A Serious Tennis Fan’s Top 10 Tips for the 2024 US Open (Tickets and More)


By P.J. Simmons


WHAT IS A GOOD DEAL? I created this new chart “2024 US Open Ticket Prices: How to Spot a Good Deal” based on average resale pricing information with shortcuts to the Ticketmaster links for specific dates/sessions/stadiums. Hope you find it helpful!
NEW “EVENING” GROUNDS ADMISSION TICKETS: For the first time, the US Open is selling separate EVENING Grounds Passes for “7pm” on the official Ticketmaster site (presumably allowing access at 7pm and NOT at 6pm, when evening session reserved ticketholders will be able to access the grounds). Note: these passes will not allow access to Ashe (where every seat is reserved) — and more night fans will add more pressure to the first-come unreserved seating in Armstrong, Grandstand and outer courts. I have not updated various charts in my post to reflect this yet.
As a serious tennis player and fan living in New York City, 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. I can’t wait to return to the 2024 US Open tennis tournament, which will take place at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Monday August 26- Sunday September 8, 2024!
2024 will mark my 16th consecutive 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 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 for serious tennis fans like me.
In a rush and need quick answers?
I recommend reading/skimming the entire post in order if you can, but if you’re rushed here are shortcuts to my answers to the most common questions I’ve received over the years:
- Which ticket sites are best? Note: always check Ticketmaster first and click on the “map” view to get the best initial birdseye view of what’s available (standard and resale tix), then compare with other reseller sites like Stubhub.
- Should I buy tickets now or wait? Will ticket prices go up or down?
- What are average ticket prices? What should I expect to pay??
- How can I be guaranteed to see Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Arena Sabalenka or any other favorite player? Note: Rafael Nadal announced on August 8 he will not play in the 2024 US Open.
- Can you explain the ticket options, I’m overwhelmed!
- What time can I enter grounds with a Day or Night Session ticket?
- What kind of matches (and how many) can I expect to see on certain days (in Ashe, Armstrong, Grandstand, etc)?
- Which seats have the best view?
- Which seats get the most shade?
- How should I get there (subway, LIRR, car, parking?)
Tip #1: Do whatever you can to see world-class players and great matches up really close— which if you’re on a budget may mean bypassing Arthur Ashe stadium in favor of the sixteen other courts where matches are played.

Me spotted on Netflix “Break Point” series cheering on Taylor Fritz and Brandon Holt (yes, I was rooting for both) at the 2022 US Open – front row during awesome match at GRANDSTAND Stadium (not Ashe!)
For my first US Open, I spent about $250 per ticket for a decent seat during early rounds in the famous Arthur Ashe stadium (1/2 way up in the Loge section) 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 at Ashe stadium, I still felt somewhat distant from the action (it’s a mammoth 23,700-seat 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 (behind courts 4-6), the very cool Court #17, and other courts #4-#16). Once you have this experience you’ll be 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.
A collateral benefit: you’ll be ahead of the curve in seeing rising stars the likes of Coco Gauff before they become household names, and feel the excitement of “discovering” new talent to cheer for. I’ll never forget the first time I saw Milos Raonic blast a tournament record 145 MPH serve from the first row of the old Grandstand. Or, in more recent years, when I saw then “next-gen” players up very close for the first time before they were super famous — like Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Dominic Thiem, Sasha Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov, Borna Ćorić. In 2019, I had the thrill of watching the young Felix Auger-Aliassime v. fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov from the front row in Grandstand. In 2021, I was blown away watching Lloyd Harris for the first time from the second row of Armstrong and know tons of fellow fanatics who had the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing rising superstars Jenson Brooksby, Leylah Fernandez and Carlos Alcaraz up close on the outer courts.
Tip for serious players: After watching a ton of pro matches, I started challenging myself to watch more deliberately from the perspective of a player who wants to improve. I wrote down ten ideas for watching a pro match that may resonate with fellow fanatics who not only want to enjoy the drama of the match but also learn from it.
(Adapted from photo in “US Open Transformation Update”)
Tip #2: If you’re on a tight budget, try to attend during the tournament’s first week (Monday August 26- Friday August 30) and purchase relatively inexpensive Ashe DAY session tickets.
