are still available (both resale and standard). There are still quite a few resale tickets available for that day –including entire rows– and prices are on average way higher than last year for that session (last year there were really good resale options for 140-160 in promenade). If it were me, I’d probably hold off a bit. There’s always a risk you… Read more »
PJ-
$170 cheapest Promenade resale for Day 1, Ashe. Ditto for grounds passes.
Grandstand appears almost sold out of resale tickets for Day 1.
What is going on with the prices this year? Why are they so crazy?
I know, it’s insane. Men’s Semis and Finals are off the charts. I got tickets for Semis this year on the resale market very early and I’m glad I did – they’re now going for 2x what I paid for them (and I’ve never splurged on semis before so I am not giving them up!!). I think it’s a combo of (1) post-COVID crisis everyone is willing to travel and take more risks in crowds; (2) there’s rising excitement (finally!) about the new generation of stars, including and especially Carlitos – and the prospect of Novak v Carlos final is… Read more »
PJ – thanks so much for the insights! Do you know if a Louie Armstrong ticket on Sept 4 (Labor Day) gets you a reserved seat for all four matches at Armstrong that day and evening? I don’t see that they’re selling night session tickets so I believe that’s the case. Thank you!
Hi John, YES – that’s why that day (and the Sunday prior) are my favorite days to go to Armstrong: Round of 16 action, no night session – so you get a ton of value. PJ
Hi PJ, Thank you for this amazing resource. I have read it last year, and came back again this year as I’m planning my first US open attendance. I see Loge 106, 107, 134 and 121 in the 300$ range. Would you mind recommending me the order of your preference for these sections? Again, is it worth waiting till the morning on Aug 31st or Sept 1st to grab last minute Ashe resale tickets? Thank you in advance.
Hi Anil, you’re welcome and great to hear from you again! If a Day session, I’d recommend in this order due to shade: 134, 121, 106, 107. As for timing, really really hard to give good advice. My counsel on waiting is only strong when folks prioritize particular players: it almost always pays to wait until the day before if your #1 priority is to see a particular player, as you may end up paying a bit more if you wait but then you can splurge on 1 targeted session versus guessing and spreading your budget across multiple ones. Also,… Read more »
Thank you for your prompt response PJ. Really appreciate your passion towards tennis and helping the fan fraternity with you amazing blog. I did panic this morning as I saw tickets selling fast on all re-seller sites. I picked up 303F for Aug 31st on Vivid Seat for 153$ and $203 with fees included. The face value is $129.30. I believe I scored a match point assuming I will use the ticket as ground pass for most of the day. I will definitely keep an eye for last minute Courtside or Loge ticket on Sept 1st to 3rd (I leave… Read more »
Hey Anil, you are so welcome, such a pleasure when I hear the passion coming through from folks like you!! I’m so excited for you. Have an incredible time! PJ
Seems there are a limited number of Ground Passes sold at face value, as I seem some days they are no longer available on TicketMaster….and the Verified Resale versions of these seems to be considerably great than face value….at the current time. Do the prices for these Ground Passes drop as Day 1 nears? Or should I just keep tabs on cheap, nosebleed seats in Ashe instead?
Hi Pejmun. Unfortunately the grounds admission tickets are subject to the same “dynamic pricing” algorithm that other standard tickets are – so pricing is entirely a function of supply and demand. To make matters more confusing, USTA often releases additional grounds admission tickets over time (unpredictably) — so a session that appears sold out (e.g. currently the case for Tues Aug 29, where only resale grounds are available) could end up having more standards tomorrow or next week, driving resale prices down. History is at best a partial guide to making bets on whether prices will go up and down.… Read more »
Hello PJ, I trust your weekend is going wonderfully. I’ve already secured Ashe tickets for the full Labor Day weekend, spanning Sunday and Monday. I’m keen on adding the Armstrong experience to my tennis adventure, maximizing my exposure to the sport. What are your thoughts on investing between 250-350 USD for a Saturday night spot in Armstrong? Do you consider this price reasonable, or is it leaning toward the higher end of the spectrum?
