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

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

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

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

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

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

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












PJ,
Thank you for this guide! This will be my first US Open and everything felt intimidating until I found your guide! I’m excited to see the stars on Ashe, but I think the matches on the outer courts might be even more fun as a big tennis fan!
Hey Sam, thanks for your thanks – much appreciated! Hope you have an amazing time.
Thanks so much for this guide, it’s very helpful! I was just curious if anyone knew the answer to the Ashe/Armstrong stadium re-entry policy for the same session.
Is it possible to enter Ashe/Armstrong to watch a match, then exit the stadium to explore the other courts, and then re-enter Ashe/Armstrong during the day session hours?
Hi Jacky, you’re welcome! If you have a reserved sea in Ashe or Armstrong, you can exit and re-enter as much as you’d like during that session.
Fantastic info – THANK YOU (1st time to come this year. From CA. Attended French Open many yrs ago and have gone to Indian Wells for many yrs)!
Hey Connie, thank you very much for your thanks, really appreciate it! Hope you have a great time at the Open. PJ
Thought I’d share my recent experience which illustrates the great advice offered by this site regarding dynamic pricing, the necessity of patience and the importance of research.
I paid $234 during the Amex presale for an evening session standard ticket on Armstrong on 28th Aug (Block 110 row A). I thought I got a decent deal. However, there are numerous standard tickets of similar quality available now for $116. Additionally, there are lower bowl resale tickets for even less that session
Hey Sean, really appreciate you sharing this! PJ
There is very soft demand for LA early round, midweek evening tickets. And all the seats in the upper section are terrible. Section 110 was initially open seating but USTA keeps making more open seats paid and people keep paying. I would not sit in section 110 if it were free unless it was an extremely compelling match which the odds are very much against.
PJ – What a PHENOMENAL job you have done this year with your 2025 US Open Ticket Prices – How to Spot a Good Deal? page. I am amazed that you included links to the TM site that go directly to the stadiums for the day chosen. You have made my life so much easier. Now if prices would just come down. I’m flabbergasted by Ashe loge prices. In 2023, I paid b/t $215-$240 per ticket for Ashe loge row F for Day 1 & 2, am & pm. Now, worse loge seats are double that. In just 2 years.Shocking.… Read more »
Courtney! Wow, thank you thank you so much. So gratifying to hear it’s helpful. I have been trying to make time and figure out best format for something like that for a long time – so really appreciate the feedback. Thank you again!
This article is so incredibly freaking helpful and I can’t thank the author enough. My only remaining question: if you buy a DAY ticket for Ashe, I know you can stay throughout the day and go to a night session at any of the “lesser” courts, but can I exit midday and come back in during the evening of that same day to then snag a seat at a “lesser” court? Or must I stay in the grounds all day?
Hi Demi, you made my day, thanks!! Yes, you can exit and re-enter the grounds during the day BUT there’s a big catch: you have to re-enter before 6pm with a Day session ticket. After 6pm, they’ll only accept evening session tickets for re-entry. PJ
Looking at Armstrong tickets, and wondering how many matches will get put on that court for first round day sessions now that R1 is over 3 days – any ideas?
Hi Natalie, I’m honestly not sure, haven’t heard anything – but my hunch is that the number of matches on Ashe and Armstrong and Grandstand won’t change for round 1 this year, even though it’s over 3 days. For Armstrong Day, I suspect they’ll stick with 2 women’s singles and 1 men’s singles as in previous years. But that’s just my guess. PJ
The schedule will be the same – 2 women’s and 1 men’s. They will maintain the day and night sessions, so they have to be able to fit everything in during each session.
Hi! My high school kids are very into tennis. I bought tixs for stars of the open. Any advice? Have you been? TIA!
Hi Julie! That’s awesome. I have only gone to that event when it was on Armstrong in previous years – it was super fun because the players all seemed to be genuinely having a great time. My recommendation would be to go as early as you can to get in line so you can get the best seats possible (given that it’s GA seating within the various tiers). If you got Courtside level tickets, try to snag seats to the left of the umpire chair in lower rows near the NW corner where players will enter/exit – which will be… Read more »
Just got 3 tickets for 330$ (110 pp)
US Open Tennis: Session 2 (Louis Armstrong)
7:00 PM (event local time) at Section 3 | Row Q | Seats 23-25
Do you have thoughts on whether its going to be a good view and if it was a good deal?
