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

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

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

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

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

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

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












Hi everyone, someone just emailed me from South Africa and asked how I’d spend $500 per person on Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Here’s what I replied in case it helps anyone else (I prefer folks comment here rather than email because that way the Q&As benefit everyone): Here’s what I’d do on a $500 per ticket budget for Saturday Sep 2: (1) Grandstand Courtside 20B $244 + fees [Or exceed budget a big and get a great seat in Armstrong] (2) AND Ashe Loge 134 L 17-18 $225 face value (modest fees) See last year’s schedule for indication of… Read more »
Hi Sarat, I have purchased online via browser and within app over the years and have had to resell several times when I couldn’t attend – never had a problem. My understanding is that the only limitation is they don’t allow you to resell if you’ve purchased over the phone or via a third party (i.e. outside Ticketmaster). See this page. If you don’t see a “Sell” button next to your tickets on the mobile app or in your Ticketmaster account, then I would contact them and ask why. If you find out anything different, please let me know so… Read more »
Hi P.J. I read this in the FAQs: Tickets purchased over the phone with Ticketmaster or through a third party are not available for resale through Ticketmaster Fan-to-Fan Resale. This seems to suggest we can’t sell tickets bought on the mobile website (like I did). However, I am 99% sure I am able to sell my tickets (I can see the button). So, the FAQ was probably for other events being managed by Ticketmaster. It did scare me a lot. I have a few more Qs to ask (wondering if maintaining this blog has become your full-time job in July… Read more »
Hi Sarat, so just to make sure others aren’t confused, I want to clarify: buying on the mobile website DOES enable you to resell tickets. You cannot resell tickets on Ticketmaster Exchange if you purchase them by phone OR if you buy them through a non-Ticketmaster site. 1. Yes, bring binoculars – but there is also are huge TV screens you can watch as well during the match. You won’t see tickets for Finals for much less than what you paid. 2. Thanks! 3. Yes, that’s correct: 1 and 2 seeds on different days. Yes, based on ATP. 4. I… Read more »
Thanks a ton 🙂
By the way, the Ticketmaster app is available only in US and Canada I believe. I haven’t been able to install it (using Android). I hope I can download it at least when I land in the US.
Hi Sarat, surprised to hear it – but you should have no problem when you’re in the US. Try accessing the app via this page. PJ
Hi I bought tickets on the ticketmaster.com website here in the uk and they send the tickets electronically in an email that you can open on your phone. at the bottom of the ticket there are 2 boxes sell and transfer .but it’s only poss to sell if you have a us bank account
Andy, thanks so much. This is really significant – I will adjust my post above now. Thanks, P.J.
Also, one of the QF matches in the last three years was played on the Louis Armstrong stadium I think.
Yes, but very unlikely that will ever happen again. It was due to a crazy amount of rain and scheduling problem – nearly impossible that will ever happen again now that Ashe has a roof. I was one of the lucky beneficiaries that year (2015) because I had Armstrong seats and got to see the Wawrinka match. Here’s what happened: http://www.cbssports.com/general/news/2015-us-open-rain-forces-lengthy-delay-in-wednesday-quarterfinals/
Hello 🙂
This is a great article thanks !
We are two friends from Brussels and it is a dream to come to the us open but we had a small questions for the quarter finals which session is best between 11am or 7pm?
thank you very much !
Kelly
Hi Kelly, thanks! It’s impossible to predict… However in recent years they have tended to put the biggest names in the evening matches on both days of the quarters. See 2016 schedule. P.J.
Hey PJ – I’ve been going to the US Open for several years and I’ve always wondered about how people were able to score those sweet Emirates Airlines seat cushions. Is it as simple as first-come, first-serve, you just have to wait on line at the Emirates booth and get lucky? Thanks in advance for your help, Jerry
Hey Jerry, LOL – yes, you have to go to the Emirates booth while they still have them… P.J.
Hey PJ, wow.. I have a website myself (it’s my main business) and just wanted to say KUDOS TO YOU for replying to basically all the comments! I can’t keep it up with mine sometimes so I’m super impressed. I finally decided to come and see the US Open for the first time (first grand slam event too!), and I’m flying from Italy. Yesterday I had to buy some ticket a bit randomly as I needed the electronic tickets to make sure I have them no matter what. I bought tickets (all for the promenade sections, not the best but… Read more »
Hi Clelia, thanks! (1) Correct, they check tickets in totally separate area for Courtside seats in Ashe – impossible to get down there if you don’t have a Courtside ticket (although you can try waiting around that area to see if someone leaving early is wiling to give you their ticket as they exit – highly unlikely for later rounds). (2) Yes, they clear the stadium between day and evening sessions. Have a great time!! P.J.
Thanks PJ! Only one question more, which I totally forgot to include. I got the following seats for the QF : Day: Promenade 333 Row L Evening: Promenade 313 Row T Semi Finals: Promenade 316 Row O Final: Promenade 310 Row U I know from my experience at the O2 in London (capacity around 18.000) when I was very high I could kind of still see the ball (barely, but I could follow the game) With these seats… do you think I will be able to see anything at all? I’m not going just for the sake of entertainment (that’s… Read more »
Hi Clelia, yes, you will certainly be able to see the ball. And the addition of the new roof structure (even when roof is open) somehow makes the Promenade seats feel less remote. They are high up but I’m sure you’ll still enjoy! P.J.
Thanks a lot! I’ll bring my zoom lens 300mm too just in case 🙂 Now off to watch the Wimbledon final. Cheers!
Exactly what I’m doing! Heartbreaking to see Cilic suffering… P.J.