Hey RJ, likewise! It is reasonable for that session, and I think you will love having that experience. Because it’s evening and you don’t have to worry about sun, consider lower seats on the east side (opposite umpire chair) as close as you can get to the baseline. Or behind the server seats if you prefer that vantage point.
Good morning PJ
Which one would you recommend, Section 15 Row E or Section 3 Row G? Or I can wait until the same day and maybe buy it at a lower price on Saturday morning?
15E!
Thanks for your time and expertise. I love Tennis super excited about going to Us open but by myself. So I got the first 2 days Day Sessions. Does that mean I only can watch day matches? Do I need to sign up for the matches I want to see? I did download the app. What time should I be there the first day? What court should I goto the first day ? My tickets just say day sessions 28 and 29th . Thanks in advance for your help.
Hey Colby, my pleasure and excited you’re excited! Once you scan your ticket to enter the grounds, you can stay as long as you want into the evening. But I’m not clear from your note about whether you purchased just a grounds admission ticket or one with a reserved seat in a stadium – can you give me more detail? If it doesn’t say Arthur Ashe (or Armstrong or Grandstand) then it’s just a ticket to access the first-come seating in all the courts except Ashe (there is no unreserved seating in Ashe). See my box #1 for a full… Read more »
Colby, Hi, I go every year by myself. I love saying hi to people from this group. If you have any interested in connecting, let PJ know. I’ve gotten some good tips from people last year and vice versa when we have communicated at the tournament.
have fun!
P.J. – Thank you for all the information. It is very helpful to us all. I am curious if in Section 17 in Armstrong if any of the seats remain in the shade throughout the afternoon? In your picture of the view from the corner, it seems that rows N or O and higher are still shaded guessing that the timing of the photo is mid afternoon by the shade on the west side. Also, would you recommend sitting in the higher rows on the corner versus courtside (row E-G) along the west sideline? I like the idea of a… Read more »
Hey Kathy, my pleasure! I think based on photos I have taken at various times of the day (but can’t be 100% sure) that the seats on the left half of section 17 as you’re looking from the back of that section (ie seats closer to section 18) above row J (5th row in the section) get shade almost the entire day. So N 11-12, for instance, are good seats that give you lots of shade even after 1:30/2pm when the shadow cast in the morning moves such that the first 9-10 rows in the section start getting a lot… Read more »
Good afternoon P.J.- Thank you! for all of the information on the corner sections. In the end I went with wanting to be as close to courtside as possible getting tickets in Section 5 Row F. We went a couple of years ago and sat in Section 5 and it did not disappoint. Had a wonderful time being so close. This year we will be sitting in Section 1 the first day and Section 5 second day. Hoping we will be able to attend the Open again in the near future I will keep your helpful information on the corner… Read more »
Kathy, my pleasure and sounds like an awesome plan – I love both of those sections. Have a blast!!
is getting a Grounds pass on Monday, September 4 for the round of 16 worth i?
Hi Lisa, check the 2022 schedule for Day 8 here to get a sense of what is on the non-Ashe courts that day. Some great doubles action on Grandstand that day and relatively easy to snag an unreserved seat there. If Armstrong singles matches would be your priority, for another $200 you could get a reserved seat in Armstrong and not have to worry about battling hordes for a general admission seat. PJ
The best article I’ve seen on buying US Open tickets, thank you! I’m planning to attend 2nd QF night session (or possibly the day one, if one my faves is scheduled then). I’m on a budget so I was hoping to score cheaper tickets last minute. Does that session seem likely to sell out before?
Thanks Laura!! It’s incredibly rare for any sessions to sell out such that there aren’t any resale tickets available. 2d QF night is always a very very high demand session, (versus QF day sessions, where last-minute deals can almost always be counted on) – so just know the risk is less about availability versus price… just no way to know. Sometimes you get lucky with a panicked seller lowering prices to try to get something back – other times they don’t budge. Keep an eye on the amount of tickets available between now and then… right now there’s still quite… Read more »
Is it safe to take the #7 back to Time Square after Night Sessions?
Yes!