Thank you!
Hi Eric, the view from there is good. Assume you mean 2d session on Day 1 for LA? If you look at that session here you’ll see Standard seats in the same row of that section now going for $261 – and seats in the last row of that section going for $200. So you scored!
Best transportation from Mid town Manhattan?
Fran, please see Tip #9 Options #1 and #2. I always do option #2 – the LIRR.
Which sites are legitimate to purchase US Open tickets besides Ticketmaster? Thanks
Hi Fran, please see my Box 2, Point #3 for my thoughts on that question.
Thank you for doing this! I noticed the link for 2025 Guide to US Open Ticket Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal is broken. It says no results found when I click on it. Just wanted to let you know so you could maybe reupload that chart.
Hey Chandler, thanks for your thanks! I have been having some issues with updates via WordPress taking effect slowly. Could you try one more time and let me know if it works for you??
It’s working now! Thanks
Fantastic thanks so much for letting me know!
Got my grandstand tickets for 29th. Back in section 1. Love it out there. Thanks for the recommendation many years ago
Hey I’m so glad to hear that! It’s such a special stadium. Hope you have a great time!
I got my grandstand tickets for the 29th as well section 7A. Hoping for some exciting matches.
Wonderful to hear, I love Grandstand so much and the 29th is an awesome day to be there. Enjoy!
Hola muchas gracias por tu guía, saludos desde Guatemala, Mi niño niño participará en New Jersey en el Little Mo internacional, aprovechando quiero que viva su primer experiencia viendo a Los grandes jugadores. Para el 21 de agosto es Stars of the Open pero ya no hay entradas. Quiero conseguir courtside pero están muy caras en reventa, crees que deba esperar o 250 dólares es un precio razonable ? El único día que puedo asistir el es primero el 24 de agosto, me recomiendas comprar Armstrong? Y ya por último es viable comprar desde el extranjero? En ticketmaster Gracias y… Read more »
Hola Juan! Es posible que vayan ofrecer más entradas para el evento Stars of the Open durante el verano, pero no hay forma de saberlo con certeza. Si se publican, las entradas “courtside” probablemente superarán $300… Pero vale la pena seguir comprobando aqui cada mañana para ver si publican más. Dicho esto, se puede entrar/asistir gratis entre el 18 y el 22 de agosto – y es una oportunidad excelente para ver entrenar a muchos de los grandes nombres (y ver el torneo clasificatorio). Puedes consultar el horario de entrenamientos cada mañana para saber cuándo y dónde entrenan los jugadores.… Read more »
I thought about buying the cheapest ticket at Arthur Ashe and depending on the game, upgrading my seat. What do you think of this strategy? Thank you
Hi Flavio, it’s unfortunately not so easy to upgrade, because: – They only offer upgrades at the box office on site – Upgrades are only available when there are better standard ticket seats available (blue dots on Ticketmaster map) – which is never something you can count on. While they do release more standard tickets throughout the summer, there’s no pattern or predictability. Most lower Promenade and Loge standard tickets go very quickly when they appear. So in short, you can take your chances – but you have to be prepared for the strong possibility upgrades won’t be possible for… Read more »
Hey PJ! Thinking about getting 2 unreserved seats in Arthur Ashe, and was curious if that’s something that’s a guaranteed seat or if it’s if you’re lucky after buying the ticket. Would love some insight on this as prior to buying tickets!
Thanks again
Hi Clayton! There are actually no unreserved seats in Ashe during the main tournament (the single exception is Fan Week special events, including the Main Draw Mixed Doubles Aug 19-20). All listings for Ashe during the main draw on Ticketmaster or resale on other sites should have clear sections and rows and seat numbers.
Hi PJ, This will be the first time attending and I’m overwhelmed by all this info. We want to make sure we see the popular players like Djokovic, Sinner, Carlos, etc. Do you recommend buying the 1st, 2nd or 3rd day for the first round match? I think I should buy the Ashe Day pass, but does that give us access to all the stadiums? Any info and recommendations is truly appreciated.
