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.












PJ, wow and thank you. Took a good friend to the open who has been watching tennis since the early 70s to his first live event. Did courtside grandstand second row behind server and he didn’t get up for 10 hrs. Said it was a perfect day! Thank you. Could not have figure it out without your blog. Heading back next Wednesday!
Hey there, THRILLED to hear this – thank you!! So so so gratifying to hear this!! Many thanks for sharing, made my day! PJ
Our pleasure. Thanks for your work. We have day Ashe tickets high up in promenade on Wednesday (bought before I found your blog). If you hear anyone looking to pay forward that day let me know via email… day or evening. I am hooked now.
I’m sure it’s been said before but I’ll say it again. If you’re planning to use your ticket to the nosebleed section of Arthur Ashe to actually watch tennis at Arthur Ashe and not use it to watch matches on the outer courts, you’re wasting your time and money. Not only is it much too high up to get a good view of the match, but they allow fans to come and go as they please. This means during points. There might be an exciting rally and people will be walking up the aisle, blocking your view, stepping over you… Read more »
Noticed this too. Even happens during the semi finals and finals with no ushers enforcing the rules!
Beth totally agree got tix last year sat way up in Ashe….I was so use to watching the match on TV and listening to the great McEnroe commentary….plus it was scary steep….I heard more about food while sitting there which took away from watching Nick Kyrgios
Hello. Great site ! Thanks for all the helpful info. If you are an Ashe ticket holder for regular seating, can you purchase the pass to Aces & Champions to eat there ?
Hi Laia, thanks! If you find and purchase a special PASS for Aces & Champions on resale market (they sold out early, and even the folks at Aces don’t know where they were offered – I asked a couple days ago in person) you can access them. But you can’t make a reservation without a courtside or suite ticket. And you can’t access the club level outside the restaurant without those tickets (also confirmed a couple days ago in person). PJ
Thanks so much for your reply 🙂 !
So I found one on StubHub yesterday. It says Aces/Champions Club / Row Pass / Seat 1-2 …
I have only regular Ashe seats.. but you are saying with this Pass I can access this area, correct ?
Hi Lala, you’re welcome! I’m 99% sure that is the case based on what I learned talking to the staff at Aces earlier this week. PJ
TU again PJ ! I’m so excited to go my 3rd time but who’s counting lol …. Though it’s great news … can you believe the tickets I was transferred actually say….
Sec GA1, Row GA2, Seat 22
Sec GA1, Row GA2, Seat 23
I mean above it it has a logo “Day session Aces/ Champions” but it still seems off to me. I am pretty sure this is what a ground pass says!! … Maybe I have been “punked”. 🙁 I have a email into Ticketmaster as this is for Wednesday. Wish me luck !
Hi Lori, these do not sound like Ashe stadium seats – it is possible you purchased special passes to the Aces or Champions restaurants? Ticketmaster will help you if you were scammed or the buyer didn’t label them accurately!
Hi PJ… that is what I’m wondering. The email from Ticketmaster offers 25% refund to keep or return and let them find me replacement.
I wish there was a way to find out if these are indeed the pass. You don’t think they sound like Ground Passes from that “GA1 .. “ description???
Like I mentioned, I am buying tickets to Ashe as well, but really was hoping these were to access Aces. :/
Hi Lori, hard for me to say for sure without seeing a screenshot – but “GA” usually stands for General Admission and there is no “GA1” section of any stadium or restaurant at the US Open, so not sure what that means. If it’s a Pass for Aces/Champions, it should say clearly something like “Aces/Champions Bar & Grill Restaurant Passes.” I would recommend calling the US Open Box Office to see if they can help: (718) 760-6363.
Hi PJ, do you know when GA passes go on sale online each day? I saw 2 at 10am today for Labor Day weekend, but they disappeared quickly. Thanks for your great blog!
Hi Wendy, thanks! No set time, unfortunately, it just depends and you have to keep checking… PJ
Hi, we went to the US Open today, We had a great time, but were really struggling to find healthy food / healthy snacks. It looks like everything is fried food, hamburgers, french fries, bbq food and a bag of chips / salty pretzel as a snack. This is a sports tournament … sports .. healthy living .. nowhere a piece of fruit or a (relatively speaking) healthy bar as snack, or veggies .. we finally found a very basic salad for $20. I hope 2024 will offer more healthy options.