Yes it’s quite safe but it’s a PITA. Take the LIRR to Penn and change to the subway one stop uptown to Times Square. Also, don’t stay anywhere near or go to Times Square which is one of the worst places on earth,
Hi! I revisit this awesome resource and your updates each year. What a wealth of information, thank you. Do you have any idea why one opening day grounds pass is double the cost of even the next two days?
Hi Georgina, thank you!! Apologies for the delayed reply. As of today, the situation has changed already… It’s all a function of supply and demand, because the grounds admission tickets are subject to the same “dynamic pricing” algorithm that other standard tickets are – so frustrating, because one might hope USTA would just allow their own standard prices to stay fixed with more pricing transparency, but they don’t. To make matters worse, they trickle out more over time and so a session that appears sold out (currently the case for Tues Aug 29, where only resale grounds are available) could… Read more »
Thank you for your response. Due to timing and a ride back to PA issue, I have to leave NYC by Friday night the 25th, so I made arrangements to be there Wed and Thurs of fan week this time and will try to get back to the tournament proper again next year. Wishing you and all here well.
Sounds great, Georgina. Did you see the Ukraine exhibition benefit in Armstrong this Wed night? There are still some tickets – strongly recommend if you can (I’ll be there myself).
they just sold out 🙁 do you know if they’ll release more tickets?
Hey there, unfortunately, there’s no way to predict. It’s always very haphazard. There’s a strong chance that they will, but one can never count on it.
Thank you! They did release tickets this morning, and I just scored a couple. It’s loge seating – any tips? thank you so much for such an amazing blog!! I am loving it.
You’re welcome and so great to hear it!! Have a blast!
Hey PJ, this site is incredible, so glad not to have waste money, time, etc. learning things the hard way, thanks so much for your work on this! Have been a tennis far for decades and will finally be seeing a slam in person for my 40th birthday. My wife and I are attending the first week and have tickets for Monday and Friday (see seats below). We’re also planning to go Tuesday and Thursday and would probably like to spend a little less for those days (but might be able to be talked up if a compelling argument was… Read more »
Hey Grant, that is great and happy early Birthday. For Monday, definitely plan on checking out matches on outer courts, which will continue well into the evening – Day 1 and 2 are so cool in that respect. For Tues: I’d recommend checking the US Open website and/or the app on Friday afternoon (Aug 25) for when they release the Ashe schedule for Day 1 and 2, and make a decision informed by that. For instance, it may be that one of your top 10 favorites is scheduled for Ashe on Tues PM and maybe you want to splurge on… Read more »
Got my tickets! Tell me how I did. The night session at Armstrong on Saturday 9/2 (round 3) for $160 (purchased July 27). There’s six of us and we got two sets of three tickets in consecutive rows in the middle of section 12 (lower bowl corner). AND a Grounds pass (again 6 of us) on the same day for $160 (purchased July 29). Pretty happy with it, especially lucking into the Grounds pass because otherwise it’s been consistently $250+.
Shawn, you did great! Standard tickets in that section now already up to $238. Ditto on the GA ticket. Enjoy!
PJ – Thanks for the great resource. I am attending for one day during the first week and driving from the DC area. For hotels and transportation, am I better off staying in Long Island City and taking the subway or staying near JFK airport and driving? If it makes a difference, I will be driving home in the evening after the day session.
Hey Scott, you’re most welcome. If you’re planning to drive, I’d recommend plotting out different options using Google maps to see what will work from hotels you’re considering. You might also consider a place in downtown flushing or Corona, where you could park and potentially walk to and from the Open.
Only park at the US Open if you are there on a day when you can park at Citi Field.
Otherwise, forget it.
We parked on a day when Citi Field was unavailable. NEVER AGAIN is my moto.
So amazing to see you have not let up for one second on your blog. Its really last minute and I’ll be pushing it, but I’m hoping to make it again this year to the open. As always thank you so much for your hard work. Gina
Hi Gina, very nice to hear from you – and thank you very much!