Hi Fran, I understand why it can be really overwhelming for a first-timer! If you purchase Ashe tickets on either Day 1, 2 or 3 you’re guaranteed to see big names – but unfortunately there’s no way to predict which ones in advance. See my FAQ #1 for details on why and how to think about strategy. Ashe Day tickets will give you a reserved seat in Ashe and access to unreserved seats (first-come basis) on all other courts, including Armstrong and Grandstand. Let me know if you have more questions as you keep exploring.
How many matches are there in a day? If we stay in Mid town Manhattan which transportation do you recommend? Train, Taxi, Uber? Appreciate all your input
Hi Fran, the number varies significantly based on the day. Check out the detailed daily schedule from last year here to get a sense of what to expect day-by-day. (Note: this year there’s an extra day on the first Sunday, but that day will look a lot like the first Mon and Tues from last year — except with around 1/3 fewer total matches each day during Round 1 as compared to last year.
For transport, see my Tip #9 for all the options. I usually take the LIRR myself from midtown.
Thanks for your well-detailed information. Glad I read it last night before getting the tickets today. I was able to get an Armstrong Day Loge seating (Sec 120) for $92 during today’s public sale. Looks like a good deal!
Does the ticket I got give me access to Armstrong unreserved seating during the evening session and the other field courts? Thanks!
Hi Abi, great to hear it! Yes, once you’re in the grounds with any Day ticket you can access unreserved seats in any of the courts except for Ashe.
Hey PJ – any thoughts on how the first round will work now that it’s spread over 3 days? There aren’t more matches presumably, are they just cutting back on the ones they used to put on Mon and Tue? Wondering if there will be quality matches on Sunday…Thanks!
Hi Lisa, there will be the same total number of matches, just divided by 3 instead of 2. I’m confident they will spread the wealth evenly across the first three days, including Sunday!
makes sense – got my tickets for Sunday day one! Thank you!!
Forgot to mention with Sunday start they took away (free) “photo day” one of the chillest and best days.
They are giving less tennis for more money. Which is something that occurs every year in new and exciting ways. Sometimes it’s major shafting like when they split the men’s semis into two sessions and sometimes it’s the slow march of taking more of theupper Armstrong seating (all of which thru Row A are terrible seats anyway) and making them paid reserved. I’ve been attending since they opened in 1978 when kids could sneak in and go a lot more than the blog author so trust me when I say it’s SOP, however, it’s been accelerating post-pandemic (2021).
Thanks as always for your detail and dedication, PJ.You may have covered this but on the cusp of general public tickets going on sale this morning – does it tend to be a better option to try and buy tickets today or surf the resale options over the coming weeks? I snagged some great lower level, shady section Armstrong R1 resale tickets last year (thanks to your guidance) for not much more than ground passes. Hoping for similar luck this year but not sure if I should join the fray this morning or just play the refresh game over the… Read more »
Hey Courtney! You are the perfect example of someone who is a good candidate to try to get tickets today because you are a seriously educated buyer, know what you’re looking for, and will be better able than most to spot good deals in your price range. Most others today will experience frustration and be prone to panic buying, thinking that there will be no other options over the summer – whereas you know that often patience can be a virtue for reasons I mention in Box 2 and FAQ #3. Good luck!!
Thanks!
This is awesome. Thank you for laying it out so clearly! I got tickets for mixed doubles semis & finals on Wed evening 8/20/25. The ticket says: GEN ADM LOGE, SECTION GALG11, ROW GA6, SEAT 3. I’ve looked at the stadium seating map but can’t find this section. Can you help me figure it out? Thanks!
Hi Kara, thanks! I haven’t purchased tickets for that event so can’t be sure – but it appears they are using a different seating system for those paid events during Fan Week, with all seats being unreserved but different tickets/prices for Loge versus Promenade. Looks like you got Loge GA (general admission ie unreserved) seats- but I’m confused about the section 11 and row number and seat number… Did you buy these on Ticketmaster during the Amex pre-sale? If I find out more in the days ahead I’ll let you know.
