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.












Thank you for this article. Will be my first time to the US Open and the information in this article was very useful
Thanks Chue, much appreciated! PJ
Hey PJ, Thanks for this awesome guide in helping tennis fans making the most of their US Open experience!! Couple of questions: (1) On the official US open Ticketmaster website, I see some resell tickets for Section 120, Row F through H going for ~ $290 (including service fees) for the Labor Day weekend (Arthur Ashe Evening Session). I believe this is the Loge section. Do you think this is a competitive price? (2) Also, having looked around the US Open Ticketmaster website several times since the sale of tickets began this morning, I’m surprised to see at how few… Read more »
Hey Shaurya, (1) yes that’s pretty good (again if the total includes fees and it’s not 290 plus fees). But not so exceptional you need to rush on it. (2) Yes, it’s pretty common unfortunately. They DO release tickets sporadically throughout the summer, but sadly there’s absolutely no rhyme or reason to it. One day nothing, two weeks later blue dots magically appear where they weren’t before. But it’s not common and you have to keep checking. My experience is that you can find these more often as we get closer to the tournament. (3) There are way way fewer… Read more »
Great site, it’s been my bible! Travelling from the UK on mothers/daughters trip.
We managed to get 6 out of our 8 tickets in the general sale today, it was nerve wracking and caused a few tears from me!! (Had so many tickets in my basket that got snatched away !!)
Anyway just two left to get hold of, but we have time on our hands, and all your great advice.
Thanks again?
Hey Jules, you made my day. So happy to hear it! Thanks for letting me know, really appreciate it. PJ (And yes, the same has happened to me soooooooo many times…) Cheers, P.J.
Also, For getting resale tickets, is it worth waiting a bit after June 12th. As of today, the resale tickets are costing a bit much for my budget, and in 2015, for the same rounds (4th round and quarterfinals) at Arthur Ashe, i had gotten much better deal in August! I am thinking of waiting to see if more tickets show up on resale..but not sure of the strategy.
YES take your time and wait! You just have to be willing to keep checking occasionally throughout the summer. There’s no magic bullet- you just have to keep checking back. PJ
I just checked the US Open site, and for labor day weekend, day and night sessions at Arthur Ashe Loge Level are already sold out and only available through resale (at least most of them – wheelchair accessible are available but not sure if i can buy those). How is it that within 3 hours, all Loge Level seats go so fast? Surely not everyone booked in about 3 hours? Are most of them given away early?!
Hey Ameya, yes I know it’s a little crazy and frustrating. Most of the Loge seats seem to be pre-sold to subscribers who have waited years to upgrade from Promenade, corporate sponsors, VIPs, and who knows who else… I always recommend people try the minute sales open to find face-value tickets for sessions they are sure they want to attend – but over the years I’ve purchased probably 20% of my tickets max that way, and 80% via resale market because it’s just so much easier and more transparent. P.J.
I just checked with US open office and anyone can buy wheelchair accessible seats.
Hi Abhi, that is technically true – but you will be asked before purchasing to confirm that you are in need of the seats. I personally wouldn’t do it given that I physically don’t need them. P.J.
Hi PJ, what would you recommend if I am interested in watching just one Rafa Nadal match, I prefer the early rounds, do you thinks it’s wise to wait until August 26 when the schedule is available and purchase thru the ticket exchange? If that is not the best way to do it, what would you advise?
Thanks in advance.
Hey Eric, yes, I’d advise you wait. P.J.
Hi PJ,
As of right now I am just here to say HI! Love all of your 2017 updates, can’t wait to really read in more detail and make a plan. I feel like I’m starting fresh with all the need to knows, but I can’t wait for some live tennis this year. It has been a crazy tennis season so sure to be an exciting tournament.
Hey Gina, great to hear from you! We gotta meet in person at this year’s Open! 🙂 P.J.
Yes yes yes! That would be awesome. My daughter and I are still talking about our wonderful experience from last year. I can’t believe it’s been a year. Life is hectic as far as schedules and my son’s first day of the new school year is The 31st, which is the day I wanted to come. SO I think I’m going to come Friday Sept. 1st or Tuesday Sept. 5th. Think I’m gonna take your advice and get Ashe tix.
P.J., it’s me again… I’m getting ready for the 9:00 AM rush, trying to decide which seats I will be looking for when the clock hits. Will be looking for Sept. 2nd, Arms/Grandstand reserved for the day session, Ashe Loge for night. I’m noticing on Ticketmaster that there are service fees included in the cost of tickets. Are those fees unavoidable on Ticketmaster? Also, are there any bad seats in the Ashe Loge, with obstructed views or the like? Couldn’t find anything in your blog above that mentioned that, sorry if I missed it. Thank you again for taking the… Read more »
Hey Paul! (1) You’re seeing service fees now because public sale hasn’t opened yet, and the only tickets you see are resale tickets with service fees. Both are listed on Ticketmaster: face-value will show in blue, resales seats will show in red (then link you to “Ticket Exchange” if you choose to purchase). (2) No obstructed views in Loge. (3) You’re welcome! P.J.
Hi Paul,
I did notice that TickPicks does resells with no fee tickets. I found that at least looking here, I can see the “true final” price easier… TickPick
Hey Demi, yes – TickPick is great in that the price you see is what you actually pay – and they don’t add in fees towards the end of the transaction. However do know that these are still reseller tickets, and prices often the same as what you’d find on Ticket Exchange. PJ
Sep 5th (men’s singles QF’s), day session Arthur Ashe stadium ticket for 670$. Would I get a better offer or is this a fair price? Please advice.
