A Serious Tennis Fan’s Complete Guide to the 2026 US Open: Tickets, Tips & More

▸ Returning Visitors: Click Here for Latest Updates!
- June 28: Published fully restructured new version of this post to facilitate navigation, including this PDF 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal — day-by-day ticket options and direct links to check prices and comparison shop on Ticketmaster and Stubhub.
- July 3: Added FAQ: “Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?”
- August 3: Updated details on shade patterns in Armstrong Stadium in FAQ: “Which seats get the most shade?”
- August 27: The NYT reported that the Open would offer limited $25 evening grounds passes for purchase on-site only through Sep 6: “However, they can be purchased only on-site the evening of entry and on nights that Louis Armstrong is sold out (not including resale tickets).” When I asked the US Open box office to provide more details, they wrote: “No unfortunately we cannot confirm availability beforehand, these specific passes are on a day-to-day basis. Evenings grounds passes are only made available day of based on the capacity of the events and the stadiums.”
- August 29: My new chart outlining how scheduling should work beginning in Round 2: “Who Plays on Which Dates After R1?”
- September 1: Fellow fan Carrie reported on the late-night taxi situation: “I had a great experience with getting a yellow cab at the rideshare area by the NY Hall of Science at around 11:30pm the first two nights. NYPD organized the taxis and the taxi line and I waited only a few minutes in line before I was able to get a cab and a fast ride back to the hotel at a very reasonable cost. There were plenty of taxis waiting to pick up folks. This was probably way faster than waiting for an uber, and the police officer organizing the taxi line even made the sure my driver had his meter on when he saw I was a woman traveling solo late at night!”
- September 3: I share observation on the new post-renovation Courtside and Loge sections in my updated FAQ “What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?“
By P.J. Simmons
If you’re a fellow tennis fan planning a trip to the US Open — whether it’s your first visit or your fifteenth — I built this guide for you. As a serious tennis player and fan living in NYC, I feel so lucky that the US Open is in my backyard. I absolutely love the tournament, and find nothing more educational and inspiring for my own game than seeing world-class live tennis.
2026 will mark my 18th time at the US Open, and I’ve learned a ton over the years through trial and error about how to maximize the opportunity, find the best tickets and seats on the Official US Open ticket site on Ticketmaster, StubHub, and other reseller sites, and generally get the biggest bang for the buck. Likewise, I’ve learned so much thanks to fellow fans around the world who have shared their own insights since I wrote the first version of this post over a decade ago.
Below are my top 10 recommendations and practical resources to help you sort through the complexity, understand all the ticket options, and make the best decisions for your own priorities and budget so you have an incredible experience. I’ll continue to update throughout the summer and the tournament. Don’t hesitate to reach out with a question below if you can’t find what you need – I’ll reply as soon as I can.
For my returning friends: Please let me know what you think of this newly restructured and updated version (June 28), which hopefully will make navigation easier and faster for you. Please let me know what you think – I’d really appreciate your feedback!
What Every First-Timer Should Know Before Buying Tickets
Whether it’s your first Open or you just haven’t been in a few years, here are a few things worth understanding before you spend a dollar or make final decisions on when to attend.
Consider taking advantage of incredible FREE opportunities to see world-class tennis and superstars the week before the main tournament (August 23–29)
Before the main tournament begins, there’s a packed week of events at the US Open grounds (“Fan Week”) that offers many opportunities to experience the magic of the Open without spending a dollar on a ticket.
The week kicks off Sunday August 23 with Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. If you have kids, this is a great day to go with lots of interactive games, music, activities.
Then, the Qualifying Tournament (Monday August 24 – Thursday August 27) is an amazing opportunity for serious fans to see major rising players and incredible tennis up close. 128 of the world’s best male and female players (whose ATP and WTA rankings were just shy of qualifying automatically for the US Open) will compete for the final 32 spots (16 each for men and women) in the singles draws. In 2021, #150-ranked qualifier Emma Raducanu went on to win the US Open women’s singles title – the first Grand Slam champion in history to come through qualifiers. Maja Chwalinska came close to doing the same at the 2026 French Open. Read why Fan Week/Qualies are so special in this excellent piece by Steven Kutz.
Throughout the entire week, there are opportunities to see some of the top-seeded players and biggest stars in unofficial practice sessions (details posted on the practice schedule the morning of).
Note: Fan week also features four special events that require paid tickets: including Mixed Doubles Rounds 1&2 (Aug 25 10am); Exhibition play with Roger Federer (Aug 25 7pm); Mixed Doubles Semis and Finals (Aug 26 7pm); and a “Stars of the Open” exhibition (Aug 27 7pm).
IMPORTANT: TO GAIN ADMISSION DURING FAN WEEK, YOU MUST PRE-REGISTER FOR A FREE FAN ACCESS PASS.
The US Open is much bigger than Ashe Stadium. Get the lay of the land before you make your plan.
Most people think of Arthur Ashe Stadium when they think about the US Open—and understandably so. It’s the largest tennis stadium in the world (almost 24,000 seats) and home to many of the tournament’s biggest matches. But the US Open is so much more than Ashe. Think of it as a massive tennis festival spread across an entire campus. On a typical day during the first week, world-class matches take place simultaneously on Ashe plus 16 other courts.
In fact, some of the most exciting tennis during the tournament happens on Louis Armstrong Stadium (almost as big as the main show courts at Wimbledon, the French Open, and the Australian Open with around 14,000 seats plus a retractable roof in case of rain), Grandstand (with 8,100 seats), Court #17 (2,800 seats) and the smaller field Courts #4-16.
Some important basic rules about how entry and seating works:
- Any of the almost 80 ticket options gets you access to the entire US Open grounds — you’ll find every option laid out in the ticket chart below (2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices).
- Once you’ve entered the US Open grounds, you can access unreserved seats (on a first-come basis) in Armstrong, Grandstand, and on every other court except Ashe stadium. Ashe Stadium has no unreserved seats, so you need to buy an Ashe-specific ticket if you want to get in. Armstrong and Grandstand have both reserved ticket options and unreserved seating. Courts #4-17 are entirely first-come, unreserved seating.
- Grounds entry times vary depending on your ticket: A grounds pass or “Day” session reserved ticket for either Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand allows entry when gates first open (usually 9:30am). If you only purchase an “Evening” session ticket for a particular day, you’ll have to wait until 6pm to enter the grounds. Once you’re in the US Open grounds, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
Learn how player and match scheduling works to raise the odds of seeing your favorite players.
Most fans coming to the Open dream of seeing their favorite players in action. But what many first-timers don’t realize is that it’s impossible to predict which players will play on which days, on which courts, or at what time until the detailed “Daily Schedule of Play” is released shortly before the actual match day. So if you buy a ticket to the Open prior to that – which most people do – you’re buying access to matches in a particular round of play, not a guarantee that you’ll see any specific player.
The good news is that having a clear understanding of how scheduling works can dramatically improve your odds of seeing the players and matches that matter most to you. Taking a few minutes now to review these things will put you ahead of the game:
1. Start by getting the big picture of the tournament’s schedule – here’s an overview:
>> You can find a comprehensive, day-by-day breakdown of the schedule and every ticket option here: 2026 US Open Ticket Options
2. Get a sense of what day-by-day match scheduling looks like by reviewing last year’s “Daily Schedules of Play” to get a feel for what types of matches are played on which courts during the various rounds. Keep in mind this is just illustrative: for instance, just because a player was scheduled for certain days or played on certain Ashe Day or Night sessions does not mean you can expect the same for this year!
3. Go deeper: see the FAQ “How can I predict when and where my favorite player will play?” below — it explains how to make educated guesses about who plays when and where.
How to Choose the Right Tickets and Spot Good Deals
One of the most common questions I get every year is some version of: “What’s the best ticket to buy?” The honest answer is that there are many “best” tickets — it simply depends on your priorities and what kind of experience you’re hoping to have. Some fans want the energy of being with 24,000 others in an Arthur Ashe night session. Others are happy spending an entire day roaming the grounds in the early rounds, hopping from court to court. Some want to treat someone special to courtside seats in a final round. Others want the most tennis possible for the lowest price. So the goal is simply to find the ticket that’s best for you.
Below are my top recommendations—followed by a time-saving chart I built to help you compare all the options, benchmark average prices and comparison shop, and make decisions with confidence.
Don’t miss the chance to see world-class players and great matches up close on the other courts beyond Ashe Stadium.

It was awesome seeing Ben Shelton up close for the first time in 2022 on Court #10 in Round 1 (v. Borges)
For my first US Open, I spent about $250 per ticket for a seat in the upper portion of Ashe Stadium for a night match so I’d be guaranteed to see at least one Top 10 player live. While it was certainly thrilling to experience the electricity of an evening Ashe match, I still felt somewhat distant from the action (it’s a mammoth 24,000-capacity venue) and spent much of the time watching the match on the huge video screen. Moreover, because the tournament prioritizes putting the biggest stars on Ashe over the best match-ups, the matches I saw weren’t terribly exciting.
Since then, I’ve become addicted to the unparalleled thrill of seeing many world-class competitors from a few feet away in epic duels on several of the smaller non-Ashe courts (Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand Stadium, the very cool Court #17, and other outer courts #4-#16). Once you have this experience you’ll likely get addicted too. While it’s rare that you’ll see the Top 5 players on those courts, you WILL see other awe-inspiring players in very competitive matches –including seeing rising stars before they become household names, and feel the excitement of “discovering” new talent to cheer for. Over the years I’ve seen countless “next-gen” players up very close for the first time on outer courts before they were super famous — including Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Madison Keys, Dominic Thiem, Sasha Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and many others.
While I recommend everyone experience Ashe Stadium at least once, I also can’t recommend more strongly that you make time to explore the opportunities to see thrilling tennis in more intimate settings on the other 16 courts.
On a tight budget but want to see a lot of tennis? Consider going during Rounds 1 and 2, and aim for an affordable Ashe Stadium (or Armstrong Stadium) DAY session ticket — often comparably priced to a Grounds Pass, but a much smarter buy.

Be sure to take in some Doubles action too. Here was Casper Ruud and his partner William Blumberg during Round 1 in 2024.
Rounds 1 and 2 (Sun–Thurs of the main tournament’s first week) are a great chance to get maximum bang for your buck. There’s so much action across the entire US Open grounds, with matches happening simultaneously on 17 courts all day — and some play stretching into the evening. Crowds are heavy but not as intense as Labor Day weekend. It’s one of my favorite times to be out there.
Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the cheapest way into the Open — but often it isn’t. Before you buy one, always compare it against Ashe and Armstrong DAY-session tickets. During Rounds 1 and 2 those are often available for a similar price (sometimes less!), and they give you everything a Grounds Pass does — early entry when the gates open in the morning, the run of the whole grounds — plus a reserved seat and rain protection (both stadiums have roofs). You may end up roaming the outer courts more than sitting in that seat — but it’s there when you want it, and it guarantees you a spot inside if one of your favorites gets scheduled in that stadium. And keep in mind: a Grounds Pass won’t get you into Ashe at all (every Ashe seat is reserved). So if having Ashe be part of your experience matters to you, a cheap Ashe day ticket in the early rounds is often the most affordable way to do it.
And because a DAY ticket lets you stay on the grounds into the evening, you’ll get hours of extra tennis on the outer courts well past 6pm — all for the price of one ticket.
If your budget can swing it, I strongly recommend getting a courtside reserved seat in Louis Armstrong stadium (especially between Sep 4 – Sep 7) and/or in Grandstand (especially on Sep 4 or Sep 5).

Me spotted on Netflix “Break Point” series cheering on Taylor Fritz and Brandon Holt at the 2022 US Open – front row during awesome match on Grandstand
As a general rule, I encourage fellow fans to budget their time and money in ways that maximize the possibility of a few magical experiences versus a ton of forgettable ones. For instance, if you’re opting between multiple days of cheap nosebleed seats in Ashe’s Upper Promenade versus applying the same budget towards excellent seats on Armstrong or Grandstand for a couple sessions, I generally recommend the latter.
Louis Armstrong (14,053 seats) and Grandstand (8,125 seats) are the other two main show courts after Ashe Stadium – and they offer a much more intimate experience. A reserved courtside ticket for either can give you access to thrilling matches and players up close that you’ll never forget.
The first time I did this in 2010 I saw an unforgettable marathon slugfest between David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco from the first row of the old Armstrong stadium… It gave me a memory I will treasure forever. Ever since, I’ve made it an annual tradition to go with friends to get excellent courtside seats in Armstrong during the 3rd Round or Round of 16. In 2019, I got to see Matteo Berrettini crushing balls in the Round of 16 on Armstrong from the second row (and my phone exploded with texts when my friends and I were spotted on ESPN frequently cheering for him). I’ve had similar transporting experiences in Grandstand over the years – including sitting first row behind-the-server for a match between Auger-Aliassime and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
Both stadiums also feature general admission seating on a first-come basis, but getting good GA seats can be tough and involve long lines for the higher-profile matches — so having a reserved courtside ticket gives you the dual benefit of skipping long lines plus incredible proximity to the players.
If you’ve never done it, consider splurging once on a courtside Ashe seat.

Me caught on ESPN cheering very loudly for Carlitos from front row Ashe (lower left) during 2024 Round 2 (v Botic van de Zandschulp)
After dreaming for years of the possibility, I finally bit the bullet to invest in Arthur Ashe Stadium Courtside seats in 2011 for the first time. It was bliss. Ever since, I’ve made an annual pilgrimage to experience Ashe Courtside with a few close friends at least once.
What most people don’t understand about the mammoth Ashe stadium until they’ve been in person is that even Loge seating is fairly high up because (a) the stadium is very vertically oriented (seating is on a sharp incline) and (b) there are two levels of suites above Courtside before the first row of Loge even begins. So when you’re down in Courtside, you feel like you’re in another world. The feeling of being that close to greatness in Ashe’s electric atmosphere is pretty amazing.
Here’s a video I shot of Federer from the front row in 2011, the very first time I sat courtside at Ashe. I found a great deal on a resale ticket on Labor Day during the Round of 16 and got to witness Federer perfection from a few feet away. Best money I’ve ever spent.
Before you compare options, get clear on what matters most to you for this particular visit — seeing a favorite player, incredible proximity, atmosphere, the most tennis for your money, shade, flexibility, or certainty. The more familiar you become with the market, the easier it becomes to recognize real value when you see it.
Here are 4 steps to making sure you make your decision with confidence:
- Know the benefits/restrictions of each type of ticket – read “What Each US Open Ticket Type Gets You” below.
- Review the day-by-day ticket options and average prices in the chart below. It will give you valuable context for smart decisionmaking, including up-to-date price ranges of what to expect for every single ticket option plus benchmark ranges from last year’s Open.
- Comparison shop — best done on a computer. For my full step-by-step process — which sites, how to read the maps, what to avoid — see “Which ticket site should I use?” under Before You Buy below.
- Scan the topics below under “Before You Buy — Common Questions” to dive deeper into many important questions that may impact your final decision about what’s best for you.

Before You Buy — Common Questions
▸ Should I buy now or wait? Will prices go up or down?
The frustrating reality is: it depends — and it’s impossible to predict with certainty. Buying US Open tickets can be a bit like investing in the stock market: knowledge and good judgment dramatically improve your odds, but there are always surprises because so many variables are involved.
One thing many first-time buyers don’t realize is that the inventory they see today may look very different tomorrow, next week, or later in the summer. Much of the market is driven by resale, because the USTA typically makes relatively few Standard tickets (“blue dots” on Ticketmaster) available, with most inventory pre-allocated to subscribers — and even Standard tickets are dynamically priced rather than sold at a fixed “face value.” As a result, prices can move in unexpected ways.
Historically, some sessions get cheaper as more resale tickets hit the market and sellers compete, while other high-demand sessions rise substantially. Who gets scheduled on which days, courts, and sessions matters too. Last year (2025), schedulers surprised everyone by putting the blockbuster Djokovic–Alcaraz semifinal in the day session rather than at night — so day prices spiked and night prices dropped.
Resale tickets are almost always available until the last minute, so patient buyers sometimes find great deals — but waiting trades certainty for risk. The best advice I can give: familiarize yourself with typical prices for the sessions you’re considering so you can recognize a good opportunity when you see one. The chart above is built for exactly that — every option, this year’s average ranges, and last year’s day-of benchmarks (for context, not prediction). One clue: if you enlarge the Ticketmaster map and see few tickets, scarcity often signals prices may keep rising; abundant inventory often means more downward pressure.
▸ Will the tournament release more Standard tickets and Grounds Passes?
Sometimes yes — but in a completely unpredictable way. The USTA has historically released additional Standard (“blue dot”) tickets throughout the summer for some sessions, sometimes for surprisingly good seats. There has never been a reliable pattern for which sessions or ticket types get more inventory, and Grounds Pass inventory can fluctuate too. My advice: check periodically, especially in the mornings, but don’t count on it for any specific session.
▸ Will I still get good tickets if everything looks expensive right now?
Usually, yes. One of the biggest misconceptions among first-time buyers is that the inventory available when tickets first go on sale is all there will be. In reality, more resale inventory appears throughout the summer, and the USTA often releases additional standard tickets too. The market keeps evolving right up until the tournament begins — and sometimes even on the day of the matches.
▸ Which sessions are the best deals?
This varies year to year, and some of the best last-minute deals turn up when the lineups aren’t what people expected (last year, for example, a marquee semifinal landed in the day session instead of the night). Still, here are a few sessions that tend to be overlooked and have historically offered relatively good value:
- Armstrong evening courtside, week 1 — exciting under the lights in a big stadium, but demand is lower because many fans choose day-session tickets instead (understandably, since a day ticket lets you in as soon as gates open, so you can catch as much tennis as possible). The trade-off: an evening-only ticket won’t get you onto the grounds until 6pm. But it can be an affordable way to see bigger names from a far better vantage point than the upper tier of Ashe.
- Quarterfinal day sessions — the biggest-name lineups almost always go to the night sessions during the quarterfinals. With many tourists gone and locals leaning toward evenings, day tickets here are often cheaper than the Round of 16.
- Labor Day Ashe evening — historically cheaper than other Round-of-16 sessions, since many tourists have headed home and demand dips. You still get great matches, and it’s a great time to experience Ashe at night.
▸ How do I see the exact location of seats I might buy?
Use the “Map View” on Ticketmaster for any particular session provides the best reference for the exact location of specific seat(s). After you click on the session/stadium that interests you, choose Map View, then mouse over or click any of the dots to see the exact section, row, and seat number. This is also helpful if you’re comparison shopping with Stubhub or other resale sites, whose maps may only feature sections and zones and not individual seats.
KEY SEATING CHARTS AND SHADE MAPS
ARTHUR ASHE STADIUM
- NEW 2026 Arthur Ashe Seating Chart
- My NEW 2026 annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Ashe “Interactive Seat Viewer” (updated for 2026) to give you a sense of what view is like from specific seats – which from my experience tends to make seats look like they’re closer than they actually feel when you’re there, but helpful nonetheless.
Update on the Renovated Loge Section
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG STADIUM
- Louis Armstrong Stadium Seating Chart (Official)
- Louis Armstrong Chart (with my annotations)
- Armstrong Interactive “View from Seat” Map
- My annotated Armstrong Stadium SHADE map
GRANDSTAND
▸ What’s different about Ashe after the big 2026 renovation to Ashe Stadium?
A lot. 2026 brings a huge change to Ashe: a major renovation added 2,000 new Courtside seats and removed around 2,800 Loge seats to make room for the expanded courtside area and newly designed luxury suites between the Courtside and Loge levels. Promenade remains exactly the same.
My initial observations after spending a few days watching play from various sections of Ashe in 2026:
The New Courtside
- Courtside seats (even higher rows) remain qualitatively much, much better than Loge and Promenade, which now feel even more remote. Overall, though, courtside feels far less intimate. And more numbers create intense crowds in the “Club Level” corridors (where you get drinks and food).
- Noise levels are worse than ever in the stadium due to the larger numbers of people in courtside and folks in suites, many of whom are drinking heavily and carry on conversations at full voice. All it takes is a few loud conversations to spark a chain reaction: background conversations become white noise, and everyone feels permission to talk loudly.
- Gone are the days when you would be embarrassed for standing in an aisle except during changeovers. The longer stairways — coupled with the highly questionable elimination of the continuous walkway at the top of Courtside — means people take too long to get to their seats.
