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.












This was a fantastic read!!! Thank you!
Wife & I are sooo excited about our first time attending the US OPEN TOURNAMENT. We are driving from Boston. We are planning to have a family member to drop us off. Not sure if this a cruel request to ask of them. We are staying in the Bronx night before. Want to curtail the amount of walking. I will definitely recommend this site to others.
Hey Irene, thank you!! I’m so excited for you! And very very kind of your family member to drive you, that will be a godsend 🙂 Have fun!
Hello PJ, wonderful site and thank you for taking your time to educate us. I wanted your opinion on something – I’m coming in with my family over long Labor Day weekend and we have availability one of the days so either Saturday or Sunday (we have favorites both days) to attend US Open. My budget is around $350 per person. What would you recommend for an evening match and which stadium? Thank you in advance.
Hi Malik, thank you! There are a couple first row Promenade section seats for SAT night Ashe at around that price in Section 320 and 322— not sure how many of you there are, but if you’re willing to split up into 2s that would be a good option and you’ll definitely see some big names on Ashe, if that’s the top priority. (Sun eve on average is more pricey right now). There will be some great players for sure on Armstrong that night too, and you could get MUCH better seats in Armstrong — but you would not likely… Read more »
Hey PJ! I am impressed how thorough you are on this site. I feel overwhelmed with information. My husband gifted me a seat to the 3rd round men’s/women’s on Sunday. My ticket says 7 pm. Should I get there earlier? I saw you said to bring in a water bottle. What should I eat while I am there? Last year I saw Serena’s last match, which was so exciting. I was so focused, I didn’t eat or drink. So I went home on an empty stomach (not a good idea). This is my second time at the open, but I… Read more »
Hi Sonia! I would recommend getting to the East Gate by 5:30pm on Sunday, getting in line to try to enter when gates open at 6pm to evening ticket holders, then taking your time to look around and make your way over to Ashe. As for food, it’s really expensive (average $18-25 for a dinner sandwich or entree) but there are many good food stand options in the food court area between Armstrong and Ashe. Inside Ashe there are fewer good options. You can bring food in (and you can also bring outside food with you, as long as it… Read more »
Sometimes when I came to the evening sessions straight from work, I’d check out the food lines in Armstrong (usually less crowded than the main food court, especially in the first week around that time), many of which are the same as in Ashe. I could usually eat while waiting to enter Ashe. I usually bring my own bag of popcorn, some fruit or carrots or nuts to snack on which is enough to get me through a session… if i’m there all day I need to eat a meal during a break between matches).
PJ, I’m piggybacking onto this question. When you say “one bag” for food, what do you mean? One sandwich size baggie, one big baggie? into my clear crossbody bag I am bring in with all my stuff?
My favorite Indian food vendor is gone for this year, so no more cheap diet of Naan and Mango Lassi for me 🙁
Thanks!
Hey! So the chat bot on the US Open site, when asked, literally just says food may be brought in but must fit “within one bag” — presumably that fits within the max 12x12x16” non-backpack bag that’s allowed. Unfortunately this is not published on the site as far as I can tell so definitely cite the bot if anyone asks!
Such a shame about the Indian food stand being removed this year. I enjoyed the Naan bread myself. It was delicious and quite the bargain.
If you buy night session AA tickets, can you also get into LA for the night session?
Yes, once in the grounds anyone can access Armstrong unreserved seats on a first-come basis.
For practice session tomorrow Aug. 27th
What time do gates open?
What are the parking options?
Are concessions open?
Will the practice schedule be listed in the app?
Thanks!
Hey Jay, gates officially open tomorrow at 10am but I have seen some years where they start letting people in around 930. Practices on Ashe start at 10am. Be sure to register for the fan pass. For parking, I recommend downloading the Parking.com app and reserving a spot at the Shops at Skyview Center (129 Roosevelt) and walking across the bridge about 15 min to the boardwalk entrance by the Mets-Willets subway stop. Many food stands will be open. They will post the practice schedule for tomorrow by tomorrow AM on the app. Have a blast, it’s such a good… Read more »
Thank you for the info!!