Is it a good courtside seat? If so, that’s a good deal. If it’s Loge, I would definitely wait. P.J.
Yes, sec 15, row F.
If that includes service fees that’s an excellent deal. PJ
No it does not include the service fee. A service fee of 224$ for two tickets is being charged over and above the ticker price 🙁
That’s decent, but probably not worth grabbing right now. Just keep your eyes on tickets in the months ahead. Now you have a “benchmark” idea — which is critical. You’ll be able to spot a good deal when you see one! P.J.
I agree – TicketExchange just makes the fee “hidden”, whereas TickPicks seems to add it in upfront.
However, it might be helpful for those hunting for a baseline price. I wish there was an easier way to see only Loge tickets for any of these resellers?
I know… Best way to do it is to sort by “Section” (for those that allow that). Courtside numbers area all under 100, Loge all 100s and 200s, Promenade all 300s. PJ
Hi there! Great stuff! Thank you for providing this great info.
Question. I need to be there (daughter is a ballperson) Aug 28-Sept 4 – prefer day and night sessions (don;t know her schedule) – is the best (cheapest) way to do this as a subscriber (I am thinking Grandstand) or can I get access to the subscriber seats after sale to general public starts tomorrow? I care less about the quality of the seats since I love roaming around but it’s nice to have something more than grounds access. Thanks!
Hi Lee, thanks so much for your appreciation! First, I’m jealous of your daughter 🙂 Seriously, that’s awesome she’s doing that – what an amazing experience! If I were you (and just seeking 1 ticket) I’d probably invest in the $673 Aug 28-Sep 4 Grandstand ticket plan — there’s a seat in section 21A where I’ve actually sat before. Sweet seats. An excellent deal for 8 DAYS of play (play often goes into evening), including those during Labor Day weekend when lines for GS can be quite long. Alternatively, you could get the “Holiday Weekend” Ashe plan and get a… Read more »
P.J. Perfect. And thanks. Just what I was thinking. I snagged “your” seat at 21A. So now we have a place to sit in addition to grounds passes. It’s totally a much better deal than the over $1,000 I spent last year for ground passes and few Ashe seats to cover the time period. She was 14 last year and just made the cut off so a young’un – good to have a parent on grounds. This year she is 15 but still, admittedly, we are tennis junkies and love watching at the outer courts. I am so glad to… Read more »
Amazing piece no doubt, the most serious one I saw online when browsing for information now. Will wait two days to buy everything as you suggested, but I have a clarification question. Assuming I want to make sure I see Federer in a decent seat, and hopefully not in a simple match, but a ~QF. Does that mean I have to buy 4 Loge tickets (two days for both day & night)? Would you assume that I can safely buy them and then resell 3 or them? Am I better and safer off buying 1 SF day ticket and hope… Read more »
Hi Barak, (1) Yes, IF you were to assume Fed would make QF and you wanted to be guaranteed to see him, you’d need to buy those 4 Ashe sessions.(2) You would have an excellent shot at reselling if you put up for resale. However very important to note: when you put up for resale, you would need to list the tickets a higher price than you paid for them in order to get exactly what you paid back. For example, say you pay $200 for a QF Loge seat, then want to sell it to get your $200 back:… Read more »
Great website. I have never been to a major tennis tournament and will be in NYC with my wife Sat through Mon of Labor Day weekend and would love to experience this tournament. The consensus seems to be that the Amex presale is nothing special…but I am seeing promenade tickets for the Sat 9/2 Ashe night session for $55 per ticket for rows U and higher in sections 307, 314, 316-318, 324-326, 328, and 334. For someone who wants to experience the US Open for the first time who doesn’t have unlimited funds…is this not a good deal? Will these… Read more »
Hey there, if those are seats you want then definitely grab them! Can’t imagine you will find better prices for those seats during that session. PJ
Thanks for the quick reply. A few more questions if you don’t mind…
(1) The $55 seats are available for both Sat night and Sun. How much more would you estimate I would have to pay to get to the loge level on those nights when more seats are released?
(2) There are $85 Ashe Day seats available on Mon 9/4. How many (if any) of the outer courts will still have matches taking place on Monday during the day and night and how accessible will those be for 2 adjacent seats without standing in line due to holiday crowds?
Follow up 3rd question…
(3) Would you expect a pair of seats to still be available for $55 for the Labor Day Sat and Sun night sessions once the tickets go on sale to the general public and…if so…would they be available for a while during the summer, or will the lowest available priced promenade seats increase in price considerably and stay higher throughout the summer? Just trying to gauge what my fall-back option is if I wait to see what is available after the tickets go on sale to everybody.
There’s always a glut of relatively cheap upper promenade seats throughout the summer right up until the event. That is definitely an excellent price though. PJ
Hi Jim, (1) prob about $100 more per month ticket for loge those nights (2) see last year’s Labor Day schedule (linked above) to get a sense of what is typically on outer courts. Crowds for lines typically very long for Armstrong and Grandstand that day. The other courts not as bad. Sorry for brief reply running to an event!
PJ, I’m thinking of attending last 2 days of qualifying and wanted to know if the last matches on Friday are usually at night? I was planning on taking a 7:30 flight back to Dallas Friday night.
I’m also planning on attending the Taste of Tennis party at the W hotel in Manhattan where several players will be. Have you ever been to one of those?