Hey PJ – want to get your 2c. I’m looking for Ashe day tix on Day 2 (something cheap in the top seats as I’m using it more as a grounds pass per your suggestion). Last year I got this for maybe $70. The prices now on resale all seem to be $200+! Do you anticipate these will drop by day of? I see a couple new standard tix pop up and they’re for $120 so wondering if I should just bite the bullet.
Hi again! If you see standards pop up I would probably recommend grabbing them – demand is sky high this year and there are comparatively fewer resale tickets than previous years for that session, which is a good indication that it’s riskier to wait.
PJ – thank you again for this amazing resource. I am in the same boat, looking for Day 2 tickets primarily for grounds and can’t believe the $200 price at the moment. I will monitor often and try to get the $120 price, but my question is this — is there any scenario you see that there is no resale market at all, and I get totally blocked out of going on Tuesday if I wait for the $120?
Hey Sean, my pleasure, thanks for your thanks! For grounds admission I actually have seen scenarios in the past where there are zero resales or standards available… But almost never have I seen Ashe or Armstrong or Grandstand without any resale tickets during day sessions (except for some Serena or Federer matches). So worst case scenario, you might end up having to go that route. PJ
Hi PJ – Amazing article! I have learned a lot and truly can’t thank you enough for taking the time to share your tips. This will be mine and my husband’s first USO and we can’t wait! We’re planning on going Sunday 9/3 during the day. Do you recommend buying Ashe tickets in the Lodge or get closer in LA? We’d ideally like to be close AND see some bigger names, but alas our budgets will not allow.
Thank you again for all that you do!
Hi Jessie, thank you and my pleasure! It’s really such a personal decision… For me, I’d say go with Armstrong on that Sunday: lots of tennis for the money (because only one session), and you’re likely to see some pretty big names (although definitely not Novak or Carlitos, for instance). It’s cool at Ashe to see the big stars in person – but the novelty can wear off pretty quickly from nosebleed seats in Promenade unless you’re seeing an absolutely favorite and enjoying the crowd dynamic. PJ
Is it possible to resell tickets as a european without us bank account?
Hi Sebastian, you can resell tickets on Stubhub and some other sites without a US bank account – but Ticketmaster requires a one. PJ
$200/day for Ground Passes?? That’s what I’m seeing.is that list, and will there be Grounds Passes available at the gate, day of on 8/28-29? 🤔
Hi Kristen, unfortunately the Grounds Admission tickets released by USTA are subject to the same dynamic pricing algorithm as the rest of the tickets – so prices can go up and down depending on supply and demand. No way to predict supply, because USTA often holds back quite a number and releases more as we get closer. However, there is no way to count on that. As always, I strongly recommend a cheaper Ashe Promenade-level ticket if you can find one over Grounds in case of rain.
Are some tickets still sold on the day of the event at the gate? I know this was the case a number of years ago but I don’t see mention of this option in your comprehensive guide. If so, do you have any recommendation for what time to arrive to score upper level Ashe tickets?
Hi Brian, unfortunately there’s no way to predict whether USTA will release more tickets on any given day. There is no standard practice in this regard, and it’s not a transparent process. In most cases, the box office on site is accessing the same inventory you see on Ticketmaster.
Thanks for the blog, it was very helpful for our first time at the US OPEN. We are only going one night – September 2. We are in Section 318 due to the budget. We are okay if we are high up but maybe next year we will get day tix. We are doing the night session but will be around the whole day. Will we be able to get food if we are not able to get in the grounds until 530-6pm? Is there anything else to do during the day around the US OPEN since we have a… Read more »
Hi Zee, my pleasure. Yes on the food question – my recommendation, though, is to check out the stands in the food village between the East Gate and Ashe rather than wait until you get into Ashe where options are more limited (stadium food like burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, etc). Sep 2 will be a day with big crowds on the grounds, but I’d recommend downloading the app and checking what matches on outer courts (esp Court 17) are still going on at 6 when you enter. Even seeing doubles on the outer courts up close is really cool.… Read more »
In the past I feel like a handful of standard tickets were released on the grandstand early each morning starting around August. But I’m not seeing it this year. There must be standard tickets left because there aren’t a lot of resales so I wonder what’s happening this year. Maybe they are releasing in the last week? I’m not nervous yet but I’m getting there 🙂
Hi Pat, my recollection isn’t as clear on that. Grandstand standards have been hard to come by for years, although I’ve noticed scattered ones released over the past couple weeks that usually get snatched up very quickly. There is a strong subscriber base for Grandstand tickets, so not a lot of inventory held in reserve by USTA. PJ
Yes and grandstand is a fantastic ticket to have with four matches in all great seats. There is one offer that stand out Wednesday session in section 1, one ticket at fourth dollars below the rest.