P.J. – what matches are you looking forward to tomorrow? Lots of great matches – want to see if anything you would recommend to check out?
Hey Andrew, sorry for the late reply! I was in transit and couldn’t respond yesterday, now trying to catch up. Today Mmoh Isner was top of my list – and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Hope you caught at least part of it. Eager to hear what you made it to and about your experience!
No worries PJ. Started at Sinner/Sonego, Draper/Hurcacz, a little of Berretini, then to watch last 2 sets of Isner/Mmoh, then some of Di Minaur, back to Grandstand halfway through Vondruosova match, Monfils/Rublev, then to Alcarez/Harris finished at Armstrong with Medvedev/OConnell. Amazing day of tennis, Grandstand is the best place to watch tennis in the whole place, amazing sight lines. Headed back this morning, going to be hard to top yesterday
AMAZING! I absolutely love Grandstand too and thrilled you have had such a great time so far. Enjoy today!!
PJ – great tournament and appreciate your help will be back next year. Looking at attending Indian Wells/ Western Southern Open, any similar blog post to yours on these events you are aware of? any advice for both of these? Also, have you done Roland Garos before? I need more articles like yours for other events!
Hey Andrew, thank you so much – and SO incredibly sorry about the delayed reply – had crushing work demands in the fall and only catching up now on post-US open comments. For Indian Wells, the good news is that the official site is generally much easier to navigate and more transparent than for US Open, and prices considerably lower across the board. It’s been about 5 years since I last attended, so I don’t have fresh insights – but I’ve been about 5 times and it’s a phenomenal experience. Haven’t been to WeSo yet. I haven’t been to Roland… Read more »
We were there for the first day on Monday. Here are two things we learned that I could find answers to anywhere . 1) Question – If the gate opens at 9.30, how early can you be there? Answer: We were there at 8.45 and there were already over a 500-1000 people there. Being early there enabled us to watch some of the practices that were going on well before the 10.00 AM practice schedule. 2) If you ever wanted a kid to get an autograph, take your own felt pen. The only place a felt pen is sold is… Read more »
Thanks!
PJ, are cigarettes allowed on the grounds. No right? Saw a few fans and staff lighting up the last 2 days. Was about to say something to an usher but wasnt 100% sure on what the rules are. I know theres also been a weed issue on court 17 area too
Hey Corey, correct – smoking not allowed. And yes the crazy weed issue is from the nearby public park and is a known issue (!).
Not sure it’s really a “nearby public park” issue, considering how much weed I smelled in Armstrong courtside seats yesterday.
Yikes…
Dumb questions, but I’m going for the first time on Sunday. Day ticket, Ashe:
1. When is a good time to explore the Chase Lounge, go shopping, get food, etc. I assume you mostly don’t leave during the Ashe matches? We will arrive when gates open, but will want to go to the practice courts too
2. Since we can stay on the grounds at night, is it better to put a lot of that kind of thing off for the evening?
Hi there! The Chase Lounge is particularly helpful if you don’t have reserved seats in a stadium with shade and are there for many hours and want a break… But to be honest it’s not something I ever make time for while I’m there, so eager to hear if other readers want to chime in. For food, I always just get stand food and bring to my seat – and try to time such that I don’t have to miss any games in matches I care about. (If you do that within Ashe during a match, the worst time to… Read more »
A question and a tip: Q: I know you always advise spending a bit for Labor Day weekend Arm or GS. Which do you think is better, and if I do GS, what are chances of getting into Armstrong unreserved, if I would rather go there for a match. I assume next to impossible. Also, in unreserved Arm, can you leave your seat to go to bathroom or food and return to your seat Like leave personal stuff in seat to hold it? In outer courts that were full, not allowed. Sadly none of us would have to splurge as… Read more »
Hey, sorry for the delay (and THANK YOU!!). Armstrong definitely on Sunday and Monday amazing… GS Saturday only! You will be able to access unreserved seats in Armstrong if you time it right but they will be packed for men’s matches for sure. And unfortunately once you leave seat it’s fair game for someone else unless you make friends and can have them save for you for a quick dash to bathroom or stands…
Just still a little confused on how GA works for Louis Armstrong with an Ashe ticket. Is there space at any time? Can you enter during matches? How likely is it to get a seat? If I missed this in the article, I’m sorry!