Yeah, I bought from Ticketmaster during Amex pre-sale, but it was weird bc when I tried to look at ticket prices for Mixed Doubles for the previous day, it said it wasn’t available to the public yet. So I have no idea how I was able to get my tickets to the SF & Finals. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ Please let me know if you find out anything more about the seats bc I also believed that it was supposed to be general admission, no assigned seats. Thanks bb
Hey Kara, yes it’s a mystery to me why you have section/row/seat numbers for that event… everything on that page on Ticketmaster indicates it’s totally unreserved by section. Regardless, so you should be fine as long as you bought them on Ticketmaster!
First off, PJ thanks for your amazing work this year and the new features on the site! Next, How in the world are Ashe promenade tickets already at $250+? B/c of Amex sale? And how did people buy ground passes already? The presale is Amex, right? This is nuts that so many tickets have been bought for exorbitant resale prices. So much for my strategy to buy cheap Ashe to use as a grounds pass. Think ashe will come down closer to the event? Once again disappointed in the ticket situation. Roland Garros knows how to do it. Official resale… Read more »
Hey Courtney! Thanks so much. Yes, all we’re seeing now are resale tickets from subscribers and/or tix from the limited Amex pre-sale inventory. Public sale begins tomorrow, so once more inventory is available and US Open releases more tickets over the summer then supply will go up and prices will likely go down for Promenade seats across several sessions…
well I joined the queue at 9:30 (I overslept!) and I am now 10,901 in the queue. So… nevermind tickets today. Last year, my strategy was to get Ashe Day tickets for the first five days and use them like grounds passes, plus hang out in Ashe when I wanted. (based on your advice!) This year, I am thinking of doing something else, with great risk – waiting until the schedules come out each night, then getting a ticket for a stadium I might want to be at, regardless of price (within reason). I want to treat myself to seats… Read more »
Hey! You are describing the strategy I generally take for most of the sessions that I attend, with the exception of certain specific sessions I want to bring people to and need to plan an advance.
You are the wizard, so I’ll do it your way this time. I hate paying scalpers though if they have snatched all the tickets for where I want to be. Well, c’et la vie!
Thanks
Hi PJ, do you know the date US open Chase lounge reservation open?
Hey Mike, unfortunately can’t help with that one, sorry!
Hello! Is there a risk that Grounds tickets will sell out completely? Considering that I am very interested in seeing certain players who will likely play on the secondary courts, is it safe to wait for the schedule to be announced before purchasing Grounds tickets?
Hi Sergio, it’s highly unlikely they will sell out on the first Sun-Thurs… Last year there were plenty available for the first 3 days, then the 4th day (Thurs last year) showed as sold out the night prior then the tournament released more on Thurs morning. However, the Friday-Sunday of Labor Day weekend did sell out. There’s virtually no risk you wouldn’t be able to get some kind of ticket to get you in the grounds (e.g. an upper tier Armstrong or Ashe seat if GA is sold out) the day before or day of – it’s just a question… Read more »
Thank you so much for your advice. I am quite worried, as I always like to attend on 5-6 days in the first week. Now the system only lets me book one day and forces me to complete the order without the option of chosing more dates. I only need one ticket per day, so the number is not the issue. It used to be possible to mark the dates and then you could chose one day after the other (and also which court). Has that changed? I managed to get one ticket for 24 Aug today and then got… Read more »
Hi Nicole, sorry you had a confusing experience – the pre-sale is always frustrating. And tomorrow when public sales open you can expect an even bigger crush on the Ticketmaster site. Although I don’t recall the option you mention of being able to select multiple individual tickets on different days before checkout – so I think your best bet is to try again tomorrow when public sale opens and, if you aren’t successful in getting what you want, just keep checking over the summer. Good luck!
Hi P.J., thank you for your prompt reply. I was lucky and was able to purchase all tickets in regular sale last Friday, although I was on the train back from Roland Garros and afraid that I would have internet disruptions. Hope everybody will be able to get what they need. Love your website!
Thank you and great to hear it, Nicole!
I have done the Fan Week the last 2 years and my son wanted the live matches…Labor Day Weekend is the only weekend…I was able to score 103 Row C for Night Session – Sat Aug 30…but I’m realizing not the best value since I have to wait till 6pm to get in…any recs on what to do to get into a Day session…we plan to go Sat and Sunday of Labor Day weekend…no night session in Armstrong on Sunday so I won’t make that mistake again..though I realize these are good night session tickets…My son will ask why we… Read more »
Hey Bill, thanks so much and I share your wish that we had a Wimbledon-style system for Ashe/Armstrong Courtside seats!! For Aug 31, you should have no problem getting a grounds pass throughout the summer for that first Saturday – just don’t wait too long as they eventually sold out last year for that day. I would also keep an eye on availability of decently priced upper-tier Armstrong seats as an alternative for that day if you can swing it, though, as rain insurance and the massive pressure on relatively few courts/seats that day, which is always a mob scene.