An Ashe day session ticket will get you access to all the courts on the grounds in addition to Ashe during the day, then enable you to stay on the grounds to watch matches on all courts except Ashe in the evening (Ashe day/night sessions are sold separately). You’ll get hours and hours of tennis watching for your money, as many matches on the outer courts will go well into the evening. And if you can take a day off from work and go during these first 5 days, you won’t have to battle hordes of fans for access to the non-Ashe venues– whereas things get very crowded Labor Day weekend.
Tip #3: Do NOT buy a “Grounds Admission” pass to save money until you’ve explored whether reserved day session seats in Ashe or Armstrong are also available for around the same price!
Grounds admission tickets (cheaper tickets sold on the tourney’s first 8 days that give access to all the courts except Ashe) can be a good deal, but there are often reserved Ashe Promenade-level tickets (and, occasionally, Armstrong courtside seats) available for nearly identical prices– making them far better deals. Ashe and Armstrong Day Session tickets gives you all the privileges of a “Grounds” pass with added bonuses. In particular, buying an Ashe or Armstrong reserved seat gives you rain insurance, because these stadiums both have roofs so matches cannot be rained out.
Tip #4: Go for quality over quantity.
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 appying the same budget towards excellent seats for a couple sessions, I generally recommend the latter. (Note: if you’re wondering whether it’s worth it to spend a bit more to sit in the Loge level of Ashe versus the Promenade level, my answer is always yes).
BOX #1: UNDERSTANDING YOUR TICKET OPTIONS & HOW THE SCHEDULE WORKS
See US Open Official Ticket Site for all sessions above organized by stadium.
See Daily Schedule of Play for day-by-day schedule
FAQ: What Matches Can I Expect on Each Court?
To get a sense of what types of matches are played on which courts for specific dates, I recommend reviewing the recent year’s schedules for the specific day(s) you’re considering attending:
–> See Full 2023 US Open Daily Schedules (All Days, All Courts)
–> 2022 Daily Schedule of Play
The US Open will likely release the 2024 Tournament’s Day 1 and Day 2 Schedule on its Daily Schedule of Play page and the US Open app on Friday August 23 (start checking mid-day, usually released late afternoon/early evening).
CLICK HERE FOR A DETAILED DAY-BY-DAY BREAKDOWN OF THE US OPEN SCHEDULE
2024 US OPEN SCHEDULE
“FAN WEEK” (FREE – See Tip #10 for details)
- Aug 20-23 (Tuesday-Friday): Qualifying Tournament. 128 male and female players compete for the final 32 spots (16 each for men and women) in the singles draws.
- Aug 24 (Saturday): Kid’s Day
- Aug 25 (Sunday): Grounds open, practice day
MAIN TOURNAMENT
- Aug 26-27 (Monday-Tuesday): Men’s & Women’s 1st Round * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe & Armstrong * Monday Aug 26 Ashe Evening session features short Opening Night Ceremony prior to regular matches
- Aug 28-29 (Wed-Thursday): Men’s & Women’s 2nd Round * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe & Armstrong + Doubles 1st Round (outer courts)
- Aug 30-31 (Friday-Saturday): Men’s & Women’s 3rd Round * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe & Armstrong + Doubles 2nd Round, Juniors (outer courts)
- Sep 1 (Sunday): Men’s & Women’s 4th Round (“Round of 16″) * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe * Day session ONLY on Armstrong (11am) * Note: In 2019, Armstrong and Grandstand both featured one men’s singles R16 match (others on Ashe) + Doubles 3rd Round, Juniors (outer courts)
- Sep 2 (Monday): Men’s & Women’s 4th Round (“Round of 16″) Note: Men’s Round of 16 Singles matches on this day will be played exclusively on Ashe and Armstrong, not Grandstand! * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe * Day session ONLY on Armstrong (11am) + Doubles 3rd Round, Juniors (outer courts)
- Sep 3 (Tuesday): Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals (Ashe Stadium only) * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe + Men’s Doubles Quarterfinals (Armstrong) * Armstrong and Grandstand only feature Doubles matches from this point on, so don’t purchase Armstrong reserved tickets for September 7 unless you want to see Doubles.