Hi Erik, once you enter the grounds with any ticket (930 am for Day/ 6pm entry for evening session ticket) anyone can access unreserved seating on any court on a first-come basis (except Ashe, which is all reserved). Armstrong has a ton of unreserved seats, but pressure on them depends on popularity of the individual match. If you are targeting a specific high-profile match (eg Thiem-Shelton today We’d) then recommend getting there during the previous match.
So grateful for this post and your generosity. I feel lucky to have scored some tix for Mon 9/4 evening session and Wed 9/6 day, both in AA, when prices were much more reasonable. But now I’m looking at the predicted 90F degree plus temps for next Mon – Thurs and feeling nervous about the extreme heat. I believe I followed your guide for sections in the shade, especially for that daytime session (104, row D), but any other tips to stay cool? Are there any areas with AC to take breaks that aren’t difficult to access (didn’t have any… Read more »
Hi Lea, apologies for the delayed reply! There are several retail shops on site that have A/C where you can always retreat for a break if you need. And the hallways of Ashe are all shaded and open-air, so usually have good air circulation and provide some respite if needed. Beyond that, I just think the answer depends so much on the individual… I really find it only unbearable on those kinds of days in seats with protracted sunlight – and sounds like you may be OK if you got the 104 seats! PJ
on Stubhub, I found a ticket Section LOT H | Row PARKI. It also says unrestricted view. Is it a ticket or a parking ticket?
Thanks for this!
Does an EVENING Ashe ticket include general admission access to Armstrong and the Grandstand? The website says only the Day one does but that doesn’t make much sense in my opinion. Thanks! Trying to go tonight.
Hey Daniel, I’m short yes – but not before 6pm.
PJ, This is an awesome resource. Wish i saw it last year before I tried to get an Uber home a midnight after day one!
Anyway, will there still be action on the outer courts if I attend on Friday night? I’m thinking it will be doubles, maybe? Just love being close to the action–regardless of who is playing–rather than miles away on Ashe/Armstrong.
Hi Dan, thanks! I’m not clear from your comment whether you have a ticket or not… There is no grounds admission entry (or re-entry) after 6pm, so you’d need some kind of day ticket to enter before then and you can only enter at/after 6pm with an evening session ticket. There definitely will be some matches going on into the early evening on Friday night, mainly doubles but potentially also a couple singles matches that are scheduled as “not before 5pm” matches on outer courts.
hi PJ
thanks so much for this informative and helpful guide. If I purchase 2 tickets for Ashe and 2 tickets for Armstrong (family of 4) for this sunday’s day session, would we be able to swap seats part way through a match or in between the first and second matches?
Hi James, yes! But you need to switch phones or give each other screenshots (screenshots almost always suffice once you are IN the grounds because in the stadiums the ushers only give quick glances).
Man! This page is awesome, thank you for your work! Would love to get to meet you!
Thank you so much Josue!!
If anyone decides to pay it forward, I’d love to go!
Hi P.J.
I found ticket on stubhub for $19 plus $20 fees for a total of $39. It is called Section LOT F | Row PARKI. Is this real ticket or is it a parking ticket? Also it says unrestricted view. What view do you have with unrestricted view?
Hi Lily, it’s just a parking ticket. Ie no view at all!
Very odd that the schedule is not out yet for tomorrow. Anyone have any insights?
The resellers are getting creamed….they closed the reselling platform at 1.30pm
LMAO .
What do you mean? Did prices drop a lot or no one was buying?
Watched a ton of great tennis at home yesterday! Every year, regardless of the draws, I forget about my favorite US Open matchup: the chair umpires v the fans.