Thanks PJ and again amazing site, your due diligence is much appreciated. I was luck and snagged Armstrong Sun Aug 31 Sec 123 for $200 with taxes/fees. I wanted to buy a grounds pass for Sat Aug 30 but when I go only Verified Resale show up…are there really no grounds passes for Sat Aug 30…when should I check back…I really don’t want to pay $280+ for a grounds pass when I already spent $$$ for an Armstrong Night session ticket for Sat Aug 30…will immerse for 2 days with my son and wife…I went Armstrong as it’s so much… Read more »
Hi Bill, thanks so much on all counts 🙂 Great to hear you had some success. For the Sat Aug 30 grounds, there will likely be some more that pop up over the summer – unfortunately there’s no rhyme or reason as to when, so would be good to check periodically (mornings best time to check for new tickets that are released). Because the tournament uses dynamic pricing (based on market demand) for the “standard” tickets, the prices may stay pretty steep for that day (which probably has the highest demand for grounds tickets of any day throughout the tournament… Read more »
Hi PJ – First time US Open attendee and we will be attending Thursday or Friday (9/4 or 9/5) I care most about doubles and I saw that Thursday you can be admitted for free. Do I need to buy another ticket to see the doubles finals or is that included in free admission? What other tickets would you buy on that date to see singles? Ashe? Right now it seems the only affordable options are 300 level so I’m tempted to wait and buy the week of for lower level seats. Please let me know your thoughts!
Hi Angie, yes Thursday Day will be free grounds admission – although I believe the only main tournament doubles match for that day that you’d be able to see with the free admission will be Men’s Doubles Semifinals. The Thurs EVE Ladies’ Semifinals on Ashe is a ticketed session, not free. See my detailed schedule for full breakdown of all the options and my FAQ 3 thoughts on the question of “when to buy.”
Thank you for all your hard work putting this together! I’ve never been to the US Open, and had no idea where to begin, but you saved the day. I had so many windows open while doing the Amex presale… all of the window but ticketmaster were you and various diagrams and info haha. Snagged some Armstrong Loge 101 Row A. I feel pretty good about those – will I be happy with those for the day session? Also, would I get access to unreserved seats in Armstrong for the night session? Or do I have to exit after the… Read more »
Hey Chris, I’m so gratified to hear you found it helpful! Good snag on those front row loge seats for Armstrong – they’re a good bargain and being in those lower rows the in the Armstrong upper section is key. You’ll be fine in those seats for any matches you want to see in Armstrong, then can wander and see other things on outer courts when you are in the mood to wander. You will have to exit between Day/Night sessions – but with any Day ticket, once you’re in the grounds you can access any GA unreserved seats… you’ll… Read more »
Well that presale went terribly. It said not to use multiple devices or tabs so I just joined for the 8/24 Armstrong day session. Got in after 6 minutes but the only thing available was almost $300 a ticket. Wanted to look at Ashe or grounds passes, but it made me rejoin the queue at the back which was thousands deep at that point. Is there any way to be able to look at other days/stadiums without rejoining the queue when it goes on general sale?
Hey Brian, I know – it’s always the same thing. I got on to check it out for research purposes this morning at 8:59am and I was “800” in line at 9 sharp LOL… Eventually experienced what I always do: a very limited inventory of not-great seats, and in many cases there will be better options available as we get closer (either because the tournament will release more or via resale market). The first day of public sale will be the same scenario in terms of hordes trying to access… Once the mad rush slows down (it already has), you… Read more »
Hi PJ
Thank you for this Amazing details.
Do you know where and when i could book an entry to Centurion Suite in Armstrong ? I’m a Platinum amex holder and the link you provided doesn’t work.