- The addition of two cordoned-off Courtside rows (“100A-100E”) with walkway behind the umpire chair feels, to be perfectly frank, obnoxious. One the one hand, I applaud the move to put Players’ Boxes into the first row on this side (section 100A) and directly opposite (105AA). And I understand the need to reserve parts of these rows (especially 100G) for VIPs like Billie Jean King and provide special security for them. But selling the rest of these seats to ultra-rich subscribers — many of whom skip matches in favor of hanging in suites or resell the seats at out-of-reach, exorbitant prices — is infuriating to someone like me who has spent hard-earned savings on those seats in the past and literally been moved to tears of joy and appreciation to be in them watching favorite players.
The New Loge
In previous years, I recommended prioritizing the lower half of Loge when Courtside wasn’t in the budget, because even the front rows of Loge were already relatively high up. With the new design, the front rows of Loge now sit meaningfully farther from the court (only 5 of the original 13 rows of Loge remain) – so sitting in Loge is only marginally better than lower Promenade, making it hard to justify paying much of a premium.
A warning about the first row of the new Loge section: The roof of the luxury suites just below juts out like a sore thumb from the front row, both creating a visual and emotional barrier to the court. Here’s a photo I took from the new Section 231 Row A.
I’ll update the FAQ on views from seats as soon as I can with a few more photos, but wanted to share this update in real time (Sep 3, 2026).
▸ Which seats get the most shade?
ASHE STADIUM
The roof creates a huge amount of natural shade all day for many seats. The most shade is in the South and West sections. Next-best is the North. The most sun (to avoid for Day sessions) is on the East side. See my Ashe shade map. I will update this with more details after I’ve experienced Ashe post-renovation in person during Fan Week this year.
GRANDSTAND
Much less shade overall, but South and West are again better because the sun is more at your back. GA seats higher under the overhang — especially the Southwest corner — get the most.
ARMSTRONG STADIUM
Sections 1–8 (South and West) are best overall for shade, with Section 2 the best (in shade all day). Sections 11-16 (East) are the worst and sit in direct afternoon sun (however the top couple of rows are shaded all day due to the overhang from the upper deck). See this basic overview of the Armstrong shade pattern – then see these additional photos showing how various sections are impacted throughout the day. Additional details:
- Section 1 is fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then some rows and some seats in the first 8-10 rows start getting some sun). See this photo.
- Sections 17-18: Fully shaded until around 12:30pm, then lower rows start getting sun. By about 2:15, many of the first 8-10 rows (rows E-O) are getting sun – see this photo and this photo. By 3pm a few more rows in 17 and 18 get sun – see this photo. By around 4pm (not sure exact time) all of 17 and 18 are shaded completely again
- Sections 3-8 (West side/Chair umpire side) is in full sun at 11am, but the shade gradually moves down to blanket more and more rows such that by 12:30pm the top 10 rows (appx) are in shade and by around 1pm all seats are fully shaded.
- The last 2 rows in the lower bowl around the entire stadium stay shaded (under the overhang from the upper bowl).
- Sections 8-11: Rows U and above are always shaded, most other seats always in direct sun.
▸ Which sections and seats have the best views?
Most people consider “behind the server” seats (the North or South ends of the court) the best — and prices reflect it. For first-timers, that’s my top recommendation. It’s the angle used for broadcast: you can follow point construction and see the court from the perspective of the player on your side of the net, without moving your head side to side. Here’s a photo of the same perspective (from higher up seats) in Armstrong. Here’s another photo from Ashe courtside front row.
Corner sections are also widely considered to be highly desirable — and for good reason. They carry many of the same advantages of the above, with the added benefit you can see the player on your side of the net from the front as their hitting the ball not just the back. Here’s a photo from the new Armstrong from that perspective.
As a serious player myself, I personally love sitting courtside as close as possible in lower rows of sections where seats are practically on the court, perpendicular and near to the actual baseline (e.g., section 120 in renovated Ashe) because it gets me physically even closer to the players and more on the same level. Sitting in the lower rows, I feel even more like I’m on the court with them. I feel the speed of the game. In these seats, I personally enjoy watching one player at a time sometimes to see their footwork, how they prepare for the next ball, etc. Here’s a photo from Ashe courtside from that perspective.
For Loge or Promenade in Ashe, I generally recommend the lowest rows you can get regardless of location, since Loge — and especially Promenade — are already quite high up.
For Day sessions, factor in shade (West, Southwest, and Northwest get the most relief; see the shade question above). The umpire chair is never a real obstruction, but in very low rows on that side it can be a minor annoyance.
▸ Which seats in Promenade have obstructed views?
There are a handful of specific seats worth avoiding in Promenade based on reader reports in the comments over the years and posts on “View from my Seat.” Two recommendations based on every obstruction complaint I’ve ever heard about the Promenade:
1. Avoid aisle seats in Promenade rows A-E (due to large glass safety panels at the bottom of aisle stairways).
At the bottom of every aisle staircase, there’s a clear safety panel (with a metal support bar) to keep people from stumbling over the ledge. These sit at the ends of the rows, all the way around the stadium. If you’re in one of the first several rows (roughly A through E) AND in the seat or two directly beside an aisle, that glass and bar can cut right across your view of the court. Fans report this year after year, always in the same spots: the aisle-adjacent seats in the low rows. A few rows up, or a few seats over, and the problem disappears. The added bonus of skipping these seats: you’ll avoid fans walking up and down the aisles (which they’re only allowed to do in Promenade).
2. Unless you are fairly tall, avoid Row A in Promenade due to the metal safety rail. The front row of the Promenade has a horizontal rail along it. For many adults it’s a non-issue — you see right over it. But if you’re on the shorter side, or bringing kids, the rail can sit annoyingly close to your sightline to the near baseline. My advice for most folks is to avoid the first row altogether. Rows B and C give you virtually the same view with zero rail, and Row A’s extra legroom probably isn’t worth the tradeoff.
Check out photos from other fans of particular seats in Promenade at “View from my Seat.”
Note: I am not able yet to address questions about structural obstructions in the newly renovated Courtside and Loge sections – I’ll update after I’m there this year.
▸ Day session or evening — which is the better value?
For most fans, day sessions offer better overall value. You’ll typically get more tennis, more scheduling flexibility, and grounds access from morning until late evening. Evening sessions often feature big names and a special atmosphere under the lights, but you’re usually paying for fewer matches. Which is “better” comes down to whether you care more about the quantity of tennis or the energy of a showcase night session.
▸ Is a Grounds Pass worth it?
Sometimes — but usually not. Many fans assume a Grounds Pass is automatically the best value; often it isn’t. Before buying one, always compare prices for Ashe and Armstrong day-session tickets. If they’re available for a similar price, you get all the same grounds-access privileges plus a reserved seat and valuable rain protection from the stadium roofs.
▸ Should I buy a subscription or multi-session plan?
For most serious fans, I don’t recommend it. Most multi-session and first-time subscription plans are only for Promenade seats — so high up in that huge stadium that you’ll watch much of the match on the Jumbotron or through binoculars. It can take years to upgrade to Loge (only available with the very expensive full-series plan). For the price of a full-series plan (well over $2,000 each) you could buy several amazing seats across the tournament — or two excellent seats for the Men’s Final. And there’s always a glut of Promenade Ashe seats on the resale market, so an entire series of Promenade seats can be hard to resell.
▸ Which ticket site should I use? How to comparison shop?
Start with Ticketmaster, then compare resale. My process:
- Consult 2026 US Open Ticket Options and Average Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal to learn the average price ranges for the sessions you care about.
- Always check the official Ticketmaster US Open site first — on a computer for the fastest navigation. Use “map view” (click any section), try different sortings, and use multiple tabs to compare sessions. Ticketmaster shows both Standard tickets (“blue dots” — face value, most often Promenade, occasionally Loge/Courtside) and resale tickets (“red dots”). Surprisingly, resale red dots are often the best value, because resellers undercut each other. Tickets stay on sale up to 59 minutes after a session starts if inventory remains, and both Ticketmaster and StubHub make it easy to relist if your plans change (you need a US bank account to re-list on Ticketmaster).
- Compare availability and prices with StubHub and any other preferred resellers to see if you can find an even better deal for comparable seats. Other sites I’ve never had any problems with include Viagogo, VividSeats, SeatGeek, or Ticket Liquidator. I personally no longer recommend TickPick after two very poor experiences. My “2026 US Open Ticket Options” chart linked above links directly to every specific Ticketmaster and StubHub session ticket option.
- Only buy resale tickets that specify the exact Section, Row, and Seat (or seat range) matching the stadium seat maps in this post. Double-check what you receive matches what was advertised; reputable resellers refund a misrepresented ticket (but then it’s on you to find another).
- Never buy off Craigslist or classified sites — too many scams, and NYC law bans “scalping” within 1,500 feet of the venue (effectively everywhere off the subway), with undercover police on site.
- Going with friends? Consider buying a mix of cheap and amazing seats and trading off time in the great one (Promenade vs. Courtside, or across stadiums) — I do this every year. All tickets are mobile-only; if you don’t have a smartphone, Ticketmaster customer service can move yours to Will Call.
- For package deals (tickets + hotel/transport/VIP), trusted options include Championship Tennis Tours, Grand Slam Tennis Tours, and Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.
▸ Are resale ticket sites safe?
Generally, yes — provided you use reputable marketplaces. In some cases resale tickets are actually better values than standard tickets, because sellers compete on price. Before buying, always verify the section, row, and seat numbers, and make sure the ticket is clearly marked for mobile transfer.
▸ How can I predict when — and where — my favorite player will play?
While you can never be absolutely sure whether your favorite player will be scheduled for a Day or Night session (or on which court) until the Schedule of Play is released the day prior to matches, you CAN predict which DATE your favorite players will play if they advance after the Round 1 schedule is announced. Here’s a chart showing which players would play on which days after Round 1 if they advance (based on the pattern from the first two days of Round 1).
To be absolutely sure you see your favorite player, consider waiting until the schedule is published the day prior (start checking frequently early afternoon, usually out by 5:00pm), then immediately go to the official Ticketmaster US Open site or other resale sites like Stubhub to grab a resale ticket. This strategy requires, however, that you monitor the ticket situation closely in the days prior and are prepared to act immediately when the schedule is announced. Also, if you see tickets becoming scarce and prices going up in the days prior, you may conclude it’s worth taking a chance and purchasing based on an educated guess.