SO excited for my one day tomorrow! Brady/Linette, Mertens/Collins, Gauff/Andreva, Townsend/Haddad-Maia, Ofner/Tiafoe, THIEM/SHELTON!, Bonzi/Eubanks. SO much good tennis! Hope everyone going today has fun. Also, I see standard priced Grounds and Ashe loge tickets available for today if anyone was waiting on a price drop.
Wishing you the same! See you at Shelton Thiem!
Has anyone checked out west gate? Shows as a public entrance this year. Is that accurate? Lines better there?
Hi P.J.
I discovered your page last year. It is very useful I’d really like to see Djokovic and Alcaraz games. Which day do you think they are going to play?
Hi Nora, thanks! See this post: https://www.roadto45tennis.com/how-to-get-tickets-to-see-serena-williams-and-rafael-nadal-at-the-2022-us-open-advice-from-a-serious-tennis-fan/
Thanks P.J. Let’s say Djokovic will play on Friday. but it’s during day session. How do I know which Stadium (Ashe, Armstrong, Grandstand) I should get the ticket for? I assume when he plays at night, it’s always going to be at Arthur Stadium, right? But if he plays during the day, how do I know which Stadium he plays at?
Pretty sure there was a close up of you on the ESPN broadcast after Gauffs jumping slam in the third set of her match.
Appreciate the guide!
Yeah 🙂
Hi! Is reentry permitted? Thinking of a scenario where I need to access a laptop for example in a locker outside the stadium mid day and want to re-enter after. Thanks very much.
Yes! Just have to reenter before 6.
tickets prices are insane right now. Are folks buying these $300+ tickets?! I saw ground passes for Saturday at that price
It’s really shameful. I’m heartbroken to not be able to attend this year because of this insane gouging.
Where do we look for discount tickets after the start time has passed?
Hey there! I’m considering getting the Skyview Center parking for this Friday. I noticed on the site it shows parking is 11am to 10pm, however matches start at 11am so that’s some time missed for the first matches. Any idea if they allow parking earlier than 11am? I’ve also been there past 10pm as night matches often go later into the night. Do you know if there is a hard cutoff at 10pm, or if that would incur any extra fees? Thank you!
Hi Bogdan! When I tried it it gave me the option of setting the enter and exit times beyond that – but the full rate for a longer time (normal rate there) is around $29 versus the special rate. If you download the parking.com app and search for that lot you can definitely get the full range of options. Lot is open 24 hours. PJ
Also, the actual parking confirmation ticket when you get it says parking entrance time 9am, parking exit time 12:01am- hope this helps!
I parked at skyview center last year. You can enter before 11AM and leave after 10PM. They have automatic lane and you just grab your ticket at the entrance.
I just parked there yesterday, got there at 9am, no extra fees 🙂
I don’t know if you mentioned it, but I like to pick up a grounds pass for the day after a first week rainout. There are so many matches that need to be played that you can watch matches all day and well into the night, And you get to see some of the big names up close playing on the small outer courts. Obviously, this is for locals who have a flexible schedule.
Howdy! The corner seats in Louis Armstrong (sec 3 and 12) listed obstructed view of the scoreboard for the last couple rows (W thru Z). Do you think that has a big impact on the viewer experience? Are they worth the relatively lower price than rows q, r,s, t ? Thanks!
Hey Mark, it’s just obstructed view of the video board – not a huge deal!
Hi PJ. Trying to understand the best food venues for Ash. If I buy the aces and champions grill pass do I have all access to the club level?
Hey Bradley, both of those are only open to courtside or suite ticket holders. Fare is one of the nicer sit down options. See fulll list here and filter for restaurants https://www.usopen.org/en_US/visit/dining/index.html
Hi PJ – The US Open site actually states you have to make a reservation on RESY which says:
About Champions Bar & Grill
Required for Access-Ticket Information
Ticket information must be provided in the Special Requests field after you complete your booking. ALL guests in your party must be Arthur Ashe Stadium Courtside Ticket Holders, Suite Ticket Holders, or those with Aces/Champions Bar & Grill Restaurant Passes. Access will not be permitted without valid ticket/passes for Arthur Ashe Stadium. Louis Armstrong Ticker Holders have no access to Aces/Champions Bar & Grill.