I will try to go on thursday during the free week (last day of qualifying) and then on sunday on Armstrong for the 1st round. I’m currently waiting for the Amex presale who’ll begin at 9 am 😉
Hey Guillaume, thanks for your thanks! I just fixed the link (here’s the correct one), thanks a million for pointing it out. At the bottom of the page it says: “Same-day reservations will become available through Resy at 10am ET each day of the tournament, starting on August 26, 2024. Each day, eligible Card Members will be able to choose an available reservation time on a first come, first served basis.” Hope you have a great time!
Hey PJ, thanks as always. Just curious. Are you pretty confident (as you say) that only R1 is shifting around? Meaning, for instance, if I buy day session Armstrong tickets on the middle Sunday, can I expect to see 4 round of 16 matches, as in the past number of years? Or is everything a bit uncertain?
Looking forward to another ticket-buying season! Thanks again.
Hi John, sure thing! Yes safe to assume they will schedule 2 men’s and 2 women’s round of 16 matches on that middle Sunday as in the past. PJ
Did that session last year and it was the best value of the tournament!
First of all, thanks so much for putting together this incredibly helpful and resourceful site—it’s fantastic. I’m planning to head to the US Open this year and will be bringing my toddler. We’re hoping to attend Kids’ Day—do you know if we need to reserve tickets ahead of time for that? Also, I’d love to take a day or two off work to come during the first few weekdays. Realistically, with a toddler, that’s probably the only time I could explore solo. What kind of ticket would you recommend for just soaking in the atmosphere and walking around to catch… Read more »
Hi Vincent, you’re most welcome, thanks for your thanks! No tickets needed for entry to Kids’ Day (Saturday Aug 23), but there MAY be some exclusive events or seats that are ticketed (they keep adding some every year during Fan Week so one never knows) so keep checking the Kids’ Day Page for updates. For Day 1-3 of the main tournament during Round 1, if you’re with your toddler I’d probably recommend an Armstrong reserved seat – won’t get you into Ashe, but will enable you to see some big names on Armstrong and have a reserved seat to retreat… Read more »
Thank youz and if not with toddler after day 3?
I think the answer depends most on whether you’d be happy (or have FOMO) not going into Ashe at all. I’d recommend taking a close look at the daily schedule from last year to get a sense of what a typical day would be like. For rounds 1 and 2, there are so many great matches on outer courts that you may feel fine skipping Ashe (the only stadium that doesn’t have any GA seats, ie every seat is ticketed). But you may want to have the option of going into Ashe to check it out (not recommended with your… Read more »
Thank you, sir. I was able to snag 2x Day Session passes for 3rd Round Men’s / Women’s Ashe Passes in section 316.
Great to hear it!
Hi PJ and friends,
I got an update from the US Open (I’m one of the series subscribers so sometimes get more info or earlier info) and for 2025, they have added 2000 new courtside seats in Ashe (to appx 5000 seats). They’ll even be padded haha. Who knows what the price tag will be but hopefully there will still be some decent deals…
Supposedly they have also made general improvements in Ashe as well with larger concourses and more amenities.
Maura
Hey Maura, good to hear from you as always and thanks! However, I believe the expansion of courtside seats won’t be complete until 2027 (see details here).
Great info…. just curious, are some tickets held back by the Tennis Center and become available for same day sale at the box office??? Thanks
Hey Ted, Yes—some tickets are held back by the USTA and can get released closer to the tournament or even on the day of – kind of like “house seats” on Broadway. But there’s no clear pattern as to how many, when, or for which sessions they might become available. Also, importantly, there’s no special stash at the box office. What you will see as available online as standard “blue dot” tickets is the same inventory the box office can sell. So always check Ticketmaster before heading over—if blue dot tickets are showing, you can buy them in person and… Read more »
Hey, not sure if you already addressed this… do you know if they’ll be charging for any of the mixed doubles matches during fan week?
Hey ML, great question. Unfortunately, the tournament has been a bit cagey on this. The most recent post says “More information on the US Open Mixed Doubles Championships including players and ticket details will be shared in the coming weeks.” I think it’s a strong bet that they will ticket for courtside seats and suites only and make the Loge and Promenade open seating and free. But no confirmation on that yet…
Hi, we will be travelling across from the UK for fan week and would love to obtain fan access passes. Does anybody know when registration will open please andxehst the process will involve? Thanks for any advice. Fsynir
Hi Gaynor, fan week is great – you’ll love it. I’d recommend downloading the US Open app and keep checking for when the registration opens. There will be plenty available, so you don’t have to worry about doing it really early.