Another way to see your favorite player up close is to watch them when they’re scheduled for practice on the practice courts. See Tip #9
- Only the biggest superstars (like Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff) are sure to be scheduled on Ashe – others might be scheduled on Armstrong, Grandstand, or field courts. Schedulers have been known to put even the #1-ranked player in the world on Armstrong or Grandstand, as they did in 2021 with then #1 Simona Halep during Round 1 (on Grandstand) and then #2 Aryna Sabalenka (Armstrong).
- There’s never any sure way to predict whether players will be scheduled for DAY or NIGHT sessions. Officials try to spread the wealth and be fair to players by alternating players between Day and Night sessions. Contrary to popular belief, they do not always schedule the biggest stars at night. The one exception to this is Quarterfinals, when biggest stars are almost always scheduled for the night sessions.
- For Men’s Semifinals, we learned last year (2025) never to assume that the biggest starpower matches would be put on the Night session: they shocked everyone and put the Alcaraz v Djokovic match on during the Day session, and Sinner v Auger-Aliassime at night.
How to Get the Most of Your Visit
The night before you go, check the Schedule of Play
1. Download the official US Open Everywhere App (search “2026 US Open Tennis”) for the latest schedule, scores, and live updates. I also recommend SI.com’s tennis page for terrific day-to-day coverage and analysis.
2. Be sure to check the Schedule of Play here (or on the App) to identify the matches that most interest you and build your plan around that.
3. If you are targeting the first match of the day on either Grandstand or Armstrong and if you don’t have a reserved seat, aim to get in line early at either the East Gate (for Armstrong) or South Gate (for Grandstand) so you can be among the first to enter when gates open at 9:30am. Then speed-walk over and grab the best seat you can.
4. If you’re a player, you might be interested in reading my ten ideas for watching a pro match to help improve your own game— some of the ways I challenge myself to watch live tennis more deliberately from the perspective of a player who wants to improve.
Check out the practice courts for close sightings of the superstars
Check the practice schedule here (or on the US Open App) the night before and the morning of your day at the Open. Note: the best time to see top players practice without fighting as many crowds is during the Fan Week (see Tip 1).
Don’t drive unless you really have to — here’s how to get there
My top recommendation is to take the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to “Mets-Willets Point.”
It’s super fast (under 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan) and drops you literally steps from the US Open’s East Gate. You can take it from either Moynihan Train Hall (8th Avenue between West 31st-33rd) or Grand Central. Look for “Port Washington” train on the monitors (signage may say “GREAT NECK” or “PORT WASHINGTON” — double-check the train number.) See 2026 LIRR schedule here. Download the MTA TrainTime app to purchase tickets. Important: the Mets-Willets LIRR stop is NOT accessible for fans with disabilities — exit instead at Woodside/61st St and transfer to the 7 train (or just take the 7 to Mets-Willets Point).
The subway #7 train is also a convenient (and the least expensive) option.
Takes a bit longer, but runs 24 hours. Stops include Grand Central. Download the MTA App for train time and routes. If you must drive: See the US Open’s driving directions and parking details. Plan extra time when the Mets are home (Aug 24-30 and Sep 4-6); I recommend arriving no later than 8:30am on Mets’ dates to be on the safe side. A good alternate parking option is the Shops at Skyview – about a 10-minute walk to the East Gate (and you can reserve a spot in advance for a discounted rate here). Consider buying a resale parking pass on StubHub for a specific lots. Fellow fan Harry notes street parking under or south of Highway 495 is viable if you don’t mind a walk.
Thinking of using UBER/ LYFT/ TAXI? They’re great getting out to the Open – but can be a nightmare coming back after a night session.
To the Open, set the destination to “Billie Jean King National Tennis Center” (drops near the South Gate) or “Mets-Willets Point” (near the 7 train, then walk the footbridge to the East Gate). After a night session, be ready for long waits and heavy surge pricing — thousands of people will be trying to do the same. Alternatives: reserve a car service in advance (I’ve used Riverside), take the LIRR or 7 into Manhattan and hail a cab there, or hail under the 7 train on Roosevelt Ave (or use the Curb app).
Consider staying nearby in Queens and walking or biking.
Fellow fan Mark stayed at an Airbnb on Queens Boulevard about 2 miles away: flat terrain, good bike lanes, and bike racks across from the South Gate — “a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute.”
Coming directly from Laguardia?
It’s only a 9-minute cab ride — or take the Q48 public bus to the “Roosevelt Av/Willets Pt” stop (around 30 minutes). You can check your bag at the US Open before you enter the grounds.
More Common Questions - Good to Know Before You Go
▸ What can I bring — and what’s not allowed? (No backpacks!)
Be sure to review this official complete list of prohibited items before going! To help clarify some common confusions:
- You CAN bring a drawstring bag (click here for example) but NOT a backpack with two straps
- You CAN bring a digital camera with video capabilities (however they do NOT allow “Video cameras or recording devices”, which includes GoPros)
- You CAN bring a plastic or metal water bottle 24 oz or less to refill on site (but NOT anything glass!)
- You CAN bring a fanny pack: but if you do you’ll still need to go through the “with bag” security line
- You CAN bring sunscreen in lotion form only, NOT aerosol cans
- According to the US Open bot on the website: “Outside food or beverages (excluding alcohol) CAN be brought into the US Open grounds, but must fit into one sized bag. There are no exceptions.”
- There is storage outside both East and South Gate entrances if you need it: (in 2025 it was $10 per locker, $20 for large items including suitcases). Bag check for American Express cardholders is discounted (1 bag per card).
Be prepared to wait in a potentially long security line if you have any bag at all (i.e. an enclosed object that doesn’t fit in your clothes), whereas you can breeze through a separate express line for those without bags.
Before Leaving, Don’t Forget…
- Download your mobile tickets to your mobile wallet (e.g. Apple Wallet or something like WalletPasses on Android)
- Sunglasses and sunscreen (lotion not spray)! If you forget, La Roche offers free samples just inside the EAST gate entrance.
- A backup phone charger (e.g. a Mophie) if you have one – although there are Chase-sponsored free chargers on site.
- A lightweight white towel (and/or lightweight neck gaiter) to protect exposed skin from sun or to sit on when in unreserved seats, which can get hot and uncomfortable.
- Reusable plastic water bottle (to refill using any of the many water fountains).
- A small umbrella if rain may be in the forecast
- Dress in layers as it can get hot during the day and occasionally chilly at night
- Contacts wearers: A very small bottle of contact lens solution in case you get something in your eye
- FYI: There are two entrances to the grounds: (1) the main entrance, the “East Gate,” located near the Subway/LIRR; and (2) the “South Gate” entrance near the iconic World’s Fair “Unisphere” (globe) – see map above. While lines tend to be shorter by the South Gate, the wait may end up being about the same because there are fewer attendants and metal detectors.
▸ Can I exit and re-enter the US Open grounds?
DAY SESSION ENTRY TO US OPEN GROUNDS (Gates open usually 9:30 most days, 11:00am Finals weekend)
- With either a Grounds Pass (Day) or a DAY-session reserved ticket in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand), you can enter the US Open grounds as soon as gates open (usually 9:30am, 11am on Finals weekend)
- Enter the US Open Grounds through security with your ticket scanned at the East Gate or South Gate; if you have a reserved stadium seat, your ticket is re-checked entering that stadium. Once you enter the US Open grounds with any ticket, you can stay as late as you want until closing.
- Note: DAY-session reserved tickets for Ashe or Armstrong only entitles you to that seat for the Day-session matches — after which you will have to leave your seat but can remain on the US Open grounds and access general unreserved seating on every court except Ashe (which has no unreserved seating).
- You can exit the grounds and re-enter as much as you’d like before 6:00pm (you can’t re-enter the Grounds after 6:00pm).
EVENING SESSION ENTRY (6:00pm)
- If you only have an Evening session ticket, you have to wait until 6:00pm to enter the grounds.
- If you are already in the grounds and also hold an Evening reserved tickets (for Ashe or Armstrong) for the same day, you do NOT need to exit and re-enter the grounds.
- If you’re in Armstrong for the Day session (courtside or GA), you’ll leave your seat between sessions while they clean, but you can stay in the Armstrong concourse.
▸ What if it rains?
The good news: since both Arthur Ashe and the new Louis Armstrong have roofs, far more fans can keep watching even
if it rains.
The bad news: if you’ve invested in Grandstand seats or just a Grounds Pass, there’s less consolation. Keep in mind weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable and change by the hour — there’s always hope showers pass quickly.
In the rare event of an all-day rainout (or under 60 minutes of play), the session may be rescheduled to the next day and your ticket honored then — or, if you bought directly from Ticketmaster, you may be able to trade tickets for another session this year or next (see the US Open’s somewhat complicated 2026 Inclement Weather Policy).
Worst case, look for the silver lining: you’ll be among thousands of fans you can grab a specialty cocktail with, huddle under shelter, and watch an Ashe match together on the big screen.
▸ Is grounds admission free on the second Thursday (Sep 10)?
One of the best-kept secrets: for years the US Open has quietly offered free grounds admission on the second Thursday of the main tournament (gates usually open 11am or noon; you must arrive before 5pm) — a chance to see the Men’s Doubles Semifinals plus all-star wheelchair players, the world’s top juniors, and standout collegiate players.
If you’re a serious fan — especially a doubles player — this is a day not to be missed.
▸ Food
FOOD: There are a bunch of options on site, but they aren’t cheap! See my chart outlining examples of the food stands by area on the grounds.
- This PDF includes several menus from past Food Village stands. Every year there are some new additions and substitutions, but many of these will still be around in 2026.
- Korilla BBQ is one of my favorites, but lines are usually among the longest.
- Poke Yachty is absolutely delicious and lines move quickly because they’ve nailed their system.
- Oyster Bar behind Grandstand has killer ceviches and lobster rolls.
- Hill Country BBQ, Curry Kitchen, Fish Shack and Fly Fish are also delicious.
- Restaurants in Queens not on the grounds
▸ What are perks for cardholders?
- AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDERS: Bring your Amex card if you have one! See full Amex Benefits at US Open here. Perks from 2025 likely to be repeated in 2026:
- (1) Amex Card Member Lounge on the 2d Level of the Amex “Fan Experience” (where anyone can also play a “Glow Tennis” mixed reality interactive game and get a complimentary manicure with tennis themed nail art).
- (2) Centurion Suite in Armstrong (Exclusive to Platinum and Centurion Members). Book in advance on Resy
- (3) Book complimentary court time in NYC area at over 500 tennis and pickleball courts and unlock special access to peak reservation times when using your Amex.