Hey Bradley, I hadn’t seen that “OR those with passes” language before – it’s just on the Resy page, not the US Opem one… I’all be courtside tonight and can double check with Aces and Champions to be sure. Where are you seeing the passes for sale?
Sorry disregard. I called the us open fan line and it is only for courtside/suites! You are correct.
Thanks for checking and confirming!
Folks, I have been coming to the US Open since 2015 and it is not the end of the world if you don’t get tickets.There are so many things to do in NY,take the E train to WTC and walk across Brooklyn bridge and enjoy the view and the park.
There are so much tennis during the 1st week and I usually get cheap ticket at evening.1st day is a zoo.
Patience and have fun
I just got a ticket court seat at Louis Armstrong for 57$
Easy peasy
In person at the Box Office?
Do you mean Rows X,W,Y,Z? I saw a few last minute Ticketmaster Standard tickets released in those rows, but Y and Z said fully Obstructed View.
I’m pretty sure by obstruction they are only talking about the video screens. I’ve never been anywhere in lower part of Armstrong where there is obstructed view of the court. I can check tomorrow…
I know this came up before but I don’t recall it saying video board this time when the tickets came up. Now I know it wouldn’t make sense to have seats with an obstructed view of the courts but the fact that they were $57 by Ticketmaster standard tickets I just wasn’t sure. This is, however good to note that this happened and to keep an eye on Armstrong night tickets the very last minute to be released. Though not to count on it. I’ll be around the grounds today and at grandstand for the men’s matches hope to see… Read more »
Where did you find such cheap ticket? Would love to know the way around!
Hi Chris, I’ve been trying to find tickets, but I haven’t found any cheap ones. Can you please share from where you got the tickets for $57? and also for which day?
I got the $57 ticket for Armstrong this evening too. Ticketmaster seemed to release a few of these “standard” tickets super last minute…I was just checking very frequently throughout today. As PJ mentions, the only obstruction is you can’t see the video screen for replays etc. but you can see the full court, players, entire point perfectly fine! Great night 🙂
Thanks Marty!
Thanks Marty. It seems you got the $57 ticket for tonight’s match. Did you check Ticketmaster all day yesterday? I’m trying to understand how long in advance the cheap tickets are released?
I did check pretty frequently throughout the day (this was Monday). But the $57 tickets didn’t show up until probably an hour or two only before the session (so 5-6pm). No clue why this is…I saw the same happen for the Ashe day session yesterday (Tuesday) as well.
If your relationship can survive a night-time Uber-Lyft request home from the stadium, it can survive anything.
Take the subway, even if just 2-3 stops and get your ride request there. It will save you the pain beyond anything you’ve ever known.
For anyone there today, any news on folks selling last minute tickets by the door for cheaper than on Ticketmaster? I held out and prices never went down :/ can go tomorrow too but weather forecast doesn’t look great…
We have night session Armstrong for the 29th. Based on what I’ve read we cannot have access to Court 17 match as it seems the additional courts like this are for day pass holders. Is this correct? Seems I would have had to purchase all day access. Thanks this info was great for a newbie like myself
Hi Kelley, you can enter at 6 PM with that ticket. There will still be lots of things going on, and all the other courts, and you can access any of them once you enter the grounds.
Thanks specifically court 17 has Gael Monfils at 7pm though a new match could we still watch if our evening tickets are specifically for Armstrong seating?
Yes, once in the grounds with any ticket you can access any unreserved seats on every courts on a first-come basis (except Ashe which is all reserved)
Hey PJ, do you know what time the outer courts typically get through all matches? I know with ATP 5 setters it varies a lot, unfortunately we have night 1 tickets to see Djokovic but we wanted to watch FAA and he’s been put as the final matchup on Court 5… With grounds or other stadium tickets costing hundreds of dollars right now, we’re struggling to decide between seeing our Canadian and selling the night session before we know if we’d actually miss it, or just skipping out on seeing FAA at all. Would be much easier in prior years… Read more »
Hey Kyle! I feel your pain and have been in these situations many times. It does depend entirely on competitiveness of matches, I jury time outs, walkovers, etc… I’d guess that 4th match with FAA won’t start until around 530/6 at the earliest. But know that Novak is on 2d tonight, so you could almost certainly see FAA then go into Ashe in time for Nole.