I’ve read this guide for the last four years but 2023 will be my first trip to actually see the US open in person! I can make it Friday, Saturday, or Sunday (9/1-3). Any tips for last minute tickets or predictions on how prices may go? I appreciate the rain insurance of Ashe or Armstrong but it would be a nosebleed seat. Wouldn’t a grounds pass get you into the same location in the event of rain? Thinking about doing that and then splurging on a night session if a good match up and affordable ticket shows up in R3… Read more »
Hi there, excited you’re heading out for the first time! At the moment, weather forecast looks great for next weekend so fingers crossed… However, if it were to rain, a grounds pass would NOT get you into Ashe (every single seat in Ashe is reserved); you can access unreserved seats in Armstrong (the only other stadium with a roof), but when it rains on Labor Day weekend, the first-come unreserved seats in the upper level face overwhelming demand. I would prioritize Friday Day because there will be more matches on outer courts to see during R3 than on Sunday during… Read more »
Ah I keep forgetting that about Ashe. Have a great tournament and thanks again for the article and tips!
You’re so welcome! BTW also a MonfilsFan myself – was a huge thrill to see him having such a great time on Armstrong the other night for the Ukraine benefit.
hi and huge thanks for your help and for your awesome site! we’ve noted that ticket resale prices are quite high, basically about double the retail price for most of the Ashe, LA, and Grandstand seats, and Grounds passes also. They used to stop scalpers from selling tickets on the boardwalk but now ticket brokers have bot a lot of seats and are reselling. Spoke to box office manager on the 2nd day of qualis and he said they’re aware of it of course but not much they can do. So my question is: do they hold seats at the… Read more »
Hey Anthony, thanks for the very kind words!! Box office availability and prices are exactly what you see online for standard (blue dot) tickets IF and only if they are available, minus the Ticketmaster fees on standard tickets — which are minor compared to fees on resale tickets. The Box office do not sell resale tickets. So if you don’t see any standard tickets available on Ticketmaster, they won’t have them at the onsite box office. The guy at the box office who told you they release tickets day of would have given a more accurate summary if he said… Read more »
Hey PJ, I was looking at the draws for 4th round and we can possibly have Ruud vs Tiafoe, Rune vs Paul, Tsitsipas vs Fritz and Djokovic vs Auger on Sunday (3rd Sept). This looks like a solid line up for 3rd Sept for 4th round if they get through the first three rounds lol. My question is, now two of them are going to be in Armstrong and the other two in Arthur. Which ones do you think will be in Arthur? I am hoping they put Djokovic in Arthur. There can be a possibility that they put Fritz… Read more »
Hey RJ, your predictions are close to ones I put in my Racquet Bracket 🙂 Except I have Raonic beating Tsitsipas tomorrow night… so hoping for a Eubanks or Raonic v Fritz R16. Djokovic will be on Ashe for sure. 100%. Agree on Armstrong for Rune v Paul [or Davidovich Fokina]. The tough call will be Fritz and Frances matches. If Tsitsipas/Fritz and Tiafoe/Ruud, a tossup – but my guess would be Tiafoe/ Ruud on Ashe. If it’s Eubanks/Fritz, that would be a compelling one for Ashe because both American. Always fun to guess and see how close we get… Read more »
Fritz vs Eubanks will be a crazyyyy game. Well I have Ashe booked for Sunday for the whole day. I just don’t want to miss Djokovic match bc I am his die hard fan. Ruud vs Tiafoe or Fritz vs xyz I am fine with anyone playing in Arthur. However, I am debating to sell my Monday Ashe tickets for day and night session and rather getting a Armstrong ticket. I have seen Carlos play last year and his draw for 4th round is pretty easy. Same with Daniil (pretty easy draw). Won’t be as much fun as the Armstrong… Read more »
That’s awesome! For Mon, sounds like Armstrong would be a great day for you. I love R16 on Armstrong. I think the key is to just make sure you can sell your Ashe seats before you take the plunge – Armstrong is pricey this year!
This is an awesome page! Thank you for putting in this work son all these great tips. My wife and I have gone to the Open the last 10 years. We go for the first Mon/Tues. this year we are going to see the Sunday practice session. Some questions for you: -What time does the gate open on Sunday Aug 27th? -Is there official parking locations on the Sunday? If not, any parking tips? Mets are playing so Citi Field is not an option 🙁 -Will they post the Sunday practice schedule on the app since it doesn’t seem to… Read more »
Hi Jay! Gates officially open tomorrow at 10am but I have seen some years where they start letting people in around 930. Practices on Ashe start at 10am. Be sure to register for the fan pass. For parking, I recommend downloading the Parking.com app and reserving a spot at the Shops at Skyview Center (129 Roosevelt) and walking across the bridge about 15 min to the boardwalk entrance by the Mets-Willets subway stop. They will post the practice schedule for tomorrow by tomorrow AM on the app. Have a blast, it’s such a good day to go out there!!!