Is there any sort of pricing chart for the “regular” (ie non resale) seats? I’m flying in and will be able to attend Day 1 day session. I’m going to go with a bunch of friends and we really want whatever is cheapest as our plan is to just bounce around the outside courts. Trying to figure out what that cheapest ticket will be (grounds pass, Armstrong upper, Ashe promenade?) and what that price would be. I mean, probably worth it to buy an Armstrong or Ashe ticket anyway in case it rains. Also should I buy in the Amex… Read more »
Hi Brian, unfortunately the US Open doesn’t publish a standard “face value” chart because they use dynamic pricing—meaning prices fluctuate based on demand. But I’ve put together a 2025 pricing guide that should help you ballpark what’s typical for the cheapest seats in each section. For Day 1, your cheapest options will likely be: Grounds Pass, Upper Armstrong reserved, or Promenade Ashe (the highest level). If your main plan is to roam the outer courts, a grounds pass is perfect—but if there’s any chance of rain, spending a little more for Ashe or Armstrong (which are both covered stadiums) is… Read more »
Thanks for the detailed response! It’s especially tricky this year because Day 1 has been moved to a Sunday which I’m sure will increase demand for the day session. I’d be happy to get upper Armstrong tickets for under $100 but don’t know if that’s really realistic.
Hi – great info! Do you anticipate a tangible difference in the finishing times of the action on the grounds pass courts on Day 1 (sun 24th) due to the first round matches now being spread over 3 days? I love the late night action but wondering if that is unlikely on the Sunday. Thanks
Hey Rusty, yeah I suspect matches will wrap a bit earlier than we’re used to on those first 3 days – but play will definitely still stretch into the evening (like you, one of my favorite things). And of course if there are rain delays on any of those first days, that would definitely push things later into the evening.
Can you recommend your counterpart for attending Wimbledon?
Hi Elizabeth, I actually used wimbledondebentureholders.com myself when I went several years ago – they were 100% reliable. You can check Stubhub to compare prices on the unofficial, unsanctioned resale market for context. There’s an overwhelming amount of sites out there with advice… Here are some good sites I’ve found that align with my experiences: https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/wimbledon-tennis-championships-our-top-tips https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10-things-no-one-tells-you-before-you-go-to-wimbledon/ https://www.perfect-tennis.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-wimbledon-tickets/ (older but still helpful) Also from a friend: >> “You can fairly easily get tickets through the queue process. We didn’t have any tickets when we arrived in London, but easily got tickets through queueing to the matches we wanted to see… Read more »
Hi! Do you have any insight on any of the hospitality packages offered? Specifically the courtside premier or overlook packages? Looking for something special for a birthday present but unsure what the best options are. Thanks!
Hi there—great question, and what an awesome birthday idea. If you’re going more for the overall experience—good food, drinks, and a special vibe—the hospitality packages like Courtside Premier or Overlook can definitely make the day feel a bit more VIP. They include premium seats and access to lounges with upgraded food and amenities. (Other readers please chime in if you’ve done these to share your experiences!) But if you’re mainly going for the tennis, I’d honestly suggest skipping the packages (which I think are wildly overpriced). For the same price or less, you can usually get great courtside seats and… Read more »
Love this information and headed to 2025 tourney
Thanks, Richard! Updating for 2025 now…
Thanks for the great advice as always. Is there a way to determine at any given match on which side of the umpire’s chair a specific player is going to sit?
Hey Larry, you’re welcome! Unfortunately no way to know where they’ll sit in advance.
P.J. -Happy New Year. Do you have any experience or knowledge of travel to one of the other slams with any of the tour groups? I’m looking to check boxes on my bucket list!
Marc, a verrrrrry belated HNY to you, with huge apologies for not seeing this sooner to reply! I’ve gone to all 3 of the others slams but have done it on my own without tour groups. But the three groups I mention in the post all have earned good reputations. Please let me know if you end up having experiences good or bad with them or others!
Hi! Never been to US Open and i hope to assist in 2025! Do you know when are going to be available to purchase ticket plans to assist next year? and if it open the sale for everyone? thanks in advance!