Me again; My apologies for any typos in my previous message. Tried typing this out while walking in the rain on my way to the train! As far as meet & greet, I was referring to the players. However, I do understand that this might depend on who the players are and if they are willing/available to do so based on their busy schedules. Just curious though…
Hi, I agree with most of the comments here; your website is definitely amazing and very detailed. I’m a recreational therapist at Mount Sinai Hospital in rehab medicine and my student and I are working on taking a group of our patients to see their first U.S. Open! We are all aware at home expensive the games can be, especially since it’s very popular as well. We have been in contact with a few helpful representative in ticketing to see if we can secure wheelchair seating. Thankfully, we were told of availability in the Arthur Ashe stadium but aware that… Read more »
Hi Clarisse, let me pass this along to some folks at USTA who might be in a position to help… I will have them reach out to you directly if they can (don’t want to raise hopes too much, but they might be able to). How many individuals are you planning to take, and are they all wheelchair patients? P.J.
Hey Pj, I’m going to the open for the first time this year. I’m coming all the way from Peru so I really want to make my experience worth it. I’ll arrive in NYC on September 2nd so I was looking forward to going to the Open for the Evening session of the following day. Since I´m only going for the second week basically I am comfortable with spending quite a lot of money for good loge seats for semi-finals or the final. I also really want to see Federer play and I’ve read that if I buy 4-night sessions… Read more »
I also wanted to know which courtside section is the best for getting autographs…
In Ashe, courtside sections 47-51 (on chair umpire side) are good bets – it’s behind where players sit during changeovers, and they exit through tunnel under sections 41-42. In other stadiums, also behind chair umpire/ where players sit during changeovers.
Hola Leonardo! Unless you plan on going all 4 nights regardless of who is playing, I don’t recommend buying 4 nights in a row if your main goal is to see Federer. See Box 3 FAQ #2 for advice along these lines. P.J.
So my wife and i are looking to buy a few day package (hotel, day and night sessions, etc) for the US Open preferably in the Ashe stadium, do you have any suggestions of where to get the best quality packages from?
Hi there, I have personally known the folks who run Grand Slam Tennis Tours for years, including CEO Andrew Chmura, and they are great people who bring a personal touch and deliver great service. You may want to also compare with pricing and benefits of the omnipresent Steve Furgal’s, which is an official partner of the US Open. Before buying a package, I recommend becoming familiar with pricing for various sessions you’d like to attend via the links I recommend in my blog above – and hotel prices via Expedia, Hotels.com, etc… That way you can approach any package investment… Read more »
Hi J.P. first of all I want to thank you for being such a fan and taking the time to give us all these tips for the US Open. I haven’t been able to found any confirmation of some top players that will play this year. How certain do you think it is that Roger Federer will assist?
Hey Diego, my pleasure – thanks for your thanks :). I think it’s quite likely Federer will play this year – barring any unforeseen injuries! P.J.
Hi PJ,
Hope all is well. When will you be going to the open this year? My son starts his 1st day of school Aug. 31st and i have meetings Friday the 1st. So thinking I’m gonna have to go the 2nd week of the tournament, other then the quarterfinals is there anything else going on at the grounds on those days.
Hey Gina! I’ll be there Sun and Mon of Labor Day weekend. Let me know if you end up going on Monday would love to say hi in person! Check last year’s schedule for a good indication of what to expect on outer courts during week 2. P.J.
Hi PJ,
I will. I doubt I will come one of those days, I only try to make trips when my son is school. But….. Can we please talk about these epic Wimbledon matches. Watching Muller/Cilic right now. It’s a nail biter.
Hi PJ,
One more question, do you think there is a place i can park my car and then catch public transportation instead of driving through the city and trying to find parking?
Hey Gina, I haven’t tried it myself but suspect it would be fairly easy to do at any of the 7 train stops before Mets-Willets. I would probably try around WOODSIDE, which would give you the opportunity to take either the LIRR -or- the 7 train. LIRR is only 5 minutes from that stop. I may give it a try myself this year, as we’ve moved far away from midtown (Washington Heights/Inwood). Will let you know if I do it and how it goes – please do the same! P.J.
Totally understand. And yes, crazy Wimbledon! So great for Federer and Venus to be doing so well!
Thanks. Yes I think that is the best option, I definitely wont be coming before you go labor day weekend, so please keep me updated. Thanks Gina
Thanks so much for all this info–I am thinking to get Ashe tickets for two days–August 28, 29 or 30 to hope to see Federer in live action.
This helps a lot. I am flying out from LA so all this info is invaluable. Unfortunately, I can’t wait last minute for tix as I’ll be getting airfare. If there are any other pointers you’d like to throw my way, I’m all ears.
THANK YOU!!!
Hey Ani, my pleasure – so glad it’s helpful. Do know that with most tickets now available as “e-tickets” and Ticketmaster always giving the option for immediate access to tickets electronically (and via its app) you can wait until quite close to the event if you’d like without having to worry about access to a printer… Best, P.J.
Thanks for the info. I will definitely wait until the Friday draw info and then get tix. I don’t think I would have even attempted all this without the info you’ve put out here. And thanks so much for responding. You’re a gem!
Hey Ani, You’re very welcome! P.J.
This article is completely spot on in all respects. I have been going to the Open for 12 years. If you are going Aug 28-30 that is a great time to see ALL of the players play. Get a nosebleed Ashe seat now before you go for the day sessions. That will let you see ALL the matches except for the two night matches on Ashe each night. And you can sneak down lower when it’s empty if you just HAVE to go into Ashe to see the blowout matches they put on there. But you will get tired of… Read more »
Jeff, thank you so much for the kind words and these awesome insights! Your Thiem story reminds me of the time I saw Raonic play years ago from the front row… during which time he served a 145 MPH serve. I’ve also seen so many other incredible men and women players from outer courts over the years… Thanks again, P.J.
Hi again!! Still looking at tickets. Was curious has anyone sat in the corner lower sections of the grandstand? Sections 4 9 15 or 20. There are seats in the there for thursday and friday at decent prices. And less than a $100 for earlier in the week
Hey John, I’ve sat in a few of those – all are fantastic. I’d probably go 15 or 20 because they’re on the side opposite the chair umpire. But 4 and 9 are fine because on corners (more an issue with umpire chair in 5-8 if you’re seated in lower rows). P.J.