- Sep 4 (Wednesday): Men’s & Women’s Quarterfinals (Ashe Stadium) * Separate Day (11am) & Night (7pm) sessions on Ashe + Women’s Doubles Quarterfinals (Armstrong)
- Sep 5 DAY (Thursday): FREE DAY SESSION ENTRY (Community Day) ** Free grounds access to watch Juniors, WC, and Men’s Doubles Semifinals (in 2024 was on Armstrong at 4pm) plus Mixed Doubles Final (in 2024 was on Ashe at 3pm). Gates open 11:00am, matches start at Noon.
- + Wheelchair and Junior matches
- Sep 5 EVENING (Thursday at 7pm): Women’s Semifinals (Ashe Stadium) * Ashe Evening Session ticket gets access to both women’s Semifinal matches
- Sep 6 DAY (Friday): Men’s Semifinal #1 (Ashe Stadium 3:00pm), preceded by Women’s Doubles Final (Noon). Note: The Men’s Semis take place over two separate sessions (1 Day, 1 Night)– so if you want to see both matches, you need to purchase tickets for both the Day and Evening sessions. Wheelchair and Junior matches (outer courts). Gates open 11:00am.
- Sep 6 EVENING (Friday 7pm): Men’s Semifinal #2 (Ashe Stadium)
- Sep 7 DAY ONLY (Saturday): Women’s Final (4:00pm) * Preceded by Men’s Doubles Final (Noon) (There is only one Ashe Day ticket option and it covers BOTH matches, and you can enter grounds at 11:00am). + Junior and Wheelchair finals beginning at Noon.
- Sep 8 DAY ONLY (Sunday): Men’s Final (2:00pm). Gates open at 11:00am.
Here is the ESPN Broadcast schedule (updated link to come)
Entry and re-entry rules:
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- Any DAY session stadium reserved ticket for Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand gives you the same exact privileges as a Grounds Pass: You can enter the grounds as early as 9:30am (or 11am on Finals weekend) and stay on the grounds as late into the evening as you want. However, your Day session reserved seat in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand only entitles you to those reserved seats for the Day session matches (then you have to exit your seats) — after which you can stay on the US Open grounds as late as you want and access general unreserved seating on every court (except Ashe, which has no unreserved seating).
- To enter the US Open grounds, you must pass through security then have your ticket scanned at either the EAST GATE or SOUTH GATE (see map above).
- If you have a reserved seat in a stadium, you’ll have your ticket re-checked upon entering that stadium.
- If you have tickets for Day and Evening sessions (Ashe or Armstrong) on the same day, you will NOT need to exit the US Open grounds and re-enter again. Your ticket will be checked as you enter the stadium.
- If you are in Armstrong for the Day session (either Courtside reserved or GA seating), you’ll need to leave your seat between Day and Evening sessions as they clean up. However, you may stay inside the concourse area of Armstrong (the inner-stadium areas with food stands).
** I took the photo above at the 2016 US Open from a corner courtside seat in Ashe watching the Nadal-Pouille round of 16 match on Labor Day.
Tip #5: If your budget can swing it, I strongly recommend getting a courtside reserved seat in Louis Armstrong stadium (especially between Aug 28 – Sep 2) and/or in Grandstand (especially on Aug 30 or Aug 31).
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 BASELINE! I had arrived that morning at 11am and left around 11:30pm at night, leaving my seat only twice for a total of about 9 minutes for rapid-fire bathroom breaks and to grab snacks so I wouldn’t want to miss a second of the action. Ever since, I’ve made it an annual tradition to go with friends to Armstrong during the 3d Round or Round of 16. In 2019, I got to see 2021 Wimbledon finalist 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 – most recently when I sat first row behind-the-server for a match between Auger-Aliassime and his Canadian buddy 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 plus incredible proximity to the players.
BOX 2: WHERE TO GET THE BEST DEAL ON US OPEN TICKETS? SHOULD I BUY NOW OR LATER?
Individual ticket sales are now available on the official US Open Ticketmaster site, as well as on reseller sites like Stubhub. My most important advice: DO NOT PANIC and rush into a decision!
The frustrating reality is that the ticket availability you see today may be different tomorrow — and the ticket situation will continue to evolve over the summer because (1) USTA/Ticketmaster use “dynamic pricing” on face-value “standard” tickets in response to fluctuations in supply and demand; 2) the tournament holds back on releasing all the tickets initially, and tends to trickle more out in the weeks/months that follow (however frustrating, I’ve learned this is fairly common practice for event ticketing); (3) more and more people put tickets up for resale on Ticketmaster and elsewhere, which can sometimes drive down average resale prices as sellers compete to unload their tickets. Without knowing better, too many first-time buyers panic without knowing that a little research and patience can yield better options.