Hi PJ! Here me again! Thank you for all information. I just checked the US Open website and, regarding the LIRR train, I would like to know whether it stops in the same station of the subway, at the Mets-Willets Point Station. I ask this because in the website of the tournament says: “Long Island Rail Road: LIRR provides easy service to Mets-Willets Point Station from Woodside, and convenient connections from Penn Station for New Jersey Transit customers. For guests with disabilities, get off the LIRR train at 61st Street-Woodside Station and transfer to the 7 train. Take the 7… Read more »
Hi Ligia, the LIRR stops right near the East Gate of the US Open – the track is actually closer than the track for the 7 train, which is at the end of the boardwalk (another few minutes walk away from the US Open). However, you’re pointing out something new and important that I wasn’t aware of: it appears there isn’t an elevator or accessible option to get up from the tracks to the boardwalk from the Mets-Willets LIRR stop, only stairs. I apologize and will update my blog to reflect this!
I find it very surprising that you are running this blog and unaware that LIRR Mets stop is still NOT HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE 84 YEARS AFTER THEY BUILT IT. And 33 years after passage of the ADA. I fortunately don’t require it but as a local I find it an embarrassing outrage. This is not a poor city and this stop is the gateway to the Mets, the NTC and Flushing Meadows Park. Anyway, as you know, the LIRR stop is much further down the boardwalk and closer to the East Gate entrance than the gross #7 subway.
Thank you!! So, there is also no escalator (moving staircase)? Do you know whether the stairs is very big (many steps)? In any case, even though the subway exit is more far, it is accessible? Best and thank you again!!
Hi Ligia! There unfortunately is not with the LIRR, to the best of my recollection. I will double check when I’m there this Wed for the Ukraine benefit… The subway IS definitely accessible and really not that much further of a walk (just a few minutes). PJ
Did you think I was kidding when I said it’s not handicap accessible. There is no elevator. To get up (or down) the stairs you must navigate two sections of steps the bottom consisting of 16 steps and the top portion 14 steps. So 30 steps.
Thanks for the update! When you go there on Wed, could please inform whether the stairs of the LIRR Station are so many/high to climb? Thanks for everything!
Will do!
Hi Ligia! Sorry for not writing sooner… I counted and there are exactly 30 steps total on the stairs from the platform to the boardwalk area, right near the East Gate. The walk from the 7 train exit is only about 3-5 minutes (5 at a slow pace) to the same area where you’d exit the LIRR. PJ
Hi PJ!! Thank you for such an extensive and comprehensive article! Quick question – would you take Section 319 Row F, Section 309 Row J, or Section 322 Row H? Just curious
p.s. last year I was in Section 325 Row U and couldn’t see a damn thing 😅 so I understand that any of the aforementioned options will be an upgrade 😂
Hi Lena! I’d recommend 19F first, 322H second!
You were not missing anything not being in the lower promenade, which is just as awful. My advice for the promenade is don’t but if you do stay away from those godawful giant screens that blast the music. Or bring noise cancelling AirPods or similar. 🎧
Hi PJ, thank you for this great resource! I attended my first US Open last year and had a blast. (Was there on Tues 8/30/22 and tried to cram in as many matches as possible – I am an unserious, but enthusiastic, fan.) I would love to go again this year but would need to bring my infant with me (will be 5.5mo). Any pro tips from yourself or others on how to navigate these logistics? I am aware that children <2yo do not need to purchase tickets, and that there is some dedicated feeding space available – but if… Read more »
Hi there, you’re most welcome! This question is definitely outside my wheelhouse and I don’t have personal experience or know anyone who has posted details… This article may help? Enjoy!