Hey PJ, thanks so much for all of the information!
Trying to go to the US Open this year for the first time with my dad. I played tennis in college but have never been to the US Open even though I live in NYC! Crazy, right?
I’m trying to figure out whether going the first week and trying to get a Ground Pass (or maybe Ashe ticket?) would be better than going on Saturday Sep. 2, for M/W 3rd round.
Which would you recommend?
Totally understand you’re probably pretty busy so no worries if you don’t respond!
Hey Jack, well better late than never! It depends on your priorities and budget… I would probably do one the following if trying to stay within a reasonable budget and gave a great experience (be sure to check 2016 schedule as a guide, see my link above): Option 1: Buy the best ASHE day session ticket you can afford during R2 play on Wed or Thurs. On Thurs there are Promenade seats as low as $60 and Loge as low as $135+fees. This way you have “rain insurance” – and on these two days you’ll be able to wander around… Read more »
Hi I am a US Open newbie attendee. I just purchased tix for “US Open Day Session 12:00 PM – Arthur Ashe Stadium – Flushing, NY” Sec 319 Row Y . My question is twofold – does the day session 12pm description i can watch BOTH THE MENS SEMI FINALS for this ticket purchase? I really hope so as that was my intent !! Cuz i read somewhere that day session means you will be kicked out of Arthur Ashe by 6pm ???? But the semis probably start only around 4pm correct ?? – are these seats reasonably decent from… Read more »
Hey Jay, (1) Yes your ticket covers BOTH men’s semis matches! (2) The day session starts at Noon, but generally starts with mixed doubles match, then first men’s match at 3pm and second men’s match following that session – so expect to be there into the early evening. There is no separate evening session in Ashe on men’s Semis day. P.J.
On the day of the men’s semis (9/8) there is no evening session so you’ll see everything! There is a doubles match before the semis
This is all absolutely valuable information. Talk about a fanatic, my 86 year old mother, who is definitely not your typical 86 year old, played tennis for years. Now watching tennis channel all the time, knows all the players, all about them. It’s been my dream to take her to see a major. We live in Virginia, so the US Open is the best choice. I’ve looked before and it just seems so overwhelming, you do a great job of breaking it all down. Being on a budget, with hotel and all, I’m looking for maybe 3 days. I think… Read more »
Hey Charmaine, that is awesome – she will be thrilled! Please keep me posted and let me know if you have any questions as you’re making final decisions… P.J.
That sounds great. I go the first three days of the tournament and see everything. I love to watch newbies get excited to see players that only hardcore tennis fans know. Keep in contact with me and I will help guide you along with this article.
Hi, I am really glad you have this webpage 🙂 I hope to prepare a similar one for the French Open; I’d attended it this year but haven’t found the time to organize everything I learnt. We are a group of Rafa and Roger fans from Mumbai, India. We want to see them play before they hang their boots. I guess we are already late with the tickets. There are no “Standard” tickets for the Finals as of now and the Sep 5-10 (QF, SF, F) passes are sold out. We are planning to purchase individual tickets to all the… Read more »
Hi Sarat, don’t feel badly about missing standard tickets for the finals – even if you got online the moment tickets went on sale you likely wouldn’t have been able to secure them. (1) Yes, there’s a chance prices may drop a bit – but the biggest chance is if the most popular players (e.g. Rafa and Roger) don’t make it to the finals… (2) Yes, unfortunately the reality for Finals and Semis, it’s always really hard to get regularly priced tickets – most will be verified resale. There ARE still some regularly priced tickets for quarters on Ticketmaster. (3)… Read more »
Hello,
Thanks for all the great tips! Your
Blog is so helpful! Do you have any idea what someone should expect as price per ticket for courtside section tickets for men’s semifinals? I know they will be very steep but am
Wondering if what I see now on ticket exchange may decrease
Over the next few weeks?
Hi! Thanks so much. For Men’s semis, generally very very pricey for Courtside — definitely out of my price range. Last year the best deal I saw was around $2,000 a ticket. Best deal for Loge I saw was around $600. It’s a little insane. I definitely would wait until we get closer and keep monitoring. P.J.
Great site! Last time I was at the Open was 2013. I waited to Mid August to purchase and found a single seat in section 30 row F (right behind the players box) for day 3 for $301, the day after a single seat at Armstrong for less that was a little further back. I dont see anything near those prices right now in those areas as I look at the resale ticket exchange. Do you think prices will begin to come down by August for one off single seats? Should I wait and see? Also for around $120-150 a… Read more »
Hey John, thanks! There’s never any certainty, but I have always been able to find some really great deals closer to the tournament. Single seats can be tricky, but they do pop up. Like you, last year I waited until the first week of the tournament until a reasonably priced Courtside Ashe seat showed up and I grabbed it. It depends a lot on how willing you are to keep checking… but generally speaking, I do counsel folks to wait until we get a bit closer if they don’t see seats they want now within their budget. Worst case, you’ll… Read more »
Hey, P.J.
This is fantastic work. I have been a subscriber since 2010 (have worked my way up to 5th row Loge) and you have done such a great job of figuring all of this stuff out and communicating it to the public. I pretty much endorse it 100%. I have friends who have considered going and I will definitely refer them to this site. I’m going this year from Labor Day to Friday. I’ll keep an eye out for you!
Hey Robert, thank you so much! Really appreciate it. I’ll be there this year on Labor Day for sure – hopefully will get a chance to meet then in person. Cheers, P.J.
I am very excited that my family will be attending the US Open for the first time on Sunday, September 3 (morning session) for the round of 16. We purchased tickets already in Armstrong stadium Section 3 Row K. Do you know if those are good seats in the temporary stadium? Thank you!
Thank you for this great information! I have a few questions:
1. I have heard there is a place to watch the matches on a big TV screen right outside the stadium – is that true? It is free to sit there?
2. About 10 years ago, there was a park near Madison Square Gardens that set up a big screen and we watched the matches from there – do you know if that is still an option?