Thx – PJ (my initials too)
This is the first time I am attending the U.S. Open. I jumped the gun and purchased general admission tickets for Father’s Day for my dad, mom, two kids and myself the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. After reading your information, it’s clear I should have waited and checked the resale sites for reserved Armstrong or Grandstand tickets. I’m happy to pay a little more but do you think I will be able to sell my 5 general admission tickets. I don’t want to buy other tickets and be stuck with them. Since I bought 5, it’s not an insignificant… Read more »
Hey Mieko, well first of all know that you’ll have a great time no matter what! However, I’d recommend putting your tickets up on the Ticketmaster Exchange site for resale and seeing if you can sell – then once you do, you’ll have a budget to work with to determine what else to get. That’s a great day to have GA tickets to sell, because demand will be much higher than for most other days. P.J.
Hi PJ, will general admission tickets sell out for Labor Day w/end?
Hi Cherie, can’t say for sure – if GA tickets sell out, it’s usually not until closer to the tournament. PJ
Hi, this is an excellent guide!, thanks for taking the time to share all your experience. After 20 years I will be back at the Open this year, already got tickets for semis on Friday 8th (307-O). Wanted your opinion on tickets for Monday 4th:
Armstrong: 13-F
or
Ashe: 120-F
I really think it would be a great experience to watch R4 matches up close in Armstrong but I’m concerned weather (rain if any) could leave me wishing I went for the Ashe ones as there’s a roof.
Thanks for your insight.
Hey Alfredo, thanks! Well as you can probably tell from my blog post, I’m a bit biased towards (and somewhat addicted to) seeing play up close. As a player, I value that experience enormously – there’s just nothing like it. So I always take a chance every year myself and risk the weather. I’ve only been completely rained out once in all the years I’ve attended. So if it were me, I’d grab a great Armstrong seat as a complement to your Promenade Ashe Semis seat. And if the forecast looks terrible a couple days prior to Monday, then check… Read more »
Thanks for the feedback, like you say as a player is always a great experience see the movement and technique of these great athletes up-close, so Armstrong will be. 13-F for $290 seems a good deal to you right now? or do you think later on I can find a better deal?
Hey, if the 290 INCLUDES service fees, then yeah that’s pretty good. Also 13 good side because opposite the umpire chair (which can obstruct a bit if you’re close up). You might be able to get a slightly better deal if you wait, prob not too much better though. PJ
Hi PJ,
Thanks for this detailed post. It has been my go-to page for all things US Open. Quick question for you – If I know the date and session I will be able to attend for sure (Sunday of Labor Day weekend), do you think it makes sense to buy a Grandstand Courtside ticket now from the reseller website for ~$150, or should I wait until general tickets come out on Jun 12? Looking forward to your reply.
Regards,
Sudhakar
Hi Sudhakar, thank you! I’d check main Ticketmaster next week first to see what’s available at face value. There will be MORE tickets on resale after that time and throughout the summer, so you can always find a good deal if you can’t find the ticket at face value next week. PJ
That makes sense. My only point of confusion/concern is if the face value of general tickets will be greater than the currently available prices, which I’m assuming are lower because they are resale session tickets. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Could you answer one more question? This will be my first live match and I’m not sure which is the best angle to watch a match from. Should I aim to get tickets directly behind the player or are court center / diagonal seats just as good?
Hey there, (1) Generally speaking, face-value tickets (which you’d see now on Ticketmaster via the Amex pre-sale) are cheaper than resale tickets would be on Ticketmaster Exchange or other reseller sites, because resale tickets always carry a service fee. This is why it’s generally best to try for a regular ticket on Ticketmaster first. But know that sometimes there are exceptions: sometimes there is a glut of resale tickets for a particular session, and some sellers lower prices to below face-value so they can at least recover some of their money. (2) Personal preference, really. The safest bet I recommend… Read more »
Hi P.J,
Thanks a lot for the really great and helpful information! I hope u can help me out with advice. I am looking to attend the mens semis and final. Courtside seems a little out of my price range so i am cosidering loge seats! No loge tickets were avaiable at the pre sale, do they become available for direct sale later on? What would u say is the best way and time to purchase these tickets?
Thanks 🙂
Ali
Hey Ali, yes more seats will get released over time. If you don’t find any right when public sale opens, just keep checking in the weeks (and even months!) that follow. Someites they release more face-value seats, but you need to keep checking periodically to spot them. You may end up having to get resale seats, but take your time on that – no need to rush. I wish I could give an exact formula about how/when – but there are no easy answers or shortcuts. Semis and Finals require patience and work, but you should eventually find something! P.J.
I can’t believe obstructed would be too obstructed in a new temporary venue. I’m pretty good at pleading my case and extracting concessions should the seats turn out to be unsatisfactory. But I’m not too worried. Will be fine I’m sure.
Hey–amazing information! I’ve sort of worked out my method after several years, but it’s great to have your sage advice! (Can’t wait to explore your blog for other info!) Not sure if I missed a mention of it, but in addition to the Sunday practice day, I also usually go to the Kids’ day. If you can tune out the throngs of kids running around, there are some great practice sessions on the stadium courts. And it’s all free. I also usually bite the bullet and carry a bag with me (NOT A BACKPACK!!!). The lines are a lot better… Read more »
GREAT advice, Meredith! Thanks! PJ
Hello! Helpful article 🙂
I have a question concerning day and evening sessions.
If planning on going to the US Open the Sunday and Monday (Labor day weekend) and wanting to only buy tickets for one session per day, what would you advice? Considering buying both tickets for the Ashe stadium.