Prepping for a bucketlist/wish trip this weekend – thank you for all the great tips P.J., such an awesome resource especially for my family and I coming in from Canada. Can’t wait!
My pleasure, so excited for you!
My pleasure, so excited for you. Enjoy
Hoping it rains….so there will be no shows…
P.J. This is great stuff and. obviously, very useful, even for those of us who have been going to the Open since Forest Hills! That said, I am really outraged at the obscene increase in prices in the past couple of years. I used to take my kids, not that long ago, during the first week, with ground passes for a couple of hundred bucks for all of us. Now it’s barely enough for one ticket. Is anything being said or done to express the outrage that many are undoubtedly feeling? It’s a great event, but getting ripped off shouldn’t… Read more »
Hey Marc, many thanks. And agreed – it’s really reached a level that should have some alarm bells ringing. The fact that USTA allows its standard face-value ticket to fluctuate with dynamic pricing according to market demand is something I hope they will reconsider going forward; the already high base prices are pushing resale prices up and up.
I am guessing they are still paying for the roofs and the year they had no fans due to Covid (so no revenue) and pushing those costs to attendees/fans.
I am posting in the USTA and US Open Twitter saying they should be ashamed of themselves. Letting all the resellers snatch up all tickets. I saw a Grounds Pass for $300!! Shame on them.
It’s not like they will listen to me, but I think next year, I am skipping the Open and going to Montreal Masters three weeks before. Great tournament, one ticket for the entire tournament less expensive than a few sessions in the cheapest bad seats in Ashe.
Yup! We went to Toronto and Cincy and saw great tennis for cheap compared to the prices at the Open.
Montreal is a great venue. Went there several years ago when they just called it the Rogers Cup. Never been to Toronto.
Marc,
Same! $300 Grounds Passes are out of my budget for sure and 10x other tournaments. This event was the highlight of the Summer for my son and I and I am heartbroken that these prices are so prohibitive.
With food and parking, it’s close to $500 a person.
A heads up regarding reserving the Shops at Skyview Parking – double check the amount charged to your credit card! Although I used the link directly from the US Open page and the checkout page said $13.20, my card was charged $26.40. I called the parking company and they sent me an updated link for the day I wanted to reserve at the $13.20 rate, and refunded the $26.40. Apparently it’s a known issue. Thanks for all of the helpful information! I attended Fan Week yesterday and got to see some big names up close and will be back next… Read more »
Thanks for the heads up Chris! I am considering Skyview Parking for the evening session on Friday, Sept 1. Would you recommend it (visiting with kids)? We also did Fan Week and were able to get into the blue zone (near South gate) but not sure if that will be packed on Friday with the Mets game. Thank You!
I actually took the train in during Fan Week and am planning on driving in when I come back, as there won’t be a Mets game. Sorry I can’t be of more help! I decided to book per PJ’s recommendations in a number of the comments if you have to drive.
Got it, thanks Chris and PJ!
I have night session tickets for Arthur Ashe on 8/30. If I arrive at 4P am I allowed entry to the grounds? If not, is there a bar to get a drink or concession stand right outside?
Hey Tom, unfortunately not – 6pm entry with evening tickets and no bars outside the gates, sorry!
Update! I took an Uber to the South Gate yesterday and I completely regret it. The traffic for Kids Day as so so bad and it took me just as long as it would have on the train and cost so much because they charged me for the extra time it took. I really thought an Uber would be faster and more comfortable but I will be taking the subway from here on out like a good New Yorker!
This is an amazing resource. Thank you so much for doing this. I am coming from Canada and this will be my first US open. I have read this whole article about 6 times to plan my trip!
Jason, thrilled to hear it, thank you!! PJ
Such a helpful site, thank you! Quick question – for night tickets at Louis Armstrong Stadium (9/1) will we see one match or two? And if one, is there a way to know if it will be women’s or men’s?
Hey Jen, you’ll definitely get 2 matches – always 1 men’s + usually 1 women’s singles, but sometimes the women’s singles is swapped for a high-profile doubles (e.g. like Carlos and Venus are playing mixed dubs)! No certainty till schedule posted late afternoon the day prior.