3. Is there any food that is allowed to be brought into the stadium?
Thank you!
Hi Erin, you’re welcome! 1. Yes, there’s a big screen outside of Ashe stadium (and smaller screens elsewhere) but you need a ticket to enter the grounds (i.e., either a reserved seat to Armstrong or Grandstand or a General Admission ticket); 2. Yes, Madison Square Park used to host a great free event, which I’ve attended myself and used to recommend in this post. Don’t see any indication they’re planning it this year, but just put in a call to them and left a message asking – will let you know if I hear back. 3. Outside food is “prohibited”… Read more »
Dear PJ,
I want to watch Federer in action. I hope to watch him in his first round match (I can take off from work only on Aug 28 and 29). What options would you recommend?
Hi Naren, please see Box 3 FAQ #2 above. P.J.
Any tips specifically for the Quarter Finals?
My father and I are making our first visit their, but just have 2 days (9/5 and 9/6). Should we only be looking at Arthur Ashe stadium?
Hi Wesley, for those days yes only Ashe as there won’t be any singles play outside Ashe during those days. You can always use your Ashe ticket to get into Armstrong for some doubles matches on Tuesday 9/5 to have that experience if it’s of interest. P.J.
How soon can you purchase tickets for the finals of the US open?
Hi Michael, tickets are available for sale on all the sites I list above. P.J.
Are all the tickets digital? I didn’t have the option to print at home or mail them
Hi Laura, Ticketmaster always give you the option (including Ticketmaster Exchange). When you buy resale tickets on other sites, there may only be a digital option. P.J.
Laura: IMPT UPDATE. Ticketmaster seems to have changed its approach this year. Seems that it’s no longer possible to print your own tickets. You either need to select e-delivery OR they will mail you hard versions. Sorry to steer you wrong with my July 3 comment! P.J.
Hi PJ ! I’m Exceedingly thankful to you for sharing your wisdom on this site, the tennis community has certainly been blessed ! I’m from Asia and travelling a long way to see the US Open for the very 1st time (total novice here). I’ll be in NY from Aug 24 -31; with these dates carefully planned courtesy of your kind advice to catch the free qualifying tournament on 24 – 25th, and then Ashe Kids day on 26th (free but just thought I’d buy the relatively affordable premium stadium show tix), as well as the free grounds access the… Read more »
Hey Alex, so great you’re making the trip! I would strongly counsel against the Ticket Plan or Grounds Admission (you can find Ashe tickets that are the same price for those days, and it gives you “rain insurance”). Instead, I’d try stretch your budget to around $400 and do something like the following: 1) Buy at least one Ashe Loge ticket for Wed or Thurs evening. Treat yourself at least to one decent seat in Ashe after you’ve come so far! Just saw on Ticketmaster for Wed 8/30 evening session a no-fee standard ticket section 134 Row D for $160,… Read more »
Hi PJ, Thanks for the insightful recommendations ! I got the 30-Aug Wed Evening session 134 Row D for $160 ($175 with fees) Just a few more follow-up questions: 1) was just being curious as to why you’d advice seeing the NIGHT sessions on Wed-30/Thur-31 instead of Mon-28/Tue-29 evening ? Is it because the atmosphere of 2nd rounds are typically better than 1st rounds 2) In general would you think the Ashe seats at e.g. Section 134 (“diagonal view”) or Section 101/102 (“vertical view”) or Section 128/129 (“horizontal view”) is better ? 3) For the other day sessions, is a… Read more »
Hey Alex, (1) matches in 2d round will be at least a bit more competitive than 1st round… And figured it would be fun for you to treat yourself with a great seat for an Ashe evening session after you’ve had several days watching from Promenade and seeing matches on outer courts. (2) In general, “corner” (diagonal) or “behind the server” (vertical) are the best way to go– UNLESS you can find a seat much closer (like first couple rows), in which case I’d always choose that. It’s less of an issue from Promenade because you’re so high up and… Read more »
Hi PJ ! 1) I managed to get a standard price Aug-30 GRANDSTAND (Section 7, Row A, Seat 16) for $85 + Fees. Thought I’d grab it, since it’s only $25 more than the cheap Ashe Day seats, plus it’s FIRST ROW and not too central to the umpire’s chair. Have I made a mistake here ?! 2) For Aug-29, thought of getting ARMSTRONG (Section 11, Row F, Seat 15) for $185 standard price + Fees. Need your advice if I should splurge on this as I’m a student on a budget. (I’ve already gotten the Aug-30 Evening ASHE 134… Read more »
Alex, 1) I think that’s a great call. The only risk is rain, but the thrill of sitting right next to great players is totally worth it! 2) I would not splurge on that Armstrong seat on August 29: Mon-Thurs week 1 of the tournament, it’s relatively easy to get into Grandstand and Armstrong – and you will have the amazing experience of sitting in row A in Grandstand on 8/30. And again, Ashe gives you rain insurance, so go with an Ashe seat within your budget. 3) It’s relatively easy to sneak down to open seats WITHIN the same… Read more »
On Arthur Ashe day, (General Admission) tickets will let you watch the exhibition matches and kids can enjoy the music stars inside Ashe. For a family of 4, you can save a little bit of money and get them as cheap as $5 with promo “BIBM” here: http://bit.ly/US-Open-2-for-1-Deals
Sorry, the promo code for Ashe Kids Day 8/26 (buy 2, get 2 tickets) is “BAMEX”: http://bit.ly/Ashe-Kids-Day-Deal-US-Open
Hi PJ… looking for an opinion on tickets and which one is the better view.
I want to go to the 9/3 Evening session at Ashe Section and am deciding between the following:
Sec 23, Row H and Section 64, Row J. Both are the same price.
Which seats/view are better? Thank you!
Hey Lor, I’d personally go with 64 J. I’ve sat in that section before. Great corner view, very good chance you can move down in that relatively small section if someone in a row below you doesn’t show or leaves early. Also right next to one of the player’s boxes, so you’ll likely see the coach and family of a top player… P.J.