Thanks for your help!
Hi Alicia, thanks! Really personal preference. I would personally probably combine an evening session and a day session – either Sunday day and Monday evening, or the reverse. Either way it’s round of 16 so you’ll see great matches. PJ
Hi PJ-
As others have said, thanks for the great information. I too was disappointed w/ the presale. Do you have any video taken from the front of the loge? I’ve used the interactive tool to look at the different seats but it’s still hard to imagine when you don’t have 2 humans playing on the court. I’m willing to splurge on tickets for a 1st time trip to the Open but I also don’t want to make a poor decision: courtside corner (behind baseline is out of my price range) vs Loge.
You’re the best! Thanks!
Hi Cherie, thanks so much! Don’t think I have any videos, and any photos I have I used major “zoom”/telephoto lens so probably not so representative. All I can say is upper courtside feels quite closer and more “connected” than lower Loge — there are two tiers of suites sandwiched between courtside and loge, which is why it’s so different. Resale definitely best way to go on courtside, so take your time in evaluating options over the summer. There will always be tons of good deals on Loge seats on resale you can fall back on. PJ
Good morning PJ! Did you score any tickets this morning? I got a couple for Labor Day weekend. I’m thrilled! But still looking….. Do you by chance have an email I could contact you? Thanks, Cherie p.s. Or feel free to email me, I have a couple more questions…..thx!
Hey Cherie, Great news! I looked and didn’t see anything I wanted to jump on. I’ll check again tomorrow when things settle down, but I personally usually end up going with good deals on resale tickets for great seats while keeping eye out for release of new face-value seats throughout the summer. Yes feel free to email. PJ
You have a great blog. We are long time veteran attendees and agree with your wonderful tips. I came back to the site today just to see if there were any comments about the presale. I have never understood why the USTA does not provide more information. They seem to treat everything as state secret. Why don’t they just say, there are no courtside seats in the Amex presale pool? (I do think it is a shame that the membership of the USTA has lost one of its perks.) I also have to say that ticketmaster has vastly improved the… Read more »
John, thank YOU so much for this absolutely OUTSTANDING, practical summary – I’m sure many will find it super helpful! P.J.
I tried for Armstrong for Friday and Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. At first, I got the no tickets message but tried several times and got Armstrong for Friday September 1. No luck on Saturday though. Face value is $150 so I made out very well. Will see what resale market looks like for Saturday is I don’t get one on the June 12.
Hey Bill, super, thanks for letting me know. Last year my memory is there were quite a few resale on Saturday available all through summer around $150 as well (i.e. reserved section, courtside more). PJ
Anyone able to get AMEX pre-sale tickets? I’m curious what prices were available?
I was able to get grounds passes after trying for 45 mins, at about $90 for Labor Day Sat, and $170 for Finals Sun at Upper Prom. I feel like the prices are slightly more expensive this year than last…
For the 1st week tickets, they will open up some buy one, get one promos next week.
Hi everyone managed after an hour to get the buy 1 get 1 free on a couple of nosebleeds for block 330 row U only £36 for 2 seats 1st wed night.just need my splurge seats now.whe-hey.
🙂
PJ,
Now I’m not so sure about the Armstrong tickets I got for Sept 1. I am in loge which sounds good until you see seat placement. They are above GA in Section 109 which is in endzone. They appear to be up quite a ways. The GA seats below mine are labeled obstructed view. Wouldn’t you think the reserved seats would be fairly good ones? They seemed to be in old Armstrong. Buyer Beware. Get familiar with Armstrong seating chart. I took it on faith that seats would be good but they appear to be stuck way up top.
Hi Bill, don’t worry – Section 109 is not “above” GA. It’s baseline and an awesome place to sit. Pretty much any reserved seat in Armstrong is a good one – while it’s the second largest stadium, it’s intimate relative to Ashe. I’m not aware of any obstructed view in Armstrong except if you’re sitting right behind the chair umpire courtside. This is definitely not the case. What row are you in?
Row K… So you are familiar with the seating arrangement in new Armstrong? I’m relieved that the seats will be good. This is the first time we are doing the tournament without Ashe seats since many times we end up spending little time in Ashe.
Bill, I may have spoken too soon, so sorry… I was assuming that they would go with almost identical system for the temporary Armstrong this year (new one won’t be ready until 2018). But I haven’t seen any new charts. I will check and update my post ASAP and let you know. I can’t imagine any paid “reserved” seat in the temporary Armstrong will be bad – it’s only 8,000 seats.
Just found this new image of the temporary Armstrong seating chart (will update in post). There are indeed a couple areas identified as “obstructed” in parts of reserved sections 7, 9, 108, and 109, which boggles the mind (why would they not make those general admission areas?!!). If you’re in Row K, I would guess that will be not obstructed or less obstructed (hard to tell from the image). Should be more clarity next week when the interactive seat maps become available. In short: I wouldn’t worry too much – but so glad you raised, so I can update post… Read more »
Don’t feel too bad; I have been a courtside season ticket holder at Armstrong for over 20 years and all I can tell you is that after renewing my seats, I still am not sure where they are (exactly) this year. I have the section number but the rows in the temporary facility are completely different than the old stadium.