Thanks for the info!! Appreciate it
Your site is awesome thank you. I’m coming in from Connecticut and trying to figure out the safest place to park with a young child for a night session on September 2. Lot 7 the new sky view parking or taking metro north.
Hi Olivia, thanks! Because of the Mets game that day, STRONGLY recommend you go ahead and reserve a spot in the Skyview parking lot (ASAP). Plenty of folks will be walking across that bridge so it’s safe. PJ
The sky views only showing parking for the US open for the 11:10 match not in the evening / they do show parking for the evening Mets game do they check tickets? Also, do you know how early you can get in With an evening match ticket?
Hi Olivia, the “Shops at Skyview Center” parking lot is a private non-US Open lot – they are 24 hours but not sure about availability. I’d definitely use the Parking.com app where you can book specific entry times if available.
Hi,
If you buy reserved seat in grandstand can you sit in general admission area of armstrong?
Hi Beth, yes indeed (on a first-come basis)!
Hey, thanks for a lot of great info. A little note for public transit options, if you take the subway, you can use your tap-to-pay credit card directly at the turnstile and avoid buying tickets altogether. (The LIRR still operates as you describe.) I see a lot of people waiting in lines trying to buy tickets at the subway station machines but they can really just go to the turnstile and tap their cards.
Attending this year! Louis on Day 2 and Ashe on Day 3. Cheers!
YES! Can’t believe it didn’t occur to me to add that to my post – will do now, thank you Sam!!
Great info, thx
Hey PJ! Thinking of going to the last of qualifying tomorrow. Anything catch your eye cuz I don’t recognize any of the names and will otherwise just go for an American!
Gojo on Court 14 second match in PM would be high on my list!
SCHEDULE FOR DAY 1 and 2 IS OUT here
Whats the hold up with the Monday schedule?
JUST released!
Is is safe to wait until Monday morning to buy tickets for opening day? Last year I bought sunday night but with my travel schedule it would be easier to wait and purchase early Monday.
Hey Pat, I’m always hesitant to make firm recommendations given all the variables. I’d keep a close eye on ticket availability throughout the weekend. Right now there are a lot fewer tickets for Monday Day session in Ashe than there were yesterday – but still quite a few, with lowest price hovering around $200. There are no standard grounds tickets left, so resale grounds going for same as cheapest Ashe. PJ
What is the optimal time window to buy a resale ticket?
Day before, night before, morning of ?
Hey Jay, unfortunately I can’t give any clear guidance on that – depends so much on the particular session, stadium, etc. Check out my answer to FAQ #3 for context. The best way to evaluate is to look at how many tickets are currently available for the session(s) you’re targeting relative to others: if there are a ton of available seats on the resale market, probably safe to assume you can score a last-minute deal (day of); if not, buying now is safer. PJ
Hi PJ, many thanks for all the effort and hours spent to help us tennis fans dreaming about attending US Open. We have been many times in NYC but never in US Open and I must confess that at the beginning it looked kind of complicated but this blog made it much easier. One last question before flying to NYC, and very sorry if you have already explained this. If we have Day session/ ground admission, for Wednesday 30, can we get into the general section of Armstrong for night session? I have clear we can not go into Ashe,… Read more »
Hola Hector, con mucho placer! This is a common point of confusion: any Day session ticket (of any kind) gives you grounds access (via the East or South Gate) — and once you’re in the grounds, you can stay as late into the evening as you want and access general admission seating on a first-come basis at all non-Ashe stadiums including Armstrong evening (Ashe is the only stadium where every single seat is reserved). Buen viaje y que lo disfruten!
Many thanks. You are very kind. Hope to see you there to have a beer. Best
Me encantaria! PJ
PJ,
I remember this site back in 2017, glad to see you’re still a big fan. BUT, What’s the update on your own tennis game? How many days a week are you playing? Still drilling and getting coaching, or did age/injuries catch up with you? Still obsessed or fire has gone lower over time? Do you play USTA, and how close did you get to 4.5? Please be as detailed as possible about your tennis journey of the last say 5 years.
Hey again (working in reverse order!)! So I’ve finally achieved 4.5-level groundstrokes and feel comfortable at camps and doing drills with 4.5 players. But still a ways away from an all-around game that would enable me to compete at that elusive 4.5 level. But very grateful to have reached this point and still enjoying the process of improving. I started a very demanding new job in January that has me working usually 60-70 hours a week, so only fitting in 60-90 minutes a week of hitting with a coach to try to maintain. Passion for playing and improving still super… Read more »
As we all know, there is no such thing as “4.5 groundstrokes”, just wins and losses at level. You can have 4.5 strokes and be a 3.0, and vice versa.