Ok, bought the Sec 64 tickets, thank you!
Now another question — I made a reservation to Aces that same night, but for 5PM. Will I be allowed to enter the stadium for my dinner reservation since the match is at 7PM?
Hey Lor, great! Should be no problem at 5pm if you have proof of the reservation at the East Gate – however you might want to use the special side entrance for VIPs, media, and Courtside ticket holders. I need to check for a map to show you exactly where it is… Running out door now but will check later and get back to you. P.J.
Lor, I looked for quite some time for documentation from this year’s Open that you can enter early at 5pm at the East Gate. I only found this from the 2015 guide “Patrons with restaurant passes and suite tickets will have access at 5:00 pm.” I’m 99% sure you won’t have a problem. If for some crazy reason they don’t let you in at the East Gate, walk along Meridian Road to the NORTH (kind of secret) entrance to Ashe stadium between parking lots A and B, which is exclusively for players, media, VIPs and — at least last couple… Read more »
Hey PJ love your site!! Went to US open first time last year and now we are hooked! We had seats in Armstrong section 5 and loved it. Saw Stan the Man and Del Potro battle it out. What do you think of section 2 in Armstrong. I really appreciate your input. Your site help me pick my tickets last year. THANK YOU!!!
Hey Tami, THANK YOU for the kind words! I’m so glad! I think section 2 should be great – I’ve sat in that corner many years in the old Armstrong (used to be section 24), and this year’s temporary stadium is going to be even more intimate (around 8K seats instead of 10K) so should be terrific. Let me know what day(s) you go so maybe we can meet up to say a quick hello! P.J.
You’re the best P.J., thank you!!!
Best and most thorough article ever. I feel like you read my mind and answered every question I had.
Considering tickets the first week…for this year do you think #2 venue for top players will be the ‘temporary Armstrong’ with 8000 seats or will it be new-and-improved Grandstand also with 8000 seat capacity?
Thank you Karen!! It’s a really good question, and I’m only guessing here… But my strong gut is that they will continue to treat Armstrong as the “#2” court mainly because of the multi-year subscribers who have paid top dollar for courtside seating (more than Grandstand) and expect the “bigger” matches to be put on that court. I think past patterns will probably be a reliable guide. Here’s another clue from a recent interview with the National Tennis Center COO Danny Zausner: “It’s the No. 2 court on the site and, yes, we do have a beautiful new Grandstand court,… Read more »
PJ!!! You are the man. Single best resource to use in preparation for the Open. Grateful to you and your committment in keeping this updated and being SO thorough. As you recall, last year I had a last minute emergency and had to bow out. This year, I’m there! Looking forward to seeing the new Grandstand and temp Armstrong. Awesome of you to help so many fans from all over the country.
Jason! Gotta meet you in person this year! Your generosity last year inspired me to add that section in the post about “paying it forward” – so awesome of you to have offered up your tickets last year at the last minute to some hard-core fans. I’m still not sure exactly when I’ll be there but almost certainly will be either Sun-Mon Labor Day weekend. Thanks for your kind words, and look forward to connecting in person hopefully this year. P.J.
Hey!! Great post. This is going to be my first (of many I hope) US Open. We are from Mexico. We are going to by in NY from Sept 1st to Sept 5th, and we just bought tickets for Sep 1st in Arthur Ashe night in Section 105 Row B for $350 and for Sept 2nd Grandstand section 15 row B for $320… 1) Were this good deals? … 2) What do you recommend for the other 2 days (Sept 3rd & 4th)? should we wait?… We are a party of 5. Thanks again!!
My boyfriend is a huge fan of Roger… how do I know what tickets to buy to make sure we see his matches?
Hey Aubri, I lay out my best advice on that topic in Box 3 FAQ #2 above. P.J.
Hola Fernando! Mil gracias, y que bueno que vayas a ir por primera vez. Te va a encantar! Si, esos precios son excelentes. Si fuera yo, haría probablemente algo como la siguiente (si tuviera fondos suficientes): 1) Sep 3: Armstrong Loge Reserved (o, para ahorrar dinero, simplemente algo muy básico y barato en Ashe solo en caso de lluvia) 2) Sep 4: Lo mismo… Y invertiría el resto de mis fondos para ir a Ashe Courtside en la noche si tuviera bastante – porque los precios el lunes “Labor Day” históricamente son mejores y me encanta sentirme Courtside en la… Read more »
P.J. Muchas gracias por tu respuesta!! Ultima duda, recomiendas comprar de una vez los boletos de labor day que mencionas? o me espero? si me recomiendas esperar, hasta cuando seria como el deadline que recomiendas esperar?. … Por ultimo, dada tu experiencia, con los boletos que tenemos, que probabilidad calculas de que pueda ver a Federer jugar?… de nuevo gracias!!
Buenas preguntas! Te voy a responder en inglés porque sin duda tu ingles es mejor que mi español! 🙂 (1) It’s always really hard for me to make strong recommendations about “when” unless I’m seeing something very specific and can say without question it’s an amazing deal. There is no firm “deadline” – and there are usually good deals until very close to the start of the tournament. I always personally take my time (and as such am willing to take the risk) because my experience is that more tickets get put up for sale over the summer. It’s ultimately… Read more »
Hi I’m also traveling from Mexico, my budget is $200 for a ticket can I get anything a seat at the final or semifinal? I don’t really care if I am far away just want to have the experience of seeing either rafa or federer
Hola Ruben, You might be able to get a very high-level Promenade seat (sections in the “300s”) if you keep looking on the sites I recommend above over the summer. Prices for Semis and Finals are really high… 🙁 P.J.
Ruben, I just checked Ticketmaster again and there are no-fee face-value seats for $205 for the men’s final Sep 10th in mid-sections 320, 321, 323. Look for the seats with BLUE dots- I would grab these quickly! P.J.