Hi Raul, SO sorry not to have seen this when you first submitted the question!! Hopefully you found what you were looking for about the ticket plans in the meantime. I’ve just updated my post so hopefully there’s stuff in it that will also help you. Feel free to come back with any questions! PJ
Do you have a rough sense for when ticket plans go on sale – looks like they sold out completely so must have been a while ago?
Hi there, in the past they’ve begin taking deposits as early as November for the following year. I’d recommend emailing usopenticketoffice@usta.com and ask about their plans for next year to be sure.
Hi PJ! I found your site when planning my first trip to the US Open last year. It was super-helpful — thank you! We had a great experience and returned this year. I recommend this site to everyone I talk with about attending.
Do you have any tips for The Championships Wimbledon or do you know of a site similar to yours that demystifies the process of getting tickets?
Ellison, my huge apologies for not catching this comment sooner! After last year’s event I had a super busy fall and wasn’t able to keep up… Thanks so much for the kind words! Here are some posts I’ve found that align with my experiences at Wimbledon: https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/wimbledon-tennis-championships-our-top-tips https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10-things-no-one-tells-you-before-you-go-to-wimbledon/ https://www.perfect-tennis.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-getting-wimbledon-tickets/ (older but still helpful) Also from a friend: >> “You can fairly easily get tickets through the queue process. We didn’t have any tickets when we arrived in London, but easily got tickets through queueing to the matches we wanted to see at a super affordable price.” >> “If you can… Read more »
Thank you so much! This information is really helpful and makes me less worried about leaving things to chance and experiencing the queue. We didn’t get tickets through the ballot and debenture and hospitality package tickets are SO expensive compared to attending the US Open. We’ll be fine with just getting on the grounds and possibly buying tickets that have been turned in late in the day.
Hi Ellison, you’re so welcome and so glad to hear it!
Hi P.J., Great blog and sharing your passion for tennis both in learning to play and watching for the past 5 years after ignoring it for so long. With your tips, I was able to score 3R tickets for this year for even cheaper than 2023 at face value. Took advantage of Fan Week festivities too and even better, first row seats for the 2nd Thursday Men’s Doubles SF matches, all for free. Thank you very much and looking forward to more amazing tennis posts and tips.
Nick, I am thrilled and so grateful to hear this – thank you!!
Hi PJ, I found your website last year as I was planning our first trip to the US Open. We had a great experience and I have raved about it so much and shared your helpful tips with so may people that I feel like I might be responsible for this year’s record attendance! 😉 I’m now interested in trying to add a couple of days at Wimbledon to a trip to England next summer and am wondering if you have any tips to share or know of any resources similar to your site that focus on Wimbledon. I’d be… Read more »
Hi again! Just saw this one too. Yes, that was me at the Alcaraz van de Zandschlup match 🙂
Hi.. Thank you, your information is spectacular. I am a huge tennis fan and have not been to the US Open in over 20 years. Definitely want to attend in 2025- any idea when AMEX will have presale day for 2025? Is it usually that last week in May? Thanks again.
Hi Laurie, thank you so much! The exact dates can vary slightly each year, but yes the Amex presale is usually the week prior to individual tickets going on sale (which is usually late May or early June). Hope you can make it next year!
Thanks for this post! I used it to maximum extent in planning a trip for my wife and me, and it was a tremendous help, especially being our first (hopefully) time! Only observation is that the Q48 from LGA is not an express bus (at least, the one we rode hasn’t – could have been user error), so it was about 30-35 minutes to the gates. We had allowed ourselves ample time so it wasn’t a factor. Excellent resource, thanks for all the work you put into this!
Hey Mike, you’re so welcome, thank you so much for taking time to let me know it was helpful! And huge thanks for sharing the experience on the Q48, which I’ve never taken myself. I’ll update the post right now to reflect that, really appreciate it. Thanks again!
Hi PJ, do you know if the grounds are free to enter tomorrow (Thursday) for the juniors and doubles as in past years? I should know this… Thanks!
99.9% sure they are! Didn’t see any promotion for it, but haven’t heard anything to the contrary (and they don’t have grounds passes on sale for the day). If I’m wrong, I’m terribly sorry – but can’t imagine they would reverse course after all these years.