Thanks, this is helpful!
I can’t think of a worse place to bring a 5.5 month baby than the USO. The heat can be absolutely oppressive. And I think we will have a very hot one this year looking at current forecasts. If you insist on this terrible idea go to kids day when they have the water fans going and no one gets bothered if your baby is crying during a match because there aren’t any.
Was wondering what you thought of section 17, Armstrong lower rows? From the map it looks a bit recessed. Are there any obstructions that you know of? Thank you!
-Steve
Hi Steve, that section is fine and no obstructions – but I’d avoid the first two rows in that section simply because there may be those transparent plastic guardrails that aren’t really obstructions but can be a little annoying. PJ
What is the name of the restaurant on the grounds where you can make a reservation and not wait online for dinner?
Hi Rita, I may be mistaken but I don’t believe any restaurants outside the Club Level of Ashe (which requires Courtside tickets) accepts advance reservations online. Others will take your name on site for waiting lists, but I think seating is on a first-come basis. Any other readers know something I’m missing?
Hello I’m so glad for this blog my husband and I we road everything every year, for this year I would like to know for the fan week there’s anyway that we can reserve a spot to see practices if so where we can reserve? Thanks so much
Hey Karen, thanks! No need to reserve anything during fan week – you can just show up and check out practices as you want (for free!). It’s such a great week to go, can’t recommend more highly. Definitely check out some of the qualifier matches while you’re there; world-class play with a lot of rising stars. Just be sure to download the app and/or check out the website the morning of for practice schedule details. PJ
Hello,
I’m looking to attend the men’s semis on Fri sept 8. If I get day tickets, it’ll be at 3pm? I also see a men’s doubles final that day. Would I have access to both events? I’m wondering why the evening semi costs more than the daytime ticket.
Hi Geneve, your day ticket for men’s semis on Sept 8 will enable you to enter the grounds at 11am, go to your Ashe seats if you wish and catch the Men’s Doubles Finals at Noon, then ALSO see the first of the 2 men’s semifinals (no earlier than 3pm). Evening semis is more expensive because demand is higher (and because many fans know they historically put the most coveted, ratings-friendly semifinal match on for the evening). Note: this is not the case for earlier rounds, where they tend to spread the biggest stars across Day and Evening sessions in… Read more »
Hey PJ, First off fantastic blog. I am a very avid tennis fan, always wanted to go in person but couldn’t make it all these years. So this year, I am taking three days off from work and planning to fly into NYC on Aug 29 -31 to experience my first ever in person match. i checked Ticketmaster, tickets are expensive this year(like others posted). Given my budget I am thinking of buying noon tickets on Aug 30 for Ashe stadium so I can witness at least couple of matches. Is this a good idea? Also, can I buy ground… Read more »
Hi Phanesh, thank you! Aug 30 is a great day to go, because during Round 2 there is so much happening on outer courts. I would definitely recommend getting an Ashe ticket over a grounds ticket in case of rain and so you can at least go in and see a major star if you want. There’s no guarantee grounds tickets will be available, sometimes they sell out — but there’s no way to predict. Usually what you see online is what is available at the box office, but you avoid service fees at the onsite box office. PJ
Hi PJ, super helpful information, I am grateful for this as this will be the first time we are going to check out the US Open to fulfill my bucket list. Question, deciding on which combination is best to visit. Saturday all day (Ashe Day tickets Sec 104 Row B, and Armstrong Night tickets Sec 8 Row H), or the night session Armstrong as noted, and Sunday day Ashe 105 Row C? Hoping these give good viewpoints and shade during the day sessions.
Hi Jeff, so sorry for the delayed reply – hope this is still helpful. Either a good option. If you do both Saturday, a possible advantage is seeing an even bigger name on Saturday during Round 3 on Ashe – and 104 likely to give you a bit more shade I think than 105 (weird but that’s just about where a break happens with the roof shade if memory serves). The benefit of breaking it up is to really extend the experience, have a break between, and also to access round of 16 action on Sunday. Honestly either way I… Read more »