Hi PJ:
I have recently been looking into tickets for the US Open and I have noticed that even Grounds passes are only on resale for like $250 (which is crazy). I was hoping to get some grounds passes and maybe splurge a bit on one of the sessions during week two. But the prices are looking quite ridiculous right now. When do you think is the best time to make a purchase?
PJ, My family of four will be there 9/2 & 9/3. Main goal is to see women’s doubles for my daughter. What are your suggestions for tickets to accomplish that best? Other suggestions welcomed.
Thanks in advance
Hey Brad, sorry for the delayed reply – had a big work event this week. The good news is that most of the Labor Day weekend crowds will flock to the singles matches, so if that’s your main objective you’ll be in good shape with any ticket. Just checked and if it were me, I’d probably do the following: 9/2: An inexpensive Ashe Promenade seat just as rain insurance (I always recommend this over Grounds Admission) 9/3: The above OR check out Grandstand section 8A – there are 4 tickets together in that section for a good price, and on… Read more »
No worries PJ and thanks for the guidance. I grabbed the 9/3 8A tickets. Will those allow us to stay through the night as they are marked 11am?
What sections are Promenade in Ashe?
In general are you saying for doubles just get in the event and you can access most matches those days?
Hey Brad, yes indeed – only thing they don’t do is give you access to Ashe. Promenade is the upper ring of seats, all numbered in the 300s. And yes, if you just enter the grounds using any ticket you’ll be able to get to see Women’s Dubs on multiple courts like Court 5, 17, Grandstand and some others (they won’t schedule those on Ashe or Armstrong). P.J.
Hi PJ I am so glad I found your article!! So with two other friends we are traveling from Chile for the first time to the Us open. Main goal is to see RF and other top guys. We will be there on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3. I am looking at courtside 57 row g tickets for about 600-700 for Saturday and Sunday night sessions. This is a big investment for us. Do you things those are good seats at good prices? Would you advice adding up a day session as well or night is the best? Is it… Read more »
Hola Sebastian! Just typed a long reply but it deleted before it saved! In short… My experience is that anything under $700 is a good deal for courtside Sat/Sun of Labor Day weekend – and Mon Labor Day tends to be about $100-200 less on average (because many tourists go out of town). Just checked – Sunday night looks like some great deals, and Monday has some excellent options too. Section 62 is great because it’s one of the “player’s boxes” where family/coaches sometimes sit… Saw some good options. there. Be sure to click on one of the sections in… Read more »
I have seen AA loge tickets under $180 each in pairs for the Mon Labor Day evening session, but not 3 tickets together. Based on your prior years’ experience, what are the chances 3 loge tickets together for this session under $180 or $200 each will become available as the summer progresses?
Hey Jim, it’s possible – but I hesitate to make any firm predictions. I would certainly keep checking over the summer myself. P.J.
Hi PJ: Which sections of the temporary 2017 Armstrong stadium are west and south? I want to get tickets in the shade? Thank you very much….
Hey Janet, I’m almost positive the map is oriented like a regular map, with North at top and West on right as you look at it, etc. If I’m correct, South side (reserved sections #15 and #1) and West side (#2-6) will get relatively more shade (i.e. sooner during the day). P.J.
Hey there PJ! Me again =) so I’m going solo and I can hardly find single tickets for sale. Do you think it would be a good idea to buy 2 loge tickets for 240 (fees included) and try to resell a single ticket? Or keep waiting for the single ticket to appear? I’ve found some single tickets but they’re not e-tickets, so I’m a little skeptical wether the tickets arrive or not.
Greetings from Mexico !!
Hola Paulette! I would keep checking over the summer and closer to the tournament – I have found many single tickets over the years for sessions I’ve gone to myself. Saludos, P.J.
Alright thank you! That gives me peace. I’ll keep on checking 🙂
I’ve gone with my parents most years over the last 20 or so and usually have gotten tickets to Louis Armstrong. This year I’m looking at tickets in the Grandstand for a day session. Do you know the orientation? Hoping not to be looking into the sun and maybe some shade. Any recommendations which sections would be best?
Hi Maura, from all my notes, I’m 99% sure the seating chart linked above shows true orientation as a regular map would (North at top, West on left, etc). Last year I noticed that the most shade at New Grandstand was South sections behind server — around section 22 then sections 1-6 wrapping around to the West (especially general admission seats that are higher and near the overhang). But do note that the umpire’s chair is between sections 6-7, so not optimal if you’re sitting lower courtside in those areas. PJ
Hi, we’re heading to Open this year after not having gone for, geez, close to 20 years. Our goal is to see Fed live (never have before), so we’re ready to pay through the nose to get good seats. We’ll be at the tourney that first TH – Sat, the thought being that Fed would play on at least one of those days, and hopefully on two of them depending on the draw (might he play doubles even?!!!) My question is — would you say with some assurance that when Fed plays on either Th, Fri, or Sat — that… Read more »
I have read on older blogs(2012) that General Grounds Admissions can be purchased on location, day of the event. I am looking to do this for Fri/Sat/Sun of Labor Day Weekend. Do you know if they still operate this way, or do the GA tickets literally ‘sell out’? I am seeking to avoid markups and fees if I can just purchase them at face value day of the event.
Thanks,
Awesome website!
Rich
Hey Rich, thanks!! That’s unfortunately not always correct, and I wouldn’t count on being able to purchase GA on site. There have been several days in previous years when I’ve seen them reach capacity and sell out. Already this year, if you go to the main Ticketmaster site and check certain dates you’ll see there are only “verified resale” tickets left. They MAY release more as event gets closer – not the most transparent system – but you’ll have to check. You can always check Ticketmaster the day before or day of to see whether there’s availability. If there isn’t,… Read more »
Hey mate, just found your blog. I am a regular visitor to US Open from last 9 years but noticed the regular increase in ground admissions pass price and ashe prices too for the first week. I did buy the first four day ground pass but regarding the labor day weekend, I want to take your suggestion. I wanted to ask you that its worth waiting for the last minute tickets for the labor day weekend as the unsold tickets then might go cheap on ticket exchange at ticketmaster? Like for example ground or ashe seat might be cheaper at… Read more »
Hi Udit, I get so nervous telling people for sure one way or another… Every year there are surprises and exceptions. Last year, I didn’t see any sessions where there weren’t resale seats for Ashe available right up until the session. For Labor Day weekend, I have seen Grounds Passes sell out or go up in price. I would keep tracking over the summer – no big rush. P.J.