But, I hear you, and you reached that stage at least 5 years ago, so it seems that life has gotten in the way of your road to 4.5. But, interesting to note that your desire to improve has sustained since 2010 or so. Long road!
That is indeed true. The good news is my 4.5 friends like to play with me, so that’s the best thing of all 🙂
Love this q and a! Are there any camps you can recommend? I am trying to establish as a 4.0. Self rated at 3.5, back into tennis for a couple years now after 2 decades off.
Hi Liz, thank you! Well I’m a bit biased because I started it back in 2012 (now led by Gary Innes), but I’d recommend the Tennis Congress annual event (this year Oct 19-22 in Tucson AZ), which combines on-court and off-court learning and a chance to work with a team of world-class coaches – I’ll be there myself as a participating athlete. I also love Total Tennis in upstate New York and have been probably 30+ times. Emilio Sanchez Academy in Naples Florida is terrific for training in the Spanish method – and you’ll leave moving better and putting your… Read more »
Just signed up for the Mini Congress in Feb! Looking forward to it!!
Hey Liz, that’s awesome!! I’m so stoked for it myself and very excited to see you there!!! PJ
amazingly helpful. i’m here solo and really appreciate it. thanks!
You’re most welcome!
Hi PJ,
Kudos to you for maintaining your blog all these years. I had interacted with you last year about an extra men’s semi final ticket that I had for the day session.
I have been spending a lot of time looking for Washington Nationals tickets and the Open tickets this year. I have noticed that the Promenade section pricing is very close to the Lodge section pricing for the Open this year. Just talking about Arthur Ashe. This year it just makes sense, even for individuals on a budget, to get Lodge as opposed to Promenade.
Go Novak.
KJ
Hey KJ, great to hear from you again and thanks for your thanks! Yeah, for a lot of sessions Promenade prices are crazy. PJ
We have tickets for 9/7 evening matches. That day is free Thursday. Do we need to make reservations for day even though it’s free? Do we just show up? Is there a max number they let in? Unclear weather it opens at 11 or 12 (both were stated in that section of your tips) and how early should we arrive to get in line? Sorry so many questions! Thanks so much, your website is incredible!!!
Hi Martine! Yes Thursday is totally free, gates open at 11am and no need to make any kind of reservation! There’s always a healthy crowd but never too big they have to turn people away. Shouldn’t be much of a line (I say hopefully) so show up anytime around 11 or later. And thanks for the kind words! PJ
Excellent. Thank you!!!
Will there be any matches on the outside courts during the round of 16 (Sept 4th)? I figure the individual matches will be played in the stadiums but wondering about the doubles matches.
Hi Tarry, yes indeed – there will be Doubles and Juniors on outer courts (including Grandstand), with singles matches just on Ashe and Armstrong.
PJ, so much good stuffs on this site! I’m sure you get this question millions of times but I’m gonna ask anyway 😀 I’m only available to go either Sep 5 or 6 day session. Should I wait to buy tickets?
Is there a big difference between Loge section upper rows (K-N) and Promenade lower rows (A-E)?
Hey there, thanks! For Day sessions during QF, it almost always pays to wait: the tournament director always puts the less star-studded matches during QF on Day session (NOT always the case for R1-R4!) – so if there’s a somewhat lackluster lineup prices tend to decline and there are great last-minute deals. For evening, you can be almost assured prices will stay around the same because demand tends to stay pretty stable regardless AND if Nole and Carlitos make it through they’ll get scheduled evenings and be high draw. I find quite a difference in “feel” between K-L and first… Read more »
Awesome site with detailed info! I’m a solo tennis aficionado/rec player and in town Monday (Aug 28) afternoon – Thurs (Aug 31) evening. I’m not picky about which players I watch. Just wanting to have a good experience watching a lot of tennis for 2-4 days and interested in getting best bang for buck. Which day, slot, and type of ticket is best for my scenario? Also, is it better/easier to wait until night before or day of since I’m solo like you recommend for others? With the forecasted rain for Tuesday and Wednesday, is a seat in Louis Armstrong… Read more »
Hi Nik! Awesome. Yes, I think you’re best off waiting until you can make totally informed decisions based on schedule (and weather!!). I’d definitely recommend spending at least 2 full days so you can pack in a lot of time on outer courts, where so many cool things will be happening. Strongly recommend 1 day Grandstand courtside for any of those days (but again, check schedule night before) pending no rain in the forecast. With any ticket you get during day, plan to not stay in your seat the entire time, but rather use it as your home base to… Read more »
Thank You PJ! This is super helpful. I am hoping to spend all of Tuesday and Wednesday there, but might adjust based on rain and ticket options. Thanks for the Grandstand tip – now I am leaning towards doing that for one of the days. Those Ashe seats sound great, but I’m not sure I’m up for spending $500-600 for one session. My budget is more in the $350 per session. I’ll ponder though whether I should pony up the higher amount for a once in a lifetime experience. Otherwise, Armstrong might be a better option for me.