- (4) Check your bag for a reduced fee at East or South Gate
- (5) Get a one-time $20 statement credit when you spend $100 with your enrolled card at participating US Open merchants
- (6) Get a free earpiece/radio to hear ESPN match commentary
- (7) Skip lines and grab concession items quickly (checkout-free shopping) at the Amex Shop in South Plaza .
- CHASE CUSTOMERS? Check this Chase site for updates on perks for 2026.
- Click here to make a reservation to access the “Chase Lounge”
- Other past perks have included offering cool video+mobile “Chase Charge & Watch” chargers
▸ Recommended places to stay?
This is not an area of expertise for me, but I trust fellow tennis fanatic Melissa, who maintains a great list of hotels appealing to all budgets here.
Fellow fan Mark recommends staying in Queens and biking, based on his experience: “We packed our bikes and stayed at a nice AirB&B on Queens Boulevard, a little over 2 miles from the stadium. Queens has a great network of dedicated bike lanes and a friendly attitude toward bikers, and best of all – the terrain is flat! Once at the grounds, there are bike racks across from the South Gate entrance and in front of the security tent that handles baggage claim. It is a fun and hassle-free way to make the commute for anyone that so inclined!”
▸ Grounds access on Finals Weekend?
Grounds Admission tickets usually get issued at some point over the summer for Finals Weekend (Fri-Sun Sep 11-13) on Ticketmaster.
You can’t access Ashe with these tickets, but you can walk the grounds, see juniors and wheelchair finals, and watch Ashe matches on the big screens.
Final Tip: Pay It Forward When You Can
If you have the opportunity, consider a random act of kindness for fellow fans during the tournament. Our tennis community is big, but in a way it’s small — and our passion is infectious; do something kind for someone today, and they’re likely to pay it forward.
For instance, if you’re leaving your great Ashe (or Armstrong or Grandstand) seat for the day/night while matches are still going, as you exit consider consider gifting it to a fan who’s waiting outside the entrance hoping someone like you might offer. Giving someone on grounds your seat when you’re done isn’t as easy as it used to be, given tightened Ticketmaster restrictions preventing transferring after the ticket is scanned and preventing screenshots from within the Ticketmaster app… But with a little creativity and effort you can pretty easily make it happen, and the gesture might create a lifelong memory for someone else. Here’s how:
- Take a screenshot of your ticket in your phone’s WALLET (Ticketmaster will block screenshots from within the app).
- For Armstrong or Grandstand, simply text someone else the screenshot and it should hopefully suffice.
- For Ashe:
- If gifting to someone already IN the stadium, a screenshot from your wallet should suffice — including if you’re leaving the Courtside/Club level area entrance and you want someone already in Ashe to benefit from your seat (from Loge or Promenade.
- If gifting to someone already in the Open grounds but not in Ashe already: You’d need to walk with them to the Ashe entrance, re-scan your ticket (telling the ticket scanner that you’re letting your friend go to your seat) AND give them a screenshot (which they’ll need to show to ushers or for entry to Club level); OR you’d need to walk with the friend(s) as if you were going to re-enter with them, hand the friend your phone to get scanned, then have the friend discreetly pass the phone back after they are “in” (then just turn around as though you changed your mind about entering themselves at this time).
I’ve gifted a lot of tickets over the years, and it always feels wonderful.












Hi PJ. I am trying to get tickets for my son and I to attend for the first time. I found what I thought were Ashe day passes for Sept 1 on a reseller site for $115 each. After the order went through, I realized these are passes for Aces/Champions club. Do these club passes even get us into the grounds? I think I made a big mistake.
Hey Eric, Unfortunately not, I’m so sorry to hear this. Do you think the label on the tickets you purchased was misleading in any way? Some unscrupulous resellers (albeit a small minority) do use misleading language to take advantage of folks who don’t know better. If so, I’d contact the reseller you purchased from and let them know that the language led you to believe they were grounds passes and you want a refund. If indeed the seller didn’t post clear information, the reseller’s buyer protection guarantee should come into play.
Hey P.J. – this is amazing. Very insightful info. My wife and I have gone the last 2 years will make it an annual trip from here on out. The “Shade” map for Ashe is money, thanks for that outline. Also, have you or anyone you know utilized the luggage lockers outside of the gates? We may be attending directly from the airport this year. Curious how they work and how secure they are if you had any info on that? Thanks! Ryan
Hey Ryan, thanks so much, gratifying to hear! Yes, I’ve used the storage option several times myself both by the East and South Gates and it’s very secure – they are staffed and supervised by people the entire time, and it’s like a baggage “check” (rather than self-serve lockers). PJ
Thanks, P.J.! Appreciate the insight. Might make sense for us to use this year. I think they also provide a discount for AmEx card holders? Excited to get back down to Flushing Meadows for the Open. Thanks again, Ryan
Sure thing!
Hi PJ,
Update on lounges:
Chase: reservations open now for all sessions, here: https://chasegetsyoucloser.com/
Amex: reservations open each day of the tournament at 10 am through Resy
Thanks Alejandro! PJ
Oh my Gosh how I love and depend on your website! THANK YOU! One suggestion – might you also include the Session#s when applicable. For instance on the Price Estimate chart – Saturday 8/31 is Day6, but Session 11 and 12. I’m not sure why Ticketmaster does it that way, but it certainly gets confusing trying to make dates, sessions and days of play align. Thank you again!
Hi Lisa, oh my gosh how I appreciate your kind comment! THANK YOU! Great suggestion and yes, absolutely. I’ll try to do it tonight or tomorrow…
Hey Lisa, I updated the chart to add session #2 and direct TM links to each specific ticket type. Thanks for the nudge!
Hi P.J., great guide as others have mentioned.
For the Ashe Loge seats (like 130s); do they keep releasing standard seats until some date or does it keep going until the tourney? Thanks!
Hey James, they do indeed right up until the day of – and they tend to pop up more for sessions where there is a relatively lackluster lineup announced or relatively less popular players. It’s worth noting that Ashe Loge and Courtside standards have always been notoriously rare, even on day one of public sales. What’s especially shocking this year is the dearth of even Promenade-level standards.
Why do you think there’s such a lack of promenade level face value seating? Are the tickets just being bought up that quickly?
Honestly, I’m as shocked as everyone else and don’t know. It could be that they offered more seats for series subscriptions and more got sold this year. It could also be that they’re holding more back than usual and may release more – but that would really surprise me.
Hi PJ…your site is really incredible. Thank you for compiling all of this. I am planning to take my wife up for her 50th b-day and am looking at a night session on Sat 8/31 and a day session on Sun 9/1. As everyone has pointed out, the prices are high but I also want a memorable experience and would love to be as close to the action as possible. I saw you suggested to try & get close in Armstrong or Grandstand but didn’t really mention Ashe…is this simply because it’s so big? Anyway, would love to hear how… Read more »
Hi Robbie, thank you! It may not have come through clearly enough in my Tip #6 that one of my favorite experience is sitting courtside at Ashe, especially in night sessions. It’s nirvana for me, given the combination of experiencing the electricity of such a huge stadium (“stage”) WITH the proximity to the players (and, much less significantly but still really cool, access to the club level vendors that are pricey but have some great food and drink, which I always just enjoy from my seat). If it doesn’t break the budget, I’d strongly recommend that be your Saturday night… Read more »
Thank you – very helpful!
Hi PJ,
Thanks for the guide, I go to the open almost every year and always reference your guide when I’m looking for tickets. I noticed in your new 2024 Ticket Price guide that you have the Monday Sep. 2nd grounds pass at $105 or lower. It’s currently going for around $160 so I was just curious about how confident you are that it will go down in price as the event gets closer?
Thanks again,
Ben
Hi Ben, Sure thing. I hesitate to predict on prices… The guide I posted is to help folks have a bit more guidance when trying to spot a good deal this year, with <$105 meaning anything under that would constitute a good deal for a grounds pass that day - either standard or on resale market. But prices may well end up being more. There's a good chance USTA will release more standard grounds tickets for that day before the tournament, but there's never any guarantee.
Got it! Is there any way to know when the USTA posts more standard grounds tickets for a given day or do you just need to check Ticketmaster?
Hey Ben, unfortunately not – totally random and unpredictable, frustratingly!
Okay, I figured that was the case but just wanted to check. Thanks for the info PJ!
I’ve been working on my own guide based on what I am seeing but I need some more time to put it together. I am out of town this week so I don’t think I can get it to you before the tournament starts. Sorry I may just have to send it to you after the tournament.
Amazing, thanks and no rush!
Thanks PJ, this is amazing! Quick question. A friend and I want to go for the first time to a men’s semifinals match on the last Friday. Originally we were thinking about going to the 7pm session, but based on the schedule of play and ticket prices, it seems that the earlier session gives us a doubles final AND a mens semifinals for a cheaper price. I’m thinking we do that and then watch the night men’s semifinal match within the grounds on a big screen which I’m assuming they would have everywhere? Is that true and do you agree… Read more »
Hey Rohan, thank you! Completely agree with your reasoning and that decision makes eminent sense. The only thing to keep in mind is that they will definitely schedule the match with the biggest star/ best match for evening (they don’t always do that in previous rounds, but they DO always do it for quarters and semis). Have fun!
Thanks PJ! Just a question I had with no definitive answer…. but do you think a Djokovic-Zverev would overake a Sinner Alcaraz to be the night session? I would much rather see Sinner-Alc, but of course Djokovic is by far the biggest star and Zverev is the next best.
Hi Rohan, sorry for the late reply (a casualty of being at the Open all day/night yesterday and focus on real work today!). Sorry to say (as a big Carlos fan) that the question is now moot 🙁 PJ
Thanks for insight.
First time going, I have tickets for 3rd round evening session. Does it mean there will be 2 matches played that night, first starts at 7:00?? Thanks
Hi Britton, correct! 1 women’s singles match, 1 men’s singles match – could be in either order (they’ll post the day prior). Entry allowed to Grounds at 6pm.
Thanks so much!
My pleasure!