THE GOOD NEWS IS: if you’re willing to exercise patience and do a little work, there are almost always good deals to be found throughout the summer – right up until the actual day of matches! This is because:
- (1) Increasing numbers of sellers post their tickets for resale throughout the summer, and sellers competing for buyers often lower prices as we get closer to the start of the US Open;
- (2) USTA ends up releasing more standard price tickets as the summer goes on (inexplicably, at random times). I have on many (many!) occasions found better seats on the resale market for around the same price (sometimes even less) as standard no-fee seats. For example: in 2022 on Ticketmaster for the Day 1 Ashe DAY session there was a FRONT ROW Loge Resale ticket available for $281 ($327 with fees), while a Standard ticket in the third row of the adjacent section was going for $347 ($372 with fees) – see this screenshot (from August 17 2022).
Before buying, I recommend reading this entire post carefully to understand all the available options, explore the resale market to get a sense of average for sessions/seats that interest you, and prioritize what’s most important to you… THEN you’ll be in the best position to get the best seats and experience for your budget.
Below are the sites that will give you access to the BEST INVENTORY of available tickets (both face-value and resale). Before buying, be sure to compare options and prices.When searching, try sorting by price, section, row… Take your time, get a good sense of what the prevailing price for what you want, and when you spot a good deal, grab it!
1. ALWAYS (!) first check the official Ticketmaster US Open tennis tournament site. I strongly recommend looking on a computer/web browser for fastest navigation and the best options for viewing availability (be sure to use the “map view” of individual seats by clicking on any individual section, try sorting lists in different ways, and use multiple browser tabs to compare across various sessions).
- This site features both (1) any standard tickets (non-resale, face value) that may be available (shown as “blue dots” on the detailed seat map for each session – most often only in Promenade, but occasionally pop up in Loge and Courtside sections throughout the summer); and (2) resale tickets (shows as “red dots” on the detailed seat map for each session).
- Surprisingly, resale tickets (red dots) can often be the best value: resellers often lower their prices to around or below face value as they compete with other resellers to attract buyers.
- Tickets remain on sale for 59 minutes after a session begins as long as tickets remain (e.g., if an Ashe Day session begins at Noon, tickets remain on sale until 12:59pm). For Men’s Semi’s in 2019, Ticketmaster kept sales open for standard seats only another 3 hours beyond that (which were in most cases about double the cost of what was available on the resale market).
- Both Ticketmaster and Stubhub make it very easy to put your tickets back up for sale if your plans change or you decide you want to switch days or tickets later.
- You must have a US bank account to put your tickets up for resale on Ticketmaster.
2. Scan my NEW 2024 chart outlining my best guesses for what is a “good deal” (including fees) for every session/ticket type at the 2024 US Open.
3. In addition to Ticketmaster, it often pays to check StubHub or other reseller sites like those below to see if you can find an even better deal for comparable seats. If you search on both the official US Open Ticketmaster site PLUS one of the sites below to compare, you’ll get tremendous visibility into what’s available and the range of prices on the resale market. Many of these sites also keep selling tickets after a session begins for several hours (versus Ticketmaster, which stops selling 59 minutes after the session begins).
CAUTION: Only purchase resale tickets that are clearly labeled with SECTION, ROW, and SEAT numbers that match up with the Stadium Maps I include in this post; if something appears questionable or too good to be true, it probably is. Also only buy tickets available for MOBILE TRANSFER. You should receive them promptly, and be sure to double-check the tickets you receive correspond to what was advertised. If you don’t, contact the reseller and ask for a refund. While rare, there’s always a handful of unscrupulous sellers who label tickets inaccurately to make them more appealing. Stubhub and other reputable resellers will refund your purchase if you purchase a ticket that has been misrepresented (e.g. the seller delivers a ticket in a different section than advertised) – but then it will be up to you to find another ticket.
- Beyond Ticketmaster, Stubhub is my main source to check for any other deals, as it usually has the largest inventory of resale tickets.
- Other sites I’ve never had an issue with include TicketCity, VividSeats, Viagogo, SeatGeek, or Ticket Liquidator.