You’re most welcome, and totally get it – regardless of what you choose, you’ll have an incredible time. The first 4 days are SO great for folks like you who are players and just want to see great tennis above all!!
PJ is THE expert. I can offer budget-seeker info if that is your situation. (i.e. my budget is under $300 Ashe loge tickets and under $100 Armstrong). I follow prices every day. Going solo has benefits – random official Ticketmaster single seats pop up periodically, not resellers (all of grandstand has been eaten up by greedy resellers) but as PJ says you get more matches for your money on Grandstand (and Armstrong day) Armstrong Monday night: as of 11:23 am, upper row Armstrong single tickets are as low as $71 for upper rows (not resale) lower rows are $91. Two… Read more »
THANKS Courtney, as always you add SO MUCH to this blog and to my own learning and I’m so grateful! PJ
Thanks Courtney! I definitely appreciate the budget friendly options
Hi PJ! I just saw the news that the top half of the women are playing Monday (and thus Wednesday and Friday). I’m so happy because that means that I could see one of Iga/Coco/Lena — but could I really? I have Armstrong tickets Wednesday day and Friday night. I see that Iga was put on Armstrong last year as the 1 seed BUT that was 1st round AND she’s such a bigger star now, right? And with Coco’s ascendency, I’m worried she’ll only be on Ashe too. And Lena’s the 4 seed (and injured — idk if she’ll even… Read more »
Hey Peter! I would be shocked if they don’t put Iga on Ashe even in R1. Beyond that, bets are off – really hard to know how they’ll go. They do often favor American players for Ashe in early rounds (e.g. Coco). As for your second question, my strong advice is: stay present, no matter what your choices! You WILL experience FOMO in early rounds – it’s inevitable. Last year, for instance, I couldn’t afford opening night tickets for Serena’s first match and opted for a front row Grandstand seat to watch Taylor Fritz v Brandan Holt – which was… Read more »
I’d also add that when my favorite player was in Ashe evening (and I was roaming the grounds after the day session had ended), I’d have the option of watching on one of the tvs or big screens on the grounds (I’d also record all the sessions I thought I’d miss (and even some I would attend but just to see if over again with the replays and commentaries at times). And sometimes the Amex radio will be covering one match while I’m in another so I multitask both 🙂
Hi PJ! Not only do we already have the draws, but the organization also shared in social media which players will be playing each day:
Monday:
Top half of the women’s draw (Swiatek, Rybakina)
Bottom half of the men’s draw (Djokovic, Rune)
Tuesday:
Bottom half of the women’s draw (Sabalenka, Pegula)
Top half of the men’s draw (Alcaraz, Medvedev)
Correcto! Driving but will update post later tonight. We will find out order of play (day v night sessions) for Ashe/Armstrong at some point tomorrow for Mon and Tues.
Hello! LOVED your guide. Long time tennis player and first time US Open Attendee. We have all of Monday (Round of 16) dedicated to to the Open. I already opened up the wallet for night time Arthur Ashe section 100 tickets, but now realizing that doesn’t get us Ground Access throughout the daytime. I’m wondering if we should get GA tickets as well so we can do tennis all day. My question is – how many matches occur on that Round of 16 Monday during the day, and where do they happen? Are the day matches only in the stadiums… Read more »
Hey Tom, thank you! On Monday Round of 16, all the singles action will be on Ashe and Armstrong. Grandstand and a few outer courts will feature Doubles matches (with Juniors matches on other outer courts). The pressure on Armstrong GA seats will be pretty intense Monday for Men’s singles matches, but not impossible if you plan it right (ie get there well in advance of start time of any men’s match you’re targeting). PJ
Hi P.J.! Draws are out; https://www.usopen.org/en_US/draws/mens-singles.html
Hey PJ, thanks for putting this together!
I am going on Thursday Aug. 31st with Grounds Pass, obviously no access to Ashe. Just curious who I have a shot at seeing on that day/what is “top tier” threshold for being put on an outer court/grandstand.