Thanks for the response buddy. I think thats a better idea and I can see where you coming from on this regarding how surprising it could be.
Appreciate it
Hi PJ! Thanks so much for the wealth of information on your website from the 4.5 tips as well as the US Open tricks! I’ve been to the US Open 3 times but have never had a courtside seat at AA. I was hoping to snag one in the early rounds and catch one of the top players. When I look at the online prices, it seems the best prices are around $500 for Day 1-3 from Ticket Exchange US Open but couldn’t find any on the official ticketmaster site. Is that normal? Also, would you recommend day or night… Read more »
Hey Sean, thank you so much on all counts! If you go to main Ticketmaster site and click on the session, then click “See Tickets” on the session you’er interested in, then “Skip this Ste[” on popup, then click on round icon next to “Type” (upper right), then click box that says “Verified Resale Ticket”, THEN click ANY section on the map (I know – ridiculous!)… THEN finally you should see a bunch of red dots appear on individual seats all over the stadium. Click on any dot to see the asking price. For most people I’d probably recommend a… Read more »
Hi PJ! Thanks so much for the quick reply. When I tried that I only was able to see a few courtside seats. For instance, on 8/29 11 am AA day session, there’s only 3 seats showing in section 56 for $977 + fees!@# So crazy pricing! Is that correct?
Hey Sean, sure thing. Yes just checked that session – correct (and that is NOT a good deal). But (1) there are other sessions later in the tourney with more and cheaper options and (2) I can confidently predict you will see many more Courtside resale tickets offered for significantly less for 8/29 over the summer. P.J.
Thanks a lot PJ for the insight and perspective! Would you say for week 1 (day 1-4) a courtside seat for $300-500 would be a reasonable price? I just wanted to get a baseline in case I decide to pull the trigger and buy a ticket 🙂 Thanks!
Hi P.J. , First of all, I couldn’t describe how thankful I am to find your website! I am a hard tennis fan from Indonesia and this is gonna be my second time enter a Grand Slam tournament (previously Australian Open 2016). I have tried to gain as much information as possible however I still need some of your advice. I am possibly going for the first 4 days of US Open (also include the Sunday FREE session after reading your best-keep secret on 27th August 2017). 1. I am a Roger’s hard fan. Is it a great idea for… Read more »
Erland I’m so very sorry to have missed this when you posted it originally! I will email you… P.J.
OK–now we need to find the equivalent of you for all the majors and masters 1000 events… I’m dying to go to Indian Wells next year.
Thanks!! I LOVE Indian Wells. Sometime I’ll try to capture what I know for that one too. Have been 4 times and subscribed for 3 years. P.J.
Oh, yes, please! That would be excellent.
And/or maybe I can buy a couple tix off you…
Hi PJ, this blog is awesome and the insights are amazing, some heroes don’t wear capes. What is your assessment of the market this year? I am looking to get to two lower or middle Loge tickets (row G or below) for the men’s semis for about $500 each or less. How realistic is this in 2017 given your reading of the current market? I am travelling from South Africa and don’t want leave it too late to get tickets.
Hey Tshepo, THANK YOU 🙂 🙂 🙂 My initial take (please note that I’ve never done a comprehensive quantitive analysis, so this is based purely on memory and selective information): (1) Price of Promenade seats in Ashe are lower than I remember ever seeing them and I suspect those trying to resell them will have a harder time. (2) Other prices across the board for Ashe Loge, Courtside, and Louis Armstrong and Grandstand are hovering a bit higher on average, which I suspect has a lot to do with Federer and Nadal doing so well coupled with exciting new players… Read more »
Thanks for your response PJ, I guess the right strategy would be to keep an eye on Loge and see what prices do and keep lower Promenade as a back up as those prices are unlikely to go much higher than they already are? I just feel I won’t get the most out of the experience, from the pictures Promenade looks pretty from the action.
Sure thing, Tshepo. Yes, I don’t think prices will go up, they’re already pretty high on average! Again, I can’t predict… but that’s my guess! P.J.
Hi PJ,
Just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to create this website. Thanks to you ticket buying yesterday went really well! We ended up with decent Lodge seats in Ashe on Thurs night and Grandstand seats Friday. This is our first time going and we’re extremely excited!
THANK YOU for letting me know! I’m so happy it was helpful. Have an awesome time! P.J.
Hi PJ. Adrian from Scotland here. Outstanding website. I have a couple of questions: I bought tickets for Tues 5th Sep night session on AA + Wed 6th Sep day session on AA. I have since decided I would probably rather buy tickets for Sunday 3rd Sep day session + Monday 4th Sep night session. 1) I just listed my Tues and Wed tickets on both Stubhub and Viagogo (I wanted to use TicketMaster Exchange but it needed a US bank account rather than UK one). I’ve listed them just above face value (about $80 for €60 seats) for the… Read more »
Hey Adrian, thanks so much. 1) Unlikely they will sell until closer to the tournament, as there are always a glut of upper Promenade seats available and currently still are still many available at face value. 2) I actually don’t mean to discourage going on Labor Day weekend – I almost always go then myself and love it and love the atmosphere then, super exciting. I meant to convey that if you’re on a strict budget, Mon-Thurs that first week gives you a great chance to see great play up close on outer courts without paying much; and if you… Read more »
Thanks for your prompt response PJ.
Do you think they will definitely sell on these websites later though?
Do you know of a way of selling on TicketMaster Exchange without a US bank account? Seems strange they don’t allow UK cards?