- WARNING: DO NOT PURCHASE FROM TickPick. I personally have had two awful experiences: sellers reneged on promised tickets, Tickpick customer service was abysmal, and they were unable to produce replacement tickets.
4. Check out the exact location of individual seats for tickets in each stadium before buying them. Learn how and see seating charts and shade maps here.
5. Do not buy off Craigslist or classified sites!
I’ve heard tons of stories over the years of folks who got scammed or had to go through considerable hassle to obtain tickets. Not worth the risk. Also know that NYC law prohibits reselling “scalping” 1500 feet away from the venue (which is effectively everywhere off the subway at the US Open), and they have undercover police on site cracking down on both sellers and buyers.
6. If you’re going with a friend(s), consider buying a combination of cheap and amazing seats.
This way, you can split the cost and trade off time in the great seat. E.g., you could trade time in seats in Promenade vs Courtside, or between stadiums (in Ashe vs a reserved seat in Armstrong or Grandstand). I do this every year with my best friends. This is a bit more challenging given evolving e-ticket technologies, and may require meeting up and trading phones – but it can be worth it.
Note: all tickets (including through Ticketmaster) are offered as MOBILE ONLY tickets (i.e., “Your Phone is Your Ticket”) – which requires having a smart phone with internet/wifi capability or downloading into your electronic wallet.
- If you do not have a smart phone (either iPhone or Android) and you purchase through Ticketmaster, they WILL help you – but you’ll have to contact their customer service directly and have them make an exception and transfer your tickets to “Will Call” pick up location on site. If you don’t own a smart phone and are purchasing resale tickets during the tournament, I’d recommend buying exclusively through Ticketmaster and not taking chances with other resellers.
- Questions? See US Open’s detailed instructions (with screenshots) on how to access and manage your mobile tickets.
Finally, if you want to explore package deals (combining tickets with optional hotel, transportation, VIP perks, etc), there are several trusted options including Championship Tennis Tours, Grand Slam Tennis Tours, and Steve Furgal’s International Tennis Tours.
Tip #6: If you’ve never done it, consider splurging once on a courtside Ashe seat — if possible after the 2nd round of play when matches start getting more competitive.
After dreaming for years of the possibility, I finally bit the bullet to invest in courtside seats in 2011 for the first time. It was bliss. Ever since, I’ve made an annual pilgrimage to experience 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. If going for a courtside seat, keep in mind that Row E is first row in sections 1-6, 31-40, 65-67; and Row F is first row in sections 7,9,11, 26, 29, 30, 60 63, 64, 41, 42. If courtside is out of your budget, aim for lower Loge rows A-C when possible.
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 (baseline section 58) for Labor Day during the Round of 16 and got to witness Federer perfection from a few feet away. Best money I’ve ever spent.
BOX 3: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the questions I get most often, along with important stuff I wish I had known myself before buying tickets the first time…
FAQ #1: How can I predict when (and on which court) Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz, Medvedev, Gauff, Sabalenka, Swiatek or my other favorite player will play? Will they play Day or Night Sessions?
As of August 22, we now know that players in the BOTTOM HALVES of the men’s and women’s draws will play beginning on Day 1 (then again on Day 3, 5, 7, and 9 if they advance), and players in the TOP HALVES will play beginning on Day 2 (then again on Day 4, 6, 8, and 10 if they advance). See this new chart here summarizing which top-seeded players will play on which days.
HOWEVER, 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 (or most anticipated match-ups) are usually scheduled for the night sessions.
One thing you can count on is for the US Open schedulers to defy crowd predictions ever year, with decisions that resist generalizations. Many a fan has been heartbroken after spending a lot of money on expensive seats based on erroneous predictions. Case in point from the 2020 and 2019 US Open tournaments:
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- In 2020, Serena’s 1st Round match (on Day 2) was a DAYsession; 2d Round match (Day 4) NIGHT session; 3d Round match (on Day 6) DAY session; 4th Round match (on Day 8) DAY session again; Quarterfinals (Day 10) — a DAY session yet again!
- In 2019, Serena’s 1st Round match (on Day 1) was a NIGHTsession; 2d Round (Day 3) NIGHT session; 3d Round (Day 5) DAY session; 4th Round (Day 7) DAY session again; Quarterfinals (Day 9) NIGHT session
- Also in 2019, Djokovic was scheduled for 3 consecutive Ashe Night sessionsand Federer for 3 consecutive Ashe Day sessions (Days 3, 5, and 7).