Thanks Jeff – I’ve been wondering what subscribers’ experience would be like. I’m sure it will all be great no matter what. PJ
Thanks sooo very much for your article! I am trying too buy tickets for the first time and was a bit overwhelmed! Going to the US Open is a bucket list item and I am super excited to go! I, like many others, was waiting for the AMEX pre-sale…but now I will wait for re-sale tickets as I would like to sit in the lower loge section and do not see those for sale. Thanks for all the advice!!!
Thank you Liesa!! PJ
Hi P.J.,
Your website was really helpful in 2015 when I went to the U.S. Open for my first time. I’m planning on going again this year during the Labor Weekend. Last time I got my tickets (a combination of courtside, suites, loge and promenade for 4 days) via Steve Furgal, but I’d like to know if there are other ways to get courtside and suites tickets somewhere else without having to pay for a complete package that includes hotel stay. Thanks!
Antonio
Hi Antonio, Courtside yes – just be patient as per my advice above. More face-value seats get released throughout the summer, and usually tons of resale tickets posted. Suites no – not unless you have a contact at any of the companies or orgs that purchase them. Cheers! PJ
Thanks P.J.! For Loge seats, would you recommend waiting for face-value tickets once the general sale starts, or should I better buy them now at the Ticket Exchange?
Thanks!
Antonio
Hi Antonio, my advice is try regular Ticketmaster site first once general sale opens, and wait to dive into resale market (Ticket Exchange etc) until after tickets go on sale publicly for reasons I outline in box 2 above. PJ
Hi P.J.,
Can I just say what a waste of time the Amex presale is this year? I was online at 9 am sharp – there were and are no good seats opened up for sale yet at all. Ugh!
I know… Feel the same. I’m working on huge work deadline and just lost 30 precious minutes myself! See my note to Brian below. 🙂 P.J.
So, I logged into Ticketmaster early and right at 9:00 Eastern I tried to buy AMEX presale tickets for September 1 or 2. First, I see no tickets at all for the Grandstand. As for Armstrong, I refreshed and searched 10 times. Each time, I received a response stating, “No tickets available.” None in any section whatsoever. They make it very difficult to try to attend and enjoy this event.
Yup… See my updated note in text of the blog. Rest assured this is normal – happens every year. They only release a tiny bit of inventory for the pre-sale. Be prepared to face some similar frustration (albeit not as extreme) with the public sale on June 10. But rest assured that there are ALWAYS good deals on the resale market AND new face-value seats get released (inexplicably) throughout the summer, so if you keep checking you will find good options. PJ
Your post is outstanding. As first timers about to get in on the American Express pre-sale, this was an awesome post to read before purchasing tickets. Thank you very much.
Thanks Tanya, really appreciate that! PJ
Hi PJ, I have 2 questions on your tipe #5 and other tip of combination ticket I am tomoko from tokyo luckily to bypass 😉 NYC after my wedding for honeymoon US open for ther fist 3 days period day session. (Aug 29-31) Q1 Please advise me if there are any ropes to restrict move from lodge area to court side area during Day session / during Aug 29-31? we like to try your tip #5 I do not get if there are any sneaking up empty seat available between lodge and courtside. Roger, and David Ferrer practices, ladies doubles… Read more »
Hi Tomoko! Thank you for your kind words of thanks! Q1. Absolutely impossible to sneak from Loge to Courtside. And very difficult to sneak from Promenade to Loge. Relatively easy to sneak up within your specific numbered section where your purchased tickets are. Q2. Yes recommend for everyone – great to try different experiences, vantage points. Tip #5: I advise anyone who can do do it – it’s such a cool experience. However generally best to wait until tickets are in resale to find the best deal (avoid the “premium packages” sold during the public sale). Prices often go down… Read more »
PJ Thanks for the advices. Based on your advise we can buy some seats in different sections. Ok no sneak front between sections.. that is bit different from japan open 😉 I managed to get the tickets from Amex preferred ones… Actually Bought extras day and night for RF playing anytime However….. I found I cannot sell from the Ticketmaster official as I don’t have US BANK ACCOUTS… What a shame so need to go other resale site as you recommended.. I want to have more convienient way the can offer for intl buyers that can sure to release below… Read more »
Hey Tomoko, I’m sorry to hear about the troubles with Ticketmaster- hopefully they will expand international options soon! PJ
Hi PJ,
My wife, two kids and I will attend on Monday, Aug. 28. Thought I would give you a shout as we have an AMEX and can get tickets starting tomorrow. Budget is about $1000 for 4 tix. This is a 50th birthday present for my wife, so I want to get it right. Because we have only one day, thinking to get Arthur Ashe to guard against rain. Sound like a good plan? You seem like a busy man, but would much appreciate any thoughts.
Hey Mike, yes definitely definitely Ashe when you are doing a b’day present and are going for one day – not worth having to worry about rain! $1,000 should get you GREAT seats in lower section of Loge (like within first couple of rows) because it’s first day of tournament. If you can’t get first couple of rows during the Amex pre-sale, strongly advise you wait until public sale. And if you can’t get then, just wait for resale. After the day session ends, you can go out outer courts where matches will be going into evening. PJ
Do you have a price estimate for Armstrong reserved for Friday of Labor Day weekend? We want to be on the baseline, and as close as possible.
Hey Brian, very rough guess from memory of what I’ve paid in previous years that day (please don’t hold me to this!): $160 for lower reserved section seat, $250 for courtside. P.J.
hi there P.J just thinking will you be going to the open this year ?. If so make sure to wear a t shirt with a large P.J on then everyone can see you and offer to buy you a cold one. I myself will be wearing a federer swiss flag shirt with an RF cap if you spot me I’ll be paying!!!