Hi PJ: Thank you for your guide, it has been so useful for me This will be my first time in the US Open and I already have Ashe’s night tickets for Friday and Saturday, managed to buy them on regular sale. I also want to go during they day for any of those dates to be able to watch a lot of tennis, so I want to buy either ground pass or the cheapest Ashe´s day tickets. However, ground pass or Ashe’s tickets are about USD 270 on Seatgeek or Ticketmaster, is it possible for ground pass to go… Read more »
Hey Renato, I’m so glad it’s been helpful for you! I wish I could give certain advice on this one. If it were me personally, I’d probably wait until we get closer to make the call on the FRIDAY Day ticket (maybe even until the day before on Thurs when schedule is released) because there’s more of a chance of some movement in prices for Friday — and if there’s rain in the forecast, you won’t want that grounds pass. However, I’d keep monitoring over next couple weeks and if it looks like Promenade resale tickets are going fast then… Read more »
Hi PJ,
Thank you so much for this very detailed information.
We are coming to watch the US Open for the first time…..from Down Under!
I’m very shocked with the price of the tickets…..even just the groundpass……so ridiculously, crazy expensive!!!
Reading through this website I’ve now decided to buy a ticket at Arthur Ashe because it’s just similar price with the groundpass.
PS. Have you been to Australian Open?
Thanks,
Mina
Hi Mina, you’re most welcome – and so glad you’re coming! Yes, ticket prices are truly shocking this year. I have been to the Australian Open (Jan 2020, just before COVID!) and had the best time, wonderful tournament, so much fun. Each of the 4 slams has such different character, and so I’ll be eager to hear what you think of the US Open. Please do plan to spend a good portion of time outside of Ashe – so much of my joy of the US Open comes from those serendipitous moments seeing spectacular play with fellow fans on the… Read more »
Hi PJ, Thank you for your reply. I totally agree with you on spending time outside the big court…. I just love the whole atmosphere during the tournament. That’s why I was originally just thinking of buying the ground pass but now knowing there’s not much difference on the prices then I would rather get a ticket for the Arthur Ashe stadium but can still get access everywhere. It’s in my bucket list to visit all the 4 slams, but Wimbledon I know now that’s it’s via ballot system but I know that you can get a general ticket but… Read more »
Hey Mina, my pleasure! I unfortunately haven’t been able to get back to RG since I was in college so can’t be of much help on that front. PJ
Mina, re Wimbledon:
My grandson and I went on the opening day in 2016. The owner of the Airbnb were we stayed within walking distance showed us the queue Sunday evening at the gate. But he told us that if we walk early Monday morning and get in the queue before the first train unloaded we would be able to get ground passes without having to camp overnight. Not only was he correct, but we were able to buy reserved seats in Stadium Court #2!
Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you for your info Dr. Jay.
I will keep that in mind for future 🙂
It definitely helps when we have some advice from people who had experience it before……like you. Thank you again 🙂
Cheers, Mina
Tickets for the first round in Ashe promenade are similar in price to what tickets for the AO (and Wimbledon) final go for. Truly crazy. It’s NYC and they know people will still pay.
I am seeing face value tickets go extremely quickly this year.
Hi PJ,
Can I ask if you know the cheapest ticket at Arthur Ashe during the first couple of days?
Also, the price at Stubhub will that be the price that people have originally paid for or it’s a bit more? Just wondering as I’ve notice that there’s different price every time I checked …..it fluctuates which I think is good for us who’s on the budget 🙂
Hi again again! 🙂 Most of what you see now on Ticketmaster or Stubhub are resale tickets – which sometimes vastly exceed the original price. If you click through any ticket on Ticketmaster to the checkout page (before hitting purchase) they will show the original ticket price along with fees, etc. Check out my new chart here for some additional background that may be helpful.
Hi Pj,
Just one more question. On 27 Aug there’s tickets for session 3 & 4 at Arthur Ashe. Does this mean that you can only stay for either of the session whichever the ticket you buy?
I’m about to buy my tickets but I’m a bit confuse because in Australia when you buy a day pass ticket at Rod Laver Arena you can stay the whole day and watch all the games played on that day…..so this is not how it is at Arthur Ashe???
Hi Mina, take a look at this chart for a summary of how tickets work and my entire “Box 1” for more details.
Ashe has 2 separately ticketed sessions each day (Day and Evening). If you want to attend both, you need to buy tickets to both sessions.
If a ticket option you’re considering says sessions 3 AND 4, beware: the description may be misleading. Assume you’re looking on another site besides Ticketmaster, which wouldn’t list a ticket that way.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi PJ,
Thank you for your quick reply.
I attached the screen shot from Stubhub where it says session 3 and session 4.
Yes, I understand that there’s day and evening session which is the same here at Rod Laver Arena…..that’s why I’m a bit confuse why it’s saying session 3???? So you think this is not legit?
Hi Mina, I think you may have attached the wrong screenshot. This screenshot shows two separate ticketed sessions – session one (Day 12pm), and session 2 (Evening 7pm).
Hi PJ,
OMG…..now I can see it 🙂
They put session 1 & 2 for day 1 which is Aug 26. 1 for day and 2 for night session.
So 27 Aug becomes session 3 for day and session 4 for night and so on.
Now I get it…..thanks for pointing it out.
Thank you again for your quick reply and pointing it out 🙂
Cheers,
Mina
PS: Maybe one day???? It would be nice to meet up with you so I can buy you a beer for all your reply and help. 🙂
Hey Mina, it’s totally confusing and I’m glad I could help! And if you see me around the Open this year please grab me to say hello, would be great to say hello!
Hi PJ,
We will be going on 27th.
Yes, I will definitely say hello if I see you :)……hopefully you still look the same as your picture here 🙂
Cheers, Mina
Hey! Darn I won’t be there 27th… but wishing you the best time!!
Thanks PJ.
And you too 🙂
Hi PJ,
I just want to let you know that we had an amazing time and experience at the US Open. We get to watch world No.1 male and female on the day we went.
Cheers,
Mina
Hi PJ! I’m not going this year, but I have friends who are (they were just home in Wisconsin for a visit). I shared your site, so they are guaranteed to have the best experience possible. Thanks so much for your highly organized & detailed resource (I should expect no less from you)!
Hey Lori!! So great to hear from you and thanks so much for the incredibly sweet note! Hope life it well! PJ
Hi PJ, Wow thank you sooo much for this very comprehensive blog. I’m a fan of tennis as well and this will be my first US Open all the way Down Under 🙂 So originally, I am only planning to purchase the ground pass for 27 Aug because this is what I normally do here in Melbourne for the Australian Open and I can watch a lot of games at the outside court (including some top 20 players) but after reading your blog I will definitely get a ticket at the Arthur Ashe because like you said it’s more value… Read more »
Mina, hey sorry just seeing this (was working on replies in reverse order and just replied to your more recent one). Glad you made the call on Ashe vs Grounds – including for the experience of just being in that gigantic stadium and seeing the layout so you can base future decisions on that first-hand experience. My Box 2 has a handful of recommended sites to check in addition to Ticketmaster if you need going forward. Wishing you a great time!
hahahaha…..yes I sent 2 message because I thought the 1st one didn’t go thru 🙂
All good. Thank you again for your help and very detailed information.
Still haven’t bought my tickets but keeping an eye at Ticketmaster and Stubhub website.
PS: What do you think about the Australian Open? And have you been to Wimbledon and Roland Garros?
Cheers,
Mina
Hi again! I have been to all 4 grand slams and absolutely loved them all of their own unique charms. I also think Indian Wells is an extraordinary experience in its own right and worth checking out if you ever can!
I have tickets for August 31st evening session at Arthur Ashe. Can I only enter the grounds at 6:00pm or later? Or can I enter earlier to expire the grounds?
Hi Carolyn, unfortunately the earliest you can enter is 6pm with an evening ticket. PJ
Hi PJ. Great info. So happy I found your site. I am a “non tennis” guy wanting to take my tennis wife on Friday August 30th to celebrate her 50th birthday. Our first time going. Friends say to do Armstrong reserved seats …looking for your suggestions to make it an unforgettable time for my wife.
Hey John! I strongly agree with your friends. However please check my shade guidance FAQ#4 before purchasing. Just took a glance at the day session: Section 4 row F has some decently priced (for this year!) seats that would make me very happy. Or check 18 M. PJ
Hi, thanks a lot for summarizing all the infos, much appreciated!
One q, as I visit NYC and will attend on Labor Day at Armstrong. I am thinking to go on Sept 3 as well but dont want to spend too much $. Does it make sense to go to Ashe on the promenades? I assume you won’t see a lot. Instead I think it might be nicer to attend Sept 5 Grounds admission? I think so…
thanks a lot and looking forward
Hi Lars, my advice is two-fold: (1) check out the 2023 schedule here for the same days last year to make sure you have a clear sense of what matches are where those days; (2) if you do choose to go on Tues of QF, consider waiting to purchase until the day prior or day of: for that particular Day session, historically there tends to be a significant drop in prices because they put the most appealing QF match-up during the evening session, so people tend to resell Promenade tickets at lower rates. You can also wait till the day… Read more »
Hey P.J.,
I’m crazy grateful for the guide. My aunt went years ago and I lived vicariously through her. Now it’s my turn! I just found out I’ll be in town August 29 – Sept 2 and I want to spend a day and night there. Saw the pay it forward above, so wondered could you share extra tickets you receive and give other tips for lower cost options during those dates?
Thank you!
Hi there, glad it’s been helpful! If it were me in that situation, I’d probably target Friday Aug 30 DAY and Mon Sep 2 EVE to hit opposite halves of the draw (Sat and Sun prices are off the graph) OR Thurs Aug 29 and Monday Sep 2 EVE because those will be relatively least expensive. Alternatively, wait until the schedule comes out the Thurs/Friday Aug 22/23 to see which of your favorite players will play when (see my FAQ #1). Set a budget that works for you and keep monitoring and consider holding off until you see something within… Read more »
hi PJ – first time going to US Open and taking our 5 yr. old who is heat sensitive. Are there air conditioned areas to get out of the heat when needed?
Hi Lauren, yes indeed. All the indoor shops have A/C, and the Fan Experience area near the East Gate does as well. PJ
Hi PJ! Great article. I am looking to get a pair of tickets to the night session for Louis Armstrong on Monday August 26. What sections do you recommend for more affordable stadium seats? I saw a nice ticket in Row A 120 but was unsure if it would be obstructed by glass? I see some sub $150 in the outer lower bowl and also see some in the $120s-$130s in the upper bowl corners but a bit further out.
Hey Scott, thanks! Definitely get lower bowl reserved – there will almost certainly be a good number of upper bowl unreserved seats available on a first-come basis that session. Just took a quick look — there are pairs in 4E ($233) and 18M ($168) and 10P (151) that would be great.