Hi Rob, sure thing! To get a sense, check out last year’s schedule. Because it’s round 2, there will be some great stuff on non-Ashe courts through Round 3! PJ
Thursday is my favorite day in the first week early rounds and I usually spend it on the outer courts even though I have an Ashe ticket. You’ll definitely see some great tennis and may find new lower ranked players to watch in the future (I have a selfie with Alcaraz from his first year at the Open when he was in an outer court for his early rounds (same with Francis Tiafoe who usually was in Court 17 early).
Hey PJ – im only available to go Day 1 or Day 2. Is there a difference in days? Should I wait until the day before to get a ticket to make sure i know who i want to see?
Hi Gerr, they’re both Round 1 but the difference is that on Day 1 we now know the Men’s BOTTOM half of the draw and Women’s TOP half of the draw will be playing (then the opposite for Day 2). See my new box under FAQ #1 above. I’d consider waiting until tomorrow and keep refreshing the Schedule page and checking the US Open X (Twitter) account to see when they announce who will play in the Day and Night sessions on both days (the will probably announce around Noon tomorrow, but could be earlier or later!). PJ
The draw is out! And….1st round.. eh. Still, I’ll be going. Question about Armstrong. I see this disclaimer in Ticketmaster for a seat in that last rows:
“WXY Partial Video Board View, Y-Z No View of Video Bd.”
What does that mean? Do the mean that you cant see the jumbotron thingee?
Thanks!
Yes! And yes to the question about the Jumbotron thingy 🙂
Love this column. Go every year during first week. In 2022 lucked out with evening in Ashe and saw Serena. People do Random Acts if Kindness. We sat in right seats wrong stadium and the seat holders just adjusted and let us stay. We were mortified and apologetic but they were so kind. Check for hotels with shuttle–we stay at aloft LaGuardia. Lounges Chase and AMEX are always sold out when we hear of them. How to get in on early notice?
Hi Mima, thank you! And thanks for sharing all that! For early notice, I’m honestly not sure. I’ll make a point to find out for next year. For Amex details this year, check out this new page.
Hi PJ, I have a day general admission ticket for Wednesday 8/30. I am driving in from Hartford, CT and wondering what time would be the best to arrive to avoid standing in a very long line at the gate? Also, the US Open website lists 8/30 as a conflict day with a Mets game. The Mets game is not until the evening at 6:15 or 6:30 p.m.. If I plan to leave by 5:00 p.m., will I be able to park in the Mets’ stadium parking lot? If not would you recommend parking in the Skyview shops parking lot… Read more »
Hi Erin, definitely (definitely!!) reserve a spot here for your car. ASAP. Mets are playing home game that day so their lot will be closed to anyone not going to the Mets game, making parking a nightmare if you don’t. It’s about a 15 min walk from that lot to the East Gate. I’d recommend ARRIVING at the parking lot no later than 5pm – expect a lot of traffic and delays, then the walk to East Gate, then security… There will be lines but this way you’ll be able to enter with reasonable amount of time to make your… Read more »
PJ, thank you so much for the info. Sorry if I was not clear, but I have a day GA ticket not evening. I’m still going to make a reservation and try and arrive by 10 am. I will also try and leave by 5pm to avoid the traffic for the Mets game.
Thanks again!
Erin
Got it, sounds great – and you’re most welcome! Have a blast!
Hi P.J., thanks for all the great info! I’m taking my sister with me for one day on either day 3, 4, or 5. Seeing Alcaraz is a must for her so I’ve been waiting for the main draw schedule of play to release before buying our tickets. Your date above mentions Fri Aug 26 for the schedule release. I think that might of been from last year. Do you expect it to release this year tomorrow (Aug 25th mid day)? As for the tickets, barring a crazy upset, if Alcaraz starts on day 1, we will have the opportunity… Read more »
Hey Preston, just a quick response now as I’m driving at a rest up and need to get back on the road – will write longer later. But they did actually just announce unexpectedly which haves of the draft play on which days. On Monday, it will be men’s bottom, half and women’s top half. That means that Carlos will play on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (week 1) and Monday and Wednesday week 2 assuming he advances. It is very unsafe to predict whether players will be scheduled on day or night sessions, because they are notoriously unpredictable, especially in rounds… Read more »
I’ve been celebrating my birthday at the Open for the past 7 years, and your tips are fantastic and have served as my personal Open advisor. Thank you so much for this amazing guide! Last year, I scored a court side seat for the quarter finals….memorable experience. I’ve been scanning Ticketmaster daily and hourly searching for reasonable tickets prices since I normally attend a min of 3 days of day/night matches combined. Whoa daddy the tickets are higher this year. Whyyyyyyyy Should I wait to purchase multiple tickets or pull the trigger now and attend only one full day. Should I… Read more »
Hey Yolo, so glad to hear that! And happy early birthday!! Whoa daddy is right. I’m blown away myself. 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… Read more »
Any idea until what time people can enter the grounds during the qualifying tournament? As long as play is still going on, or is there an earlier cutoff?