LOL – thanks man you’re the best! Would love to meet up and say hi. Not sure yet which days I’ll be there but will definitely be there. 🙂 PJ
Agree! Andy , Will wear RF red T and RF Red cap and RF face mask from Tokyo
Thank you for this very helpful information. Is there any way to tell what the prices are for 2017 Grounds, Grandstand and Armstrong tickets for various sessions? Frustratingly, I do not see this information on the official Open website, despite the fact that they go on sale shortly.
Hi Brian, no unfortunately – and that’s partially because prices vary quite a bit from session to session, within sections, etc. You can get a general sense by looking at some of the resale sites I list above.. PJ
Well, the US Open’s failure to advise of the ticket prices is just very poor customer service. Unbelievable. Not that hard.
I know, super frustrating. Would be great to have just a general range listed for face-value prices within each section for each date. PJ
PJ,
I am trying to surprise my tennis-loving husband with tickets for Friday, Sept.1. My budget is around $500 per person for one day session. Where should I buy tickets to get the best bang for the buck?
Hi Amanda, with that budget you’ll be in great shape. I would check on main Ticketmaster site when tickets go on sale to public to see what’s available at face-value, but as I counsel above do NOT buy a “premium” package ticket via that site. You will often be able to get a better deal through the Exchange or one of the other sites I list in Box 2 as you get closer to the event. P.J.
WOW! As a tennis fan, I really appreciate you for taking the time to put this together. These tips are very helpful and I will definitely follow your advise for my next trip to New York. I will recommend Moblat Apartments for your next trip to New York. They are conveniently located to the stadium and their properties are very clean, great location, affordable and fully furnished which makes it very convenient and will help you save some money during your stay. You can make your reservation online on their website moblat.com. Thank you for this helpful information for all… Read more »
Hi PJ, First of all thanks for your recommendations. Im planning to attend (For three days) for the first time to US Open, I will be in New York during the Tournament. After reading your article, I think im gonna try to catch a Louis Armstrong Reserved and/or a GrandStand Reserved for the a M&W 2nd round day or/and M&W 3rd round day. The last day I want to attend to an Ashe session to see some top players (To not splurge, I think it could be 3rd round or QF) Im not sure how much could cost us this.… Read more »
Planning to visit from Barbados. Thank you for the excellent information and references. I purchased tickets for quarterfinals at Rogers Montreal and that year all the top seeds lost!!! My plan is to go to opening and then quarterfinals. The challenge is to find who is playing when on the two opening days.
Sounds great! Schedule for first day usually announced the Friday before the tournament begins. P.J.
Hi, PJ! Great tips!!! I’m a big tennis fan and I’m looking forward to going to de US Open this year. I’m arriving to NYC on the 31th August and I would like to see a lot of tennis, I’m thinking of going to de 2nd or 3rd round (to see a lot of matches) and I was hoping to see the Finals. Do you think I can get tickets for the Finals on June 12th?? Also I’m hoping to see fellow countryman Pablo Cuevas and especially my idol Roger Federer. What would you recomend to do or to see… Read more »
Hi Vero, it’s usually tough to get tickets for finals via the public sale, even if you’re online the moment the public sale opens – but always worth trying. See my Box 3 “FAQ #2” for my answer about trying to see Fed/Cuevas. P.J.
Hi Patrick, this will be our third open in 2017. Now that we know our way around, we have a pretty specific idea of where we like to sit in Arthur Ashe at night. There appear to be some decent deals already on Ticketmaster ticket exchange. But I’m curious as to why the sites (both ticket exchange and the non-USTA resellers) show rows, but won’t show exact seats before purchase. In some sections it makes a difference. At some point last year (during the tournament maybe?) you could go on ticket exchange and there were little blue dots showing the… Read more »
Hey Lisa, once tickets go on sale to public Ticket Exchange may shift back to seat-level view. But if not, the easiest workaround is to view the tickets from the main Ticketmaster site — which once tickets go on sale publicly June 10 WILL also show resale tickets available via Ticketmaster Exchange. Some other reseller sites will not have exact seat view; and on some reseller sites, the person putting tickets up for resale may not specify (may only give a range). I always avoid those! P.J.
Thanks for a great article.So helpful! I hope it’s okay if I ask you one question. I am basically traveling with my friend to the US open this year for the first time and we’ve decided to be around from 1st- 6th of sept. Our priority is not to see the top 10 biggest stars but just to see as many exciting matches as possible. So the first days we’d want to attend to the smaller courts and catch 2 -bigger- matches in the quarter finals. The budget for one day per person would be around $200. I don’t know… Read more »
Hey Petra, what’s your total budget (per person) for all the days you plan to attend? $1200?
Hi P.J
Well I was hoping for something around 1200 -1500 per person for all days. Could we get away with that ?
Yes absolutely! I am under the gun with some big work deadlines right now – will try to get back over the weekend with some specific recommendations as soon as I can. PJ
Thanks you so much 🙂
PJ,
What is the difference between General Admission and Armstrong Stadium Reserved? Read the descriptions above and it sounds like there isn’t much of a difference price wise. Reading through the comments however, it sounds like Armstrong Stadium Reserved is quite a bit higher. Do you have any idea of what the prices of the reserved tickets are? Looking to go on Friday, September 1st. Is it ever difficult to get these tickets?