Hi, a question regarding allowable bags. Will they allow a single strap cross body bag (dimension requirement met)?
This site is great, we used this info to buy tix and plan our visit in a few weeks. Thx for the info
Hi Dave, yes indeed that’s fine – it’s the double-straps that look like a backpack that get tagged by security folks. PJ
Hi everyone! With prices so high across the board this year, I spent today creating a new chart with my best guesses on what I’d consider a “good deal” (including fees) for every session/ticket type based on this year’s averages and last year’s trends. It’s rough – but hopefully will be a helpful starting point for everyone’s own research and decision making.
Hope it helps. Please share feedback!
Hi, thanks so much for this guide! I’ve been stunned by the difficulty of getting tickets this year. Never in 15 years of buying tickets have I been unable to buy them directly from the usta for days 1 and 2. Now it’s all resale. I was in the queue on both Amex presale day and the first day of sales to the public and had no success with ticket master with queue either freezing or no tickets being available. Did bots and scalpers buy up all the tickets this year? It’s no skin off ticketmaster’s back because they collect… Read more »
Hey Andy, my pleasure! Yes, it a pretty stunning situation this year – far fewer standards than usual for Day 1 and 2 and overall prices stratospheric. I have bit the bullet for a couple sessions where I’m taking folks and want them to have incredible experiences and saw exact seats I wanted… But beyond that, I’m personally waiting until much closer (including day of) because I’m flexible about days I’ll go knowing that for at least some sessions resellers will have to lower prices and there will be some more standards that trickle out.
Hi PJ, The chart is excellent. Though it appears that amany of the prices are the reseller prices right now. I check TM every day, not just to get tickets but to see what the Standard prices are. I do see random standard tickets (for 1) occasionally as I go alone. I have been keeping a chart as well, but with standard prices the day when they went on sale and then whenever I check (I look everyday). When I spot single standard tickets, I note the price as a point of reference for next year. It is a real… Read more »
Hey Courtney, thanks! Yes, the ranges I post in the new chart are based mainly on average resale prices, as so few are available (and I took down my previous chart on range for standards). If you click through on Ticketmaster to checkout on any resale ticket (before actually hitting purchase), you can actually see the standard price associated with that ticket: they are now listing the standard price for each resale ticket, which I believe is new as I didn’t notice it last year or in previous years. PJ
Wow that is so interesting that they are listing the original price! That is new for sure, I would have noticed it as well.
Of course it makes me feel like s**t when I see how much I am getting ripped off!
I avoided resellers except for Nihgts 1 and 2 praying Rafa would play (d’oh, what a was I thinking). But it is good to know for next year in the scramble to get standard tickets.
THANK YOU SO SO SO SO much for doing all you do.
You are a superstar!
I
LOL, and you’re welcome!! Thank you for all the encouragement and kind words as always!!
Your guide has helped me the last 6 years! So thank you again. I am going to come up for a day trip this year to go to the men’s finals and looking to stay in the shade. Do they keep the roof close where the sun wouldn’t play a factor in my seat selection in courtside seats or do I need to follow your guide above?
Hi Chris, so happy to hear that, thank you! Unless it rains, they’ll keep the roof open – so hopefully my shade guide will help. Have a blast! PJ
Hey PJ, this guide is incredible, I think I speak on behalf of everyone when I say we are super grateful! I’ll be there for the first week of the tournament this year and I feel like I should be buying you a drink as a thank you! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to lock in any accommodations until a couple weeks ago so I missed the general on-sale dates. After keeping an eye on tickets every day I finally noticed some standard tickets released this weekend and I was able to snatch a pair of loge tickets on Ashe for… Read more »
Hey Ian, I’m so gratified hearing your feedback, thank you!!! A few thoughts: — Keep scanning for standards in Ashe that pop up between now and the tournament. My guess is that it’s highly unlikely that resale prices will drop below them for any Ashe session this year. (Armstrong is a different story – particularly night sessions, where you might get a stellar resale deal below standard prices last-minute). — Consider waiting for the release of the Day 1 and 2 schedule on the Thurs or Friday prior during Qualies week (keep refreshing schedule page fanatically those days starting Noon… Read more »
Thanks for this amazing resource. I’m coming from the UK for my first US Open so doing as much research as I can. I’ve seen a lot of references to standard price (non-resale) tickets being released to Ticketmaster in dribs and drabs nearer the tournament. Can you recommend any websites for finding out about these releases? Thanks again.
Hi Jamie, you’re welcome! If new standard tickets are released, you’ll only see them on Ticketmaster (the official ticket site). There is no predictability and no announcements, they just do it haphazardly throughout the summer. PJ
Great article! We are excited to make our first trip to the US Open, and are getting ready to purchase tickets. Do you suggest tickets for the 1st round or round of 16?
Hi Ashley, thanks! Can you give me a bit more background on your priorities and budget? For many people Round of 16 is preferable because matches are more competitive, but prices are way (!) higher than first round… And a lot of folks prefer first round (first two days) because there’s so much to see on so many courts, so a lot more bang for your buck in terms of quantity of matches you can see. (See last year’s schedule as an example).
Is there a resource that lists all the activation events for this year’s US open? I know ON did an event last year, would love to attend something similar this year.
Hey Mike, the only page I can think of is the official fan week schedule page. Any other activations not sponsored by the tournament might show up on TimeOut. If anyone else has thoughts or seen anything please let us know!
Thank you so much for sharing!! I have been a tennis fan my whole life, and I am finally going to the U.S. Open this year, and I am beyond excited. Your article has helped me out a lot to prepare for this!
Thrilled to hear it, Sophie, thank you for letting me know! Have an incredible time! PJ
Hello
I made a mistake and bought two tickets for the same day, could you help me which is better? I didn’t find my section on the map
Sure, just let me know the details, happy to help.
I really appreciate your response. I got informed about the size of the stadiums, and I chose to sell Louis Armstrong and keep Grand Stand ticket. I hope I made a good decision.
And, your blog is so so useful, thank you for sharing all these tips.
Hi P.J., thank you again for all the awesome info you provide this community! I’m reaching out to confirm that you and others have seen the same challenge I have this year — namely that no new tickets have been released since the original batch and prices are super stagnant and high. I’ve been checking back routinely, but the seat maps and prices largely look unchanged over the past month plus. Is this normal? In years past I though I remembered more tickets dropping from time to time and a more dynamic resale market. Do you or anyone else have… Read more »
Hey Andrew, sorry for the delay and huge thanks for your kind words! Yes, I’m blown away by the average prices this year and bummed not to see more standards released. My basic take: in most cases, prices can’t go much higher, so patience (including up to the last minute) will likely be rewarded more than ever. And that’s going to be my plan for several of the days. That said, there are inevitably going to be maddening situations for particular sessions where things only get worse and one regrets not pulling the trigger sooner on tickets. Here’s my best… Read more »
I agree with these guesses. Of course the draw also helps predict which days/nights will likely increase or decrease (or as top seeds fall early), usually the prices follow. I think a lot more packages/series have been sold the last two years so that may also limit how many standard tickets are released (or how many more resale ones).
Spot on, P.J.
I do think more standards will be released, but they are going faster than ever before. Demand seems to be very high.
Agree, Tom. I managed to grab a couple for Thurs Ashe Day a few days ago – but only after they appeared for a second, then disappeared, then appeared and disappeared another few times before I finally got lucky.
Hi P.J, Thank you very much for this excellent page !!! 🙂 Explanations are great !! I think you cover all important aspects. I just have one question. I want to get a good reserved seat in Armstrong to the evening session of round 1 (26 of August). On this page, you say that grounds access (which means access to every courts except Ashe) is available after 6 pm right ? However, I did not find this information on US OPEN website : https://www.usopen.org/en_US/tickets/individual_tickets.html Can you confirm that I can access every courts except Ashe until the end of the… Read more »
Salut Guillaume, je vous en prie! So glad to hear it helped, thanks for letting me know! For Armstrong: Yes, if you purchase an evening reserved seat, you will be able to enter the US Open grounds at 6pm and be able to access any unreserved seat on any court except Ashe for the rest of the night! PJ
I pretty much read the entire article. Great tips. Last time i attended was 2018. I may have missed it but did not see anything about purchasing tickets the day of at the box office. Maybe things have changed since i last went but at that time you could show up in the morning, get in line and buy general admission at the box office sans Ticketmaster fees( $89 if memory serves). This was first week of the event(also back in 2018, Grounds Passes were only available the first 10(?) days. It seems now they offer grounds passes to view… Read more »
Hi Carlos, thanks! A few things about the Box Office (using this response to consolidate a lot of info because I get asked this a lot!): — HOURS: Yes, it’s open every morning (including during qualifiers) at 9am. — ONLY STANDARD TICKETS IF AVAILABLE, NO RESALE TICKETS: The Box Office is only able to sell “standard” tickets IF those tickets are available (the blue dot tickets on Ticketmaster). They do not have access to any special inventory of tickets that aren’t also posted onto Ticketmaster. They do NOT sell resale tickets. So if you don’t see any standard GA/ Grounds… Read more »
A tip to save time at entry: as you mention, string bags are allowed, so we each roll up a string bag tightly and stash it in a raincoat pocket, along with a sunscreen bar and small cooling towel, plus whatever personal items we need, and carry an empty clear water bottle. You can then go through the much quicker “no bags” line and when you’re through, unroll the empty string bag and load it up with all the merch you want 🙂 Also, we’re now absolute devotees of the LIRR approach – thanks for posting the new ticket App!
Hi Jane, thank you! And that is indeed a great hack that I’ve used myself on several occasions :). Have a great time! PJ
Awesome page PJ, this info has sealed the deal for our family to go see the US Open for the first time ever.
qq, do you have a sense that they are holding back releasing large sections of Louis Armstrong? On some days, such as 8/31 there have been hardly any Upper section seats to be bought and what is there is just for the first three rows. There’s literally not a single seat, new or resale, above Row C for many days.
Does this follow a typical release pattern for the Open?
Hey Joe, thanks!! So most of those greyed out seats you see in the upper section are actually unreserved seats (available on a first-come basis to anyone on the US Open grounds). It’s confusing because almost the entire upper bowl used to be unreserved, but as demand has gone up they’ve been converting more of these seats to ticketed seats. My experience with Armstrong in last couple years has been that they hold back a ton of standards for the first 4 days until closer to the tournament, but Friday through Labor Day there’s only a trickle of new standards… Read more »
Hi there! I am wondering what the experience of Stars of the Open is like and if it would be a good choice to surprise my ex-tennis player boyfriend with? it seems more affordable with the highest chance of seeing some big players. what are you thoughts?