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 page (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.
One sure 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
To see real examples of what kinds of matches get scheduled on which courts for specific days, look at previous years’ schedules:
–> Full 2023 US Open Daily Schedules (All Days, All Courts)
–> 2022 Daily Schedule of Play
LEARN HOW TO MAKE EDUCATED GUESSES ABOUT WHO PLAYS WHEN/WHERE
On the THURSDAY before the main tournament begins (August 22, 2024), the “Draw” is revealed: Singles players (128 men and 128 women) are split into two equal “Halves” of a “Men’s Singles Draw” and “Women’s Singles Draw,” each half of which will play on alternating days through quarterfinals (Day 1-10). The #1 and #2 seeds (based on ATP and WTA rankings) are placed in opposite halves of the draw (so they will play on different days). The #3 and #4 seeds are also placed in opposite halves of the draw and in different quarters from the #1 and #2 seeds. Spots for winners of the Qualifier Tournament will be indicated as “Qualifier.”
- Once the US Open announces which halves of the draw will play on Day 1 versus Day 2 (which they do on the Thursday or Friday before the main tournament begins) you CAN then predict the DATES your favorite players will be scheduled through quarterfinals: Players scheduled on Day 1 will play again on Day 3, 5, 7, and 9 if they advance; players scheduled on Day 2 will play again on Day 4, 6, 8, and 10 if they advance.
- Only the biggest superstars (like Serena and Rafa) 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). See my chart (click to enlarge) for illustrative examples of who has been scheduled on which courts.
- 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 usually scheduled for the night sessions.
FYI: A fun way to get your head around the draw/brackets — and potential match-ups — is to enter the official US Open “Million-Dollar Bracket” contest. Each submission that correctly picks all 127 matches in the men’s singles bracket will share from a prize pool of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). It’s also a great way to become more familiar with some players you may not have heard of yet but probably will soon.
FAQ #2: How do a see the exact location of seats that I might buy (in Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand)?
- Go to Ticketmaster, click on any session for the stadium in question, choose Map View, then mouse over or click on any of the dots to see the exact section, row and seat #.
- See all the seating charts below
- Note that for Ashe Courtside seats, each lettered “row” (e.g. “A” or “H”) actually stands for two rows: e.g., “Row A Seat 5” might actually be in the second row, Row C Seat 6 is probably 6th row). Courtside Sections 48-49, 52-63 and 66-67 go actually have two rows of “AA” seats followed by rows A-H.
- Also take note of where the umpire sits (you’ll see a little chair icon on each map — and avoid courtside tickets very close up in sections right behind or next to the chair (please note: the umpire chair is never a big obstruction, but it might be a minor annoyance to some).
- To make matters more complicated… first row for Behind-the-Server seats Courtside begin with E or F: Row E is first row in sections 1-6, 31-40, 65-67; and Row F is first row in sections 7,9,11, 26, 29, 30, 60 63, 64, 41, 42.
- In short, check out the detailed Seat Map on Ticketmaster view before buying to see the exact location.
KEY SEATING CHARTS AND SHADE MAPS
Arthur Ashe Stadium
- Arthur Ashe Seating Chart (view from above)
- Official Ashe Stadium Seating Chart
- My annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Ashe “Iteractive Seat Viewer” 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.
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
FAQ #3: When should I buy? Will prices go up or down? Will sessions sell out if I wait too long? What are average prices? What’s a “good deal”?
The frustrating reality is: “it depends.” Buying tickets for the US Open can be like investing in the stock market: knowledge and judgment dramatically raises the odds of a good decision, but there are always surprises due to the number of variables involved. Standard (non-resale) Ashe tickets usually sell out fairly quickly (except for Ashe stadium’s “Promenade” section, where there are usually quite a few available throughout the summer). However, there are almost always resale tickets available until the very last moment because thousands of fans post their tickets for resale. You can almost always get tickets closer to the tournament – and you may end up finding a phenomenal deal if you are patient. However, waiting longer to purchase requires you to have a higher risk tolerance than those who’d prefer the certainty around making arrangements sooner. Resale ticket prices can vary significantly, especially closer to the tournament. Prices can plummet when lineups are predicted to be lackluster… or they can skyrocket if fans speculate that certain marquee players (like Federer) will be scheduled. In 2017, after it became clear that both Federer and Nadal would be scheduled on the same days throughout the tournament, prices spiked sharply for the days they’d be scheduled if they advanced and dropped significantly for the opposite days. Then, after Federer got knocked out in quarters, prices for semis and finals declined quite a bit. The best advice I can give is to familiarize yourself with average prices on Ticketmaster for the days/sessions you are considering over the course of several days so you can recognize a good deal when you see one and spot the trends.