Hi Brooke, Armstrong Reserved gives you same benefits as general admission PLUS an assigned seat and access to “fast” line to get into Armstrong. It’s relatively easy to get into the stadium the first 4 days, but Fri-Monday of Labor Day weekend lines are extra long making it very difficult if not impossible to get in if there’s a great match going on. See seating chart — the numbered sections are the ones you have to have a reserved ticket to sit in, the rest is first-come first serve. Demand for Sat-Mon of Labor Day weekend is highest, easier rest… Read more »
I had read somewhere else that grounds were about $50. Is that true? When I read this in your post: “Grounds pass seats are a great deal, but sometimes prices for a reserved Ashe Promenade section Day Session or Armstrong or Grandstand ticket can be almost identical– making them far better deals.” I think I got confused. If grounds are $50 I was thinking that the Armstrong Reserved was probably no more than $100. Please correct me if I’m wrong because we don’t want to be completely confused when we go to buy tickets on June 5th. Thanks!
Hi Brooke, depends on the day… You can usually find a grounds tickets for less than a cheap reserved seat in Ashe/Armstrong/GS – but not likely for $50. My point in #3 above is that it’s always worth checking to see if you can get a reserved seat for about the same for the reasons I mention. P.J.
Thanks for all of your help!!
Hi PJ, First of all many thanks for such an excellent post! And you have taken time to answer so many queries as well. I hope you find the time to answer mine as well. My wife and I are huge tennis (Federer!!) fans and this would be our first time attending US open (in fact any grand slam). I have two questions 1. Is it worth buying Arthur Ashe Evening passes for Holiday weekend now? I think its 4 sessions and tickets start at $320. Or should we wait to buy them from resellers. 2. Also if I have… Read more »
Hey Ketan, thanks for your thanks! Responding to your questions in reverse order: #2: No, Ashe evening tickets only allow entry at/around 6pm. #1. If you just want to “be in the stadium” to experience some big matches and it doesn’t matter where you sit, the ticket plan isn’t a bad option. But those are Promenade section seats (around 320-ish for upper nosebleed seats, 389 for lower promenade), and I personally wouldn’t want to be locked into those for all 4 nights. They won’t get you in the grounds during the day, when it’s really fun to just walk around… Read more »
Thanks a ton PJ! I’ll wait till tickets go on sale on June 5.
Thanks for your tips! I have been very useful. I live in Uruguay and I travel to NY the first week of September to celebrate my 50th birthday along with my wife and two children. I am a big fan of tennis and even my 15 year old son is a player. My birthday is the 3rd of September and my idea is to go to the Ashe night session that date. I’m scared that on June 12 when they start selling individual tickets, running out of tickets or going over my budget. I have been about to buy tickets… Read more »
Hi Daniel, que bueno que ustedes vayan a venir a NY (feliz cumpleaños)! Sep 3 is a great day to go. The strategy really depends on your budget. Check on June 12 to see what is available, and if you see something you like in your budget then, grab it to avoid paying any reseller fees. However, if you don’t, know that you can wait until very close to the date you attend to decide (as long as you have a smart phone to access electronic tickets). You really don’t need to worry about tickets “selling out” given that there… Read more »
Thanks for your advice ! If I managed to get tickets for an Ashe night session on September 3, I only have access to the games that are played on the Ashe that night, or do I have access to something else? For example, if I go early, I can see the outdoor courts, Or maybe entering the Grandstand?
Hi Daniel, ASHE NIGHT Session Reserved = Only allows entry to grounds/outer courts at around 6pm. So you can catch anything happening on Grandstand etc only after 6pm. P.J.
Thanks to your advice I did not rush to buy my tickets in resale sites, I waited until the start day for the official sale of individual tickets and managed to get it for the Arthur Ashe night session for my birthday! Thank you so much for everything!
Great to hear! So glad it was helpful! P.J.
This website is amazing and of course I’m only discovering it after I’ve purchased my tickets. My wife bought me Holiday evening passes for my birthday and I’ve been doing lots of research. I would have liked to have full Holiday weekend passes but it wasn’t in the cards. Providing Federer stays healthy and handles business, I have a pretty fair shot at seeing him once in those four evenings, yeah? As the tournament approaches and the schedule of play is released I may try and and add a day pass as well.
Hey Nathan, yes very very strong odds you will see him on one of those four nights! P.J.
Hi PJ,
Thanks for a detailed note on the options for US open. I would be travelling from Singapore and it will be my first grand slam experience. I would be really keen to watch the Fed for the first 3 rounds if posisble and i would want to watch the first week of the open. Does the first week ticket get access to Arthur Ashe or would you suggest me a first week ticket and get separately for Federer matches.
Appreciate your advise.
Hi. Thank you v for your article i like it a lot. I am from Mexico and Im planning to watch this years US open with my wife that loves Federer. We will be arriving at new york on august 30Th thru september 4. I was looking in the us open official site that there are tickets for pre holiday 4 sessions (200 dlls each) but my question is for the Ashe stadium and i can see other curts, and they are for morning and evening sessions. It worth it? or its better to wait. Whats your recommendation so we… Read more »
PJ,
I am going to attend Friday and Saturday of Labor Day weekend and will do Reserved at Armstrong or GS instead of Ashe. What venue do you think will have the better matches? It seemed that in last year, Armstrong had the more appealing matches but with the new temporary Armstrong, I’m not sure this will be the case, especially since the capacities will be about equal.