I think if Carlos and Venus make it to 4th round, that game is going to be held in Arthur. What do you think, PJ?
Very possible!
Update; Amex bag check is not free anymore. It is “Discounted”.
I read this in a USO/Amex email I just got.
In the meantime — get psyched!!!!
Thank you!
Hi all! One thing I appreciate each year is learning what first-round match-ups PJ and other knowledgeable folks are most excited about. This info has led me to some amazing outer-court matches! Any thoughts for this year, particularly on Tuesday? Thank you so much! And thanks, PJ, for this wonderful site.
Hi Jess! You’re most welcome! SO many great ones… Tomorrow I’m especially excited about Ben Shelton v Pedro Cachin on Court 10. On Tues, my top outer court match I’m targeting is Khachanov v. Mmoh on Court 12 (2d match), because I think it’s a great matchup (they’re first) and really like both players. Also Tues Humbert v Berrettini Court 5. US Open lists 6 good ones here. Jon Wertheim at SI mentions he’s excited this year about watching: “Off the top of my head (and adding some fun-to-watch ascending vets) … how about: Mirra Andreeva, Arthur Fils, Max (don’t… Read more »
I’m intrigued by Townshend v Gracheva in round 1. I like cheering for Taylor and hope she succeeds here for a very compelling potential round 2 matchup with Sloane Stephens.
Piggybacking a bit, PJ do you see any potential big upsets in round 1?
Hey Matt, Love Taylor! No wild prediction on that front… but definitely rooting for Raonic tomorrow, which would be a bit of an upset. You?
Agree re: Raonic! Will probably be rooting for Thiem as well which would again be an upset on paper. I love Sakkari and I hope she bounces back after Wimbledon but that’s a match I have my eye on as well.
SAME on Thiem!! Sakkari is awesome (did you see the Break Point episode with her featured?)
I have not!
Have fun tomorrow. Looking forward to good matches and (hopefully) no rain on Wednesday.
Hi PJ, great advice throughout – thanks for popularizing the game and making it easier for fans to access the event. Question: with no Grandstand reserved tickets (but AA day and LA evening only), what will be the best bet for the seats if I want to see matches there? Would it be hard to get them in the first days?
Hey Aydin, thanks for the very kind words of appreciation! Grandstand unreserved seating may require a wait at some times, but if you get there enough in advance of any particular match you want to see you shouldn’t have a problem. If it’s the FIRST match of the day you’re targeting (eg Thiem/Bublik tomorrow or Leylah /Alexandrova on Tues) then I recommend you line up at the SOUTH Gate (closer) by 9:00am latest, try to enter as close to 9:30am as you can, and go directly to Grandstand to score the best seats (target the shaded section under the overhang).… Read more »
Thank you, P.J. – very useful advice as always. I would like to see the first match on Monday and continue staying there. I don’t have much experience with Grandstand, what will be the shaded section letter number (I understand that the sun’s position will change during the day)? Also, for unreserved seats, is there a starting row to choose not to be kicked out later on? Thanks!
Hi Aydin, thanks! Southwest corner of Grandstand under the overhang is best for shade. It will be really intuitive when you get up there. Once you’re in your seats you can’t really get kicked out – but once you leave they are fair game for someone else. It’s all part of the adventure 🙂
Thanks P.J. I figured out the shaded part, I think. Question: do unrerserved seats start just behind the solid metal rail like on the photo here?
Correct – but with one row of reserved accessible seats.
Hello, I registered for a free FAN PASS for tomorrow and it says that we can reserve front row seats with this FAN PASS but I have searched everywhere and cannot figure out how to reserve front row seats to the Ashe Experience or to Practice Session tomorrow. Do you know how I can do this? Electronically? Via phone? THANK YOU!!
Hi Brigid, I saw that note on the marketing page too, but I fear some intern wrote it inaccurately and no one caught the error. Fan Pass does give access on a first-come basis to the front 2 rows in Armstrong, but as far as I’m aware you can’t actually reserve individual seats. I just double-checked to see if I could find anything myself and couldn’t… Please let me know if you discover anything more today!