Hey Matthew, from 10am-10pm, no cutoff!
Hi PJ, I saw some $65 tickets for the 2nd week, but do you know any discounts available? Prices are so expensive this year! Do you know why so many session are sold out?
Hi CJ, that’s actually for next Thurs Aug 31, which is a LGBTQ+ pride night and you’re seeing available tickets if you use the PRIDE code for that day. Yes, prices are through the roof this year… A lot of excitement for tennis, combined with lots more folks willing to travel and go to events post-the worst of COVID.
What time on average do the night sessions last until? (8/31) Also, do you think its too much to do the day session/night session in one day? Assuming this would be a 12 hour or so day in the grounds. Thanks!
Hi Andrew, they usually don’t finish before midnight – and a lot of people don’t stay until the end when matches go beyond midnight. Whether anything is too much is such a personal thing… When I go, I usually do both day and night – often consecutive days – and for me the time flies (and often the day gets broken up with breaks for eating, walking around to outer courts, etc). But for a lot of people that would be too much, so it just depends. If you go during Round 2 on 8/31, you could do Ashe Day… Read more »
Thanks for the info PJ – looking at Armstrong/Grandstand and it looks like quite abit of GA seating in both stadiums. Is it very difficult with a grounds pass to get good seats in there? With current prices, just thinking of this option if i cant get Ashe seats or a good deal on courtside seats.
Hey Andrew, the only time it can be a nightmare is Labor Day weekend – otherwise usually not a problem. Wait times depend entirely on the popularity of players/specific matches. Men’s matches always draw bigger crowds, so if you’re targeting one be sure to go at some point during the previous match, pref by end of 1st set of the previous if a women’s match).
Thank you PJ – doing 8/31 full day with Ashe tickets and snagged a GA pass for 9/1 at face value via Ticketmaster. Is there any resource/ more info on the GA rules for Grandstand/Armstrong. Thinking I will get there early and snag a seat for the day just depends on the lineup for the day. Is there special entrance for GA? Anything else you can add? Appreciate your help
Hey Andrew, yes, totally depends on the popularity of the matches. If you’re targeting Grandstand first match, use SOUTH gate to enter the grounds. If targeting Armstrong first match, use EAST gate. If targeting a men’s match in either (which almost always draw the biggest crowds) I’d 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. PJ
I have a parking pass for Lot A. It says “daily pass” on it but also indicates “day”. I have both day and evening tennis tickets. Am I good to stay in the same lot? Thanks!
Hi Michael, yes you’re good once you’re in the lot!
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Hello ! Can LA day session tickets get into general admission LA evening session ? On the Ticketmaster website it says general admission is only for grandstand and field courts. Thanks!
Hi Billy, this is a common point of confusion: ANY ticket of any kind gives you grounds access (via the East or South Gate)– and once in the grounds, you can stay as late into the evening as you want. Once in the grounds, EVERYONE has access to ALL general admission seating on a first-come basis at ALL stadiums EXCEPT Ashe (Ashe is the only stadium where every single seat is reserved).
Thanks for the clarification PJ!
Sure thing!
Hi! I go Every year but skipped the last five. Your advice is excellent. I’m going to round of 16 Ashe evening session. What is the best time to plan to arrive so I’m not waiting in line for an hour ! Sept 3rd
Hey Michelle, thank you! If you get there at 5:30pm you will have to stand in line for 30 min, but once they start letting folks in at 6pm you should be able to get through relatively quickly. I personally wouldn’t arrive any later just because it’s nice not to have to be too rushed about everything once you’re in. Then just know you’ll also have to wait a bit outside Ashe until they open those gates for entry at around 6:30pm.
Always love pulling up this post and reading the comments this time of year! Thanks PJ as always for your insights. Just wanted to inform everyone that as of now (8/23 11:15am) there are standard priced grounds tickets available for day 3 (8/30). So, just about $112 with fees. I’ve been monitoring the first week and this is the first time I’ve seen any standard priced grounds tickets available. Of course per PJ’s advice I would have preferred to buy Ashe day session tickets, but this may be the least expensive way to enjoy the Open for me this year,… Read more »
Hey Matt, great to hear from you and really appreciate the very kind words!! And thanks for the update on the newly released standard GA tickets for day 3!