Hi Kyleigh! I went last year to a similar event on Armstrong and loved it, being so close to the superstars. This year they’ve put it on Ashe and looks like they’ll have a pretty stellar lineup, so I’d say yes absolutely your bf would probably love it – but would only recommend it if you can purchase one of the Courtside seats ($260) because being in that lower bowl with the greats would be very cool, whereas being in Loge or the GA Promenade seats would probably feel pretty lackluster. Also, if you do this I STRONGLY recommend arriving… Read more »
Hello from Spain I’m visiting NYC during the last days of August. I love tennis and I wanted to take the opportunity visit the Open. But I’m really surprised by the prices! I was waiting till the tickets were on sale and even the first day the prices were ridiculous: How is it possible that the first day the grounds pass costs more than 200 euros? It is more expensive than the Arthur Ashe tickets for the same day. More expensive than tickets for the quarter finals!! I can’t explain it. Those tickets in the French open costs less than… Read more »
Hola Ignacio! Estoy de acuerdo – es completamente loco. I think in part it’s the “Nadalcaraz” effect – Carlitos is justifiably beloved, and much as with Serena Williams’ final US Open there’s incredible excitement about Rafa participating with his protected ranking. The reason you’re seeing such high grounds pass prices right now is that currently there are no standard tickets for those sessions, so resellers are jacking up the prices. There will likely be more grounds passes released closer to the tournament, so keep checking every morning (New York/ Eastern Standard Time). Generally speaking, I’d recommend continuing to check Ticketmaster… Read more »
Thanks a lot for your advice!
Hope they bring the gold medal to Spain!
And tomorrow there is a present for all of us in the Chatrier: another Nole-Rafa “battle”.👏👏👏
Greetings from Madrid!
Vamos!! Excited for Rafa today! And so excited to watch that doubles match tomorrow! Saludos!
Hi, for the R16 Armstrong session on Sunday/Monday, is that guaranteed to have both a men and women’s singles match? At least for last year on Sunday 9/3 there was no men’s singles until 3PM so not sure if a day session ticket would cover that. Thanks in advance and thanks for the great guide.
Hi Thomas! Yes indeed. The beautiful thing about Armstrong Sun/Mon tickets is that there is only ONE session – so your ticket covers all matches, no matter how late they go. Last year, they scheduled 2 women’s and 2 men’s matches on Armstrong on each day. Going to Armstrong all day Sun/Mon is one of my favorite things to do… PJ
if i buy tickets for the quarterfinal evening session, does that mean i will see both a mens and womens game ?
Yes!
You recommend section 4 or 5 in grandstand? Too great seats. Just don’t know which is better as never done baseline
Hi Jon, I personally love 4 because a little easier of an angle to see a point unfold, but 5 also great. For me, those seats are amazing if you value watching the players as much as watching the ball (see my tips for watching matches here).
Thanks so much for this amazing resource, PJ! Quick thing: I can’t for the life of me find where to buy grounds passes for finals week either through your link or otherwise (sept 7th in my case). Please help!
Hi Mahesh, you’re most welcome! Ticketmaster is the place to buy grounds admission for finals weekend (Sat/Sun of second week), but they usually don’t post the opportunity to purchase until after the tournament begins. Don’t worry, there should be plenty and they won’t sell out! A reminder that Grounds access is FREE on Thursday the second week.
How worried should we be about no more face value tickets being released? I remember this time last year Ashe nosebleeds were going for $75. Now its at $300+!
Hi Corey. I wish I could give any clear counsel here. Like everyone else, I’m absolutely astounded by prices this year. In many cases, my advice (including to myself) is to be patient and wait – even until the night before or day of — because average prices are so high across the board right now. At a more granular level, below is my advice for particular sessions on Ashe– with the caveat that there is no way to predict, and it’s always a gamble given the number of variables at play: — If you’re targeting Mon-Thurs week one, I’d… Read more »
PJ (or anyone who knows!) – on the secondary ticket sites, I have seen passes for the Aces/Champions Grill… Do you know how these work? (1) do we need one pass per person? (2) Would the pass work all day for both day and night sessions to go eat? (3) Do we just walk in or do we need a reservation once we have the access? Thanks very much!!!
Hi Richard, I’m pretty sure that every person in a dining party for Aces needs to either be a Courtside or Suite ticket holder, or have a Pass (ie, each individual would need a pass if they don’t have a ticket). I don’t think you can use it more than once. In my old notes I have this email address: usopenreservations@levyrestaurants.com — not sure still valid but you can try asking them. Let me know what you find out!
PJ – thanks for putting all this together – a true gamechanger.
Do you have a ballpark on what full series loge tickets run at Ashe? I’ve heard the Promenade is $2k per ticket.
Hi Matt, my pleasure – thanks for the kind words! Unfortunately I don’t: I’ve never seen full series Loge subscriptions offered publicly (usually just available to existing subscribers and offered as renewals or upgrades). Ditto courtside. If other readers know, please weigh in!
Hi Matt (and PJ), I have a full series promenade in row C and this year, mine was just under $3K. I think the upgrade to Loge full series was somewhere around $5K the last time I saw (I don’t think this year they had any upgrades available, even just for those in Promenade to move lower down in Promenade). You cannot buy Loge full series — you have to buy Promenade and then upgrade the following year or later. You might be able to get a shorter period Loge package though; I’m not sure. My plan has tended to… Read more »
Thank you, Maura!!
Bit the bullet and got my seats for first week, Thursday, Grandstand, Section 12. Been watching for weeks and found best deals are on StubHub or Ticket City for what I was seeking. Ticket City promo code PD21 gave 2% off.
Thank you SO much for this incredible information! I used your advice last year and purchased the best tickets we could afford (Loge) to Ashe on Day 2 for my daughter and me. We had an absolutely wonderful day. This year we need to go on Day 1 due to her school schedule. I’m contemplating forgoing Ashe for courtside (but likely not one of the first rows) seats in Louis Armstrong. Would you recommend this for Day 1? Or does LA get better matches later in the tournament? I guess I’m curious if you have any Day 1 specific advice… Read more »
Hi Katie, many many apologies for the delay in replying – intense month at work. If still helpful… Check out last year’s detailed schedule to see which matches were on Armstrong on Day 1 for reference. The good thing about Armstrong early in the tournament is that it always gets great talent because it’s the next-biggest after Ashe – and with so many incredible players to schedule you always end up seeing some greats. They won’t put Carlitos or Rafa or Novak or Coco on Armstrong, but pretty much everyone else is fair game. If you haven’t had a courtside… Read more »
PJ – great work, this guide is lifechanging. A couple questions:
1. Any ballpark on full series pricing for the loge level in Ashe? Or if this is even open to full series holders? I believe promenade is >$2k per ticket now last i heard.
2. Do you think Cincinnati and other US tournaments are a relatively better bang for the buck if you want courtside + top talent? I agree with your comments that courtside is the way to go for the most passionate fans – but prices are wacky given the NYC demand.
Hey Matt, sorry just seeing this (working as fast as I can in reverse to catch up on comments, as I’ve been inundated with work with my real job in recent weeks and couldn’t keep up!). Just replied on the question #1. For #2, YES absolutely. Indian Wells is also a spectacular experience for so many reasons. The only thing about the non-Grand Slams is that the men just play best of 3 sets instead of best of 5… and of course the stakes feel less weighty. But there’s an intimacy to Cincinnati and other smaller tournaments that is really… Read more »
Matt, the Cincinnati Open and Indian Wells are my two favorite tournaments. I typically go to both every year. There is not a bad seat even if up high in the main stadiums, and the ticket prices are certainly more affordable than the USO. Plus you can get so much closer to the action. Indian Wells is the prettiest venue and typically nicer weather as it can be hot and humid in Cincy during August, but I can drive to Cincinnati and that tournament has the best floral and Graeter’s ice cream. 🙂 Plus, the Cincinnati Open has already made… Read more »
Thank you, Nikki!
PJ, thanks for putting this together. Extremely informative and thorough. In comparing the ticket resellers and different companies, i found that vividseats are better prices than seatgeek and stubhub. In your opinion, vividseats is OK as a reseller and reputable? I will keep checking, ticketmaster is not updating prices today.
Hi Ricardo, yes indeed they’re reliable in terms of the guarantees for buyers against getting scammed and making sure the value of your purchase is covered. If for any reason you purchase a ticket that has been misrepresented (e.g. the seller delivers a ticket in a different section than advertised), they will refund. There is always the chance (very small with US Open given the instant transfer option with most tickets, but still a chance) that a seller will misrepresent and label a ticket inaccurately; in such cases, no reseller (except Ticketmaster) can absolutely guarantee you will get the ticket… Read more »
This is really helpful! We are looking at lower loge seats on the east side for a night session. Do you think those are ok for shade even though likely they could be getting hit with the sun setting? A colleague mentioned, they were ok for night due to the height of the stadium, but I’m weary. Thanks!
Hi Heather, no issues at all with sun anywhere for an evening session at Ashe, you’ll be fine!
Hi PJ, I am not a seasoned tennis fan but my dad is. He retired this past spring and my sister and I decided to plan a surprise trip for him to the US open as a gift. THANK YOU for this amazing info. It has been a lifesaver as we plan his trip and I am so grateful you took the time to make such an in-depth guide! Especially when it came to tickets – we were completely lost on which ones to buy and when. You really have helped us make this the best itinerary for him and… Read more »
Kelly, I am SO gratified to hear this. THANK YOU for sharing your experience and letting me know it was helpful, I am thrilled to hear it!!!! Have a blast with your Dad! PJ
Hey there, I love this site I used it in 2019 when I went to the us open to see Serena in the final. That was a night session.
My question is this — if I buy a night session in ashe, can i get into Louis and Grandstand before 6pm as listed on your graphic?
I remember going in the morning and staying all day. any help is appreciated!
Hi Chelsea! If you buy any night session ticket, you can get access to the grounds AFTER 6pm (not before) – and once on the grounds access unreserved seating on a first-come basis in any stadium except Ashe.
Fantastic information. Thank you so much for providing this guide. Can you please confirm for me that a Grandstand reserved ticket is just one all day session of 4 matches (the “not before time” is not a separate evening ticket?
Hey Chris, correct!