Hey Bill, yes the temporary Armstrong will be just as big as the old one – so I predict a similar pattern this year as last. Slightly higher profile matches on temp Armstrong than GS because it has more capacity. I really enjoyed my GS experience last year – sat baseline courtside and felt like I was on the court with them… You might consider doing that on one of the days (also generally less expensive). PJ
PJ,
Thanks for the reply. Do you think these tickets are attainable at face value from Ticketmaster when they go on sale June 5th? About what could I expect to pay at face value or, if not attainable, in the secondary market? And if I’m getting in secondary market, when would be the best time to buy?
Hi Bill, always worth checking on June 5th. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren’t… Sometimes they appear a couple days later… It’s frustrating but one never knows exactly. Armstrong courtside/box almost never available at face value, but sometimes reserved in upper stands are. Several from Grandstand were available last year, however I saw tickets on secondary market closer to event that were about the same or less (including service fees) as the original face value. Secondary market – no easy answer, generally closer to the event is better because more people are trying to unload if they can’t make it…… Read more »
WOW YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!Thank you! I have a few questions I will be glad if you could help me. I’m an advanced recreational player, and a huge tennis fan and follower, big fan of Roger Federer. I live in Israel and I plan to visit new york for the us open, It’s a long expensive trip so that’s why I’m so unsure about what to do even with this huge amount of info you provided. it’s my first time ever seeing any ATP tournment. My plan is: 1. see Roger in the first round (I can’t predict how far will… Read more »
Hey Daniel! Awesome that you’re coming from Israel. My top advice: if you have a smart phone that can download apps, don’t worry about buying tickets far in advance. 1. If your top goal is to see Roger, wait until the draw is announced then put as much of your budget towards a good seat for the one specific session he’s playing in (otherwise you’ll have to buy 4 Ashe tickets (Day 1 daytime and evening, Day 2 daytime and evening). To do this, you’ll have to be checking the US Open website (and the US Open app) the Thursday/Friday… Read more »
ok now it’s all finally made clear in my head, at first it was very confusing for me, so thanks again!!
Hi PJ!
I am Audrey from France. Actually I am doing a presentation about the US Open communication. I am looking for some datas about their spectators (how many percent of women/men, average age, how many percent are from USA, where come from the others and so on).
Do you know how or where I can get that?
Thanks a lot anyways!
Salut Audrey! I’m not confident there are any hard statistics on that – ticket sales are anonymous, Ticketmaster doesn’t collect demographic information when one buys tickets, and a huge number of tickets are re-sold. I would contact the USTA to ask if they have any ballpark estimates. I did find this interesting infographic with data they have collected (not related to spectators though):
https://wallethub.com/blog/us-open-tennis-stats/5935/
P.J.
Hello PJ, I have a quick question on what you would recommend me getting. I am planning on taking myself and my girlfriend to the US Open this year. Due to scheduling conflicts and school, the only viable day for us is Saturday, September 2nd. Neither of us have ever been to the Open (or any major tennis event for that matter), we just both play tennis for our high school and love the sport. We are planning on going to both the day and night session. Should we buy Ashe day tickets, or would you recommend something else? I’ve… Read more »
Hey Paul, if it were me, I’d splurge for Armstrong or Grandstand reserved for day session (Sat Labor Day weekend outer courts will be very busy, tons of people and long lines) and Ashe Loge or low Promenade for evening just to have the Ashe evening experience. There is a risk of rain with that strategy (whereas if you got Ashe for both sessions you’d have insurance) … however the reward of seeing world-class play up close to me is worth the risk. Zero rush on Promenade seats. If you see a great deal early for Loge or Arms/GS, go… Read more »
Hello PJ,
It´s Sebastian from Perú again. My friend and I are going crazy because of Federer level and are planning to go to the mens semis and final. I have two questions:
1. Realistically, how much money would I need for 1 ticket on lower loge seats for each session? $700 for each ticket?
2. What would be the best strategy for buying the tickets? I know that those tickets don´t go on sale with all the other tickets right? So where and when should I buy them?
Thanks for all the help!
Hola Sebastian! It’s really hard to predict. Here’s an answer to a similar question I received earlier this spring (and also see my advice in Box 3 FAQ #2 above): (1) Over the past 9 years I’ve never seen face-value courtside tickets for the men’s final posted on Ticketmaster on the day tickets go on sale or anytime soon after that– it’s usually only months later or close to the event that USTA releases a handful when they’re sure they don’t need them for VIPs or sponsors. You will see special courtside tickets offered as “premium package” face-value tickets (extremely… Read more »
Ok, what I will try to do is check constantly the ticket sites in the next 2 months looking for good prices. I think the If I get tickets for lower loge seats for $600 or less for mens semis and final I should buy them right? I want to buy them in advance along with my airplane ticket so I can´t wait til the tournament is underway.
Thanks for the help!
Hey Sebastian, yes sounds like a great approach. However please know that with the Ticketmaster Exchange site you can purchase even after the tournament starts and access tickets electronically via their app (if you have a smart phone that can download apps). You can just show the bar code at the gate, don’t have to print tickets. I have found many of the best deals during the actual tournament, because there are ALWAYS extra tickets that people are trying to sell – even for semis and finals. PJ
Ok, thanks for the help!
When i tried to create my account at Ticketmaster when they asked me my country the didn´t have the “Perú” option (or any latin american country for that matter). There won´t be a problem if i choose the US (and lie haha) right? I don´t want to take any risks.
Thanks!
Hey Sebastian, you can just choose “other” when prompted for country in the account creation page. Here are all the acceptable payment methods: http://help.ticketmaster.com/accepted-payment-methods/