Thanks
Adrian
Hey Adrian, sure thing. I can’t really say – one of the reasons I encourage people generally not to buy subscription plans unless they’re absolutely sure that’s what they want is because it’s generally hard to resell Promenade tickets. Wish I had more optimistic news… And don’t know on Ticketmaster – at some point when I get through a big deadline at work I will give them a call to try to find out, as a few others have asked about that too. Best, P.J.
Hi – this is a really great website, well done! I am going to be over from London from 5-11 Sept and am contemplating splurging for Loge seats for the men’s semi finals but hoping prices come down (in region of $1000 a ticket for a good row). Another option is to go on Wednesday 6th Sept and try and get into the doubles matches on grandstand/armstrong. going by your guide it appears that you can’t buy tickets for this as no reserved seats – do you know how hard it is to get a seat in one of those… Read more »
Hi Lee, Correct on Wed Sep 6: no reserved seats on Armstrong or Grandstand that day. Should be relatively easy to get in without having to queue early. And yes, strongly recommend cheap Ashe that day vs GA ticket in case it rains or there’s a match you really care about. If that’s your plan B, there’s no rush – take your time to monitor for a Loge seat for semis you can afford. That day is always incredible. P.J.
Thanks PJ, found a pair in loge 121 row c for semi’s day that I’m pretty happy with (expensive but you only live once!)
The only slight issue is where the umpire’s chair is.. do you know if it causes much view restriction from the loge seats?
Hi Lee, no not an issue at all from Loge, just really with courtside sections and lower rows immediately behind the chair. P.J.
So I got Armstrong for Friday but possibly that was not the best play. You seem to indicate in later posts that Friday does not pose a problem to get into Armstrong GA. Maybe I should have opted for Ashe cheap nosebleeds even if I am planning to spend most of day at Armstrong. Comment? I thought Friday would produce lines similar to weekend but maybe not.
Unless you would actually plan on sitting in those nosebleed seats, I’d always opt for reserved seats in Armstrong on Friday of Labor Day weekend and have done it often. You can get up and go and not have to worry about losing your seat – and that’s worth a lot in that stadium. Lines on Friday aren’t crazy like Sat-Mon, but it can get crowded. P.J.
Thanks so much. Great site. Great advice. Now all’s I have to do is get my Saturday Tickets!
Thanks Bill, much appreciated! Let me know how it all works out. PJ
Hey there PJ, thank you so much for the info, it’s very helpful! i have a question, you say you’ve bought courtside tickets for $250 on previous years….loge tickets are on sale for around that same price.. do you recommend waiting throghuot the summer? What price should be the “right price” for loge tickets? Im planning to buy a day session for Ashe on September 1st, and an Armstrong reserved seat for September 2nd.
Thank you so much in advance.
Hey Paulette, that $250 reference was actually to a seat about 1/2 way up in Loge, not Courtside. I’ve never been able to secure a courtside seat for under $450 (and that is an exceptional deal on during or prior to round of 16, after that generally more). $250 is in the neighborhood for a great deal mid-level Loge seat in Ashe on Sep 1; Armstrong 100 section on Sep 2 would be a great deal around $190, courtside great deal would be around $350. I don’t see either available right now, so I personally would keep waiting to see… Read more »
Thanks! =) i’ll patiently wait and do my guesswork. Thank youu
Hi PJ, First, thank you very much for the excellent resource. Honestly, your website provides more valuable information than the official site! Based on your tip, my friends and I were planning to split our seats such that we can get a mix of good and decent seats. (1) I am curious to know how easy it is to move around the different sections of the Ashe stadium? We have two reserved seats in Section 331 ($114 each) and I have found seats in Section Loge 119 row D ($299 each) for Sunday Evening Labor Weekend. (2) Would you say… Read more »
Hey Victor, thanks man! It’s super easy as long as you actually have tickets to swap amongst yourselves. My unofficial tip to make it easier (only kosher if you actually have purchased the number of seats equal to the number of people who will use them, and you will both need unique tickets with unique barcodes both to enter the grounds and enter Ashe): print an extra copy of each printed ticket for the friend with whom you will occasionally swap seats. That way you can just text each other when it’s time (or agree on a time) and not… Read more »
That’s a fantastic idea! Will use it on future orders. I love physical ticket stubs so ordered those for the 331 section. Will continue to monitor the resale market. Once again, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to answer every single question. I speak for everyone else when I say that you’re the true champ!
Thank you so much, Victor!
Hi P.J Sorry to bother you again with questions. So no luck today for tickets at face value for mens semis and final. I was on at 8:50am refreshing every second 🙂 There r few on resale (i am aiming for row A loge, behind base line or corner) with prices ranging from $1600 all the way up to $3000 per seat including all fees!!! Again as this is my first time i really have no idea of the price point/actual value of these seats!! Do you think its wiser to wait and perhaps prices will drop, or is below… Read more »
Hey Ali, my top advice to you and everyone, especially when investing so much in a great seat: be patient. There will be other options. Take time to really “study” what the market looks like for the session(s) you want to attend so you can recognize a good deal when you see it. P.J.
Hi! thanks for your help. Questions: what is the best moment to buy cheap tickets? Is it better to buy when Ticketmaster starts selling to general public? (not resale)
Hi Luis, individual tickets went on sale yesterday morning (Monday June 12) and there are still many cheap face-value tickets available for many sessions. Go to Ticketmaster, select the day you’re interested in, then the map view and look for BLUE dots in the upper Promenade section of Ashe. Those will generally be the cheapest you can find. P.J.
How bad are the lines to get into General Admission for Armstrong and Grandstand on the Friday immediately before Labor Day weekend? What about the other courts on this day? I was considering getting a promenade day ticket in Ashe for $70 on this date just to gain access to the other courts on Friday and save my money for Loge seats in Ashe on either Sat, Sun, or Mon.
Hey Jim, not bad at all. Sat-Mon are the worst. What you outline is a sound strategy! P.J.