Another question. I see you wrote this in another comment: A few years ago, the Open split the Men’s Semis into two separate Day/Nigh sessions, each requiring a ticket and featuring only 1 of the men’s semifinal matches Does this also apply to the Women’s Semifinal?I have a Women’s Semifinal ticket (Loge Section 134, Row B — did I make a good choice? What would you pay for such a ticket?), and I was under the impression that this included two matches! (EDITED: I see that there’s only one session for Women’s Semis so I think I’m good!) Also, I… Read more »
Hey Peter, yes it’s only one session for the Women’s Semi and you will see both with that one ticket! Women only play best of 3 sets versus the men playing best of 5, which is why they can fit both in one evening session. And YES on Labor Day – great day to go to Armstrong and that’s a great seat!
Hi P.J., I come back to this guide year after year so thank you! Quick question about Ubering TO the event. It does seem like Ubering to the Queens Museum or even the location that Uber selects when putting in the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center drops you off right by the South Gate, where I’ve heard there’s much less of a wait time to get in. But the guide recommends Ubering to the East Gate. Is there something I’m missing?
Hey Peter, great to have you back! Either is a good option. The options available to drivers depends on the day and time… On some days (esp Mets home game days) they’ll block off entire areas or direct traffic in ways that Uber drivers don’t have as many options. South Gate area is the official drop off and pick up area for car services – and that gate entrance often times is less congested than East. I should change the recommendation in the post to indicate either East or South gate is great for drop-off!
PJ — my second question of the year already, thank you! I read your rain FAQ, but since I am primarily interested in the outer courts, how long does it take for those to dry? Tuesday looks like potentially rain showers (obviously very well could change!), so if it rains for 30min then stops, how long of a delay would there be on the outer courts? Thanks again!
Hey Sean, you’re welcome! They have high-powered air dryers that work quickly, but all depends on the quantity and duration of the rain… They also have to give players ample time to get back and warmed up, etc. So frustrating as it is to say, it can really vary.
Thanks so much for this!
Probably stupid question – I’m thinking of buying 2 tickets for Armstrong round of 16. Two friends want to come with, but one can only attend the first two matches and the other can only attend the last two matches. If my 1st guest leaves the grounds after the 2nd match, can my other friend get in/use that ticket? Or do I need to buy 3 tix?
Thanks a mil!!
Hey Jesse, not a stupid question at all! Unfortunately, you would need a 3d ticket of some kind (could be grounds) for your second friend to be let into the grounds after your first friend’s ticket is scanned. You could transfer the Armstrong ticket to your second friend to use for Armstrong because it won’t be scanned again within Armstrong, only visually checked by ushers. However, your second friend can’t use that same ticket to get into the grounds, because the ticket will show as already scanned and can’t be used twice (they stamp the hands of people coming and… Read more »
Hey there, update from USO: confirmed it doesn’t work to transfer a ticket via Ticketmaster after it has been scammed – but you usually can use screenshots to access seats once you’re within the grounds because ushers at Ashe and Armstrong and Grandstand do not re-scan tickets – just visually scan quickly. Use screenshot of “wallet” view not the one with the moving barcode.
P.J., Can I buy tickets, at game time, at the gate? If so, does it avoid paying all the extra fees?
Hi Mooch, you can only avoid fees on any STANDARD (non-resale) tickets at the box office on site IF there are any available. The availability will be same as what you see online. PJ
Hi PJ !!!, the first tuesday I’m catching a 4am flight arriving at LGA at 8am and leave the next day from LGA at 8pm. My original plan was to go direct to the site, stay all day and into the night. But, now I think I”ll be too tired to take in much of the night festivities. So plan B, is by pass by tuesday day session and rest up for the night session for Ashe or Armstrong. Wednesday I’ll do the day session till I depart. I’d appreciate any thoughts. Thanks, Rob PS 1st time for the US… Read more »
Hi Rob! That sounds like a really reasonable way to go… I can’t imagine what time you have to get up for that 4am flight!. And that way too you can allocate your budget to 2 sessions versus 3 and hopefully get better seats than you would have otherwise. You might consider waiting until this Friday when Mon/Tues schedule is announced before making a final final decision… E.g. if you’re not dying to see someone scheduled for Ashe Tues night, then I’d definitely recommend a great courtside seat in Armstrong — or go for the Ashe ticket if someone you… Read more »