This year, prices are shockingly high across the board. Tennis is having a moment, thanks in large part to the massive popularity of the likes of new young players, particularly Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff!
Here’s my NEW chart (updated July 2024) that outlines my best guesses for what I’d consider a “good deal” (including fees) for each session/ticket type. The estimates are based on this year’s average resale market prices and my tracking of the past two years’ pricing trends for both standard and resale tickets. Please use it only as a rough guide – but hopefully it will be a helpful starting point to gauge expectations as you explore and make the right decisions for you.
FAQ #4: Which seats get the most shade?
For Ashe: The roof creates a massive amount of natural shading all day for a large number of seats. The sections that get the most shade are in the South and West sections of the stadium; Next-best for shade are in the North. Sections with the most sun (to avoid for Day sessions) are on the East side. Click on the photo/map below for details. For the new Armstrong: Situation is similar to Ashe, now that there’s a roof. In short, Sections 1-8 are best for shade. West-side sections (Chair Umpire side) get the most shade; and when not in shade, at least the sun is at your back. Rows K and above (approximately) are shaded soonest (by about 12:30pm), then the sun gradually moves down to cover all rows by about 2:00 pm. East-side sections get the least shade and are in direct sun most of the afternoon. However, Rows T and above (approximately) get shading all day. South sections (behind-the-server) get more shade than North sections: South sections start out almost entirely shaded until about 1pm, then the sun starts wrapping around clockwise, such that sections 17-18 end up losing shade mid-afternoon. See photo/map below. For Grandstand: There’s much less shade overall, however South and West sections are similarly better because sun is more at your back. General admission seats that are higher under the overhang, especially Southwest corner, get the most shade.
FAQ #5: What happens if it rains?
The good news: Now that both Arthur Ashe and the new Louis Armstrong stadiums have roofs, now up to 37,771 more fans each day will be able to see matches even if it rains. The bad news: if you invest in great seats for Grandstand or simply buy a Grounds Admission pass, there isn’t much consolation. Keep in mind that weather forecasts are notoriously unreliable and can change on the hour (I have literally been at Flushing Meadows when my iPhone said it was raining and it wasn’t). There’s always hope that showers will pass quickly. In the highly unlikely event of all-day rain out or under 60 minutes of play (which happened to me unforgettably in 2012 on the day I treated 6 friends to pricy Armstrong front row seats), the session may be rescheduled until the next day and your ticket may be honored then — or, you MAY be able to trade in tickets through the US Open for another session this year or next year if (and only if) you purchased directly from Ticketmaster (see the somewhat complicated US Open Inclement Weather Policy). In the worst case scenario, I recommend looking for the silver lining: you’ll be surrounded by a ton of other fans with whom you can grab a US Open specialty cocktail, huddle under a shelter, and watch an Ashe match together on a big screen.
FAQ #6: Should I buy a subscription or multi-session ticket plan?
For most serious fans, I don’t recommend it. Most multi-session plans for Ashe (and first-time subscription plans) for are only for “Promenade” seats — so high up in that huge stadium you’ll end up watching a lot of the match on the Jumbotron or through binoculars. It could take years to get the chance to upgrade your seats to Loge (only available if you purchase the very expensive full-series plan). For the full series ticket plan price (well over $2,000 each) you could buy several amazing seats for multiple sessions over the tournament (or 2 excellent seats for the Men’s final). Finally, there is always a glut of Promenade Ashe seats on the resale market, so if you buy an entire series of Promenade seats you may have a challenge reselling any you don’t need.
FAQ #7: Which are the best sections/seats with the best views?
The vast majority of people would consider “behind the server” seats (i.e., those on North or South ends of the courts) to be preferable — and prices generally reflect this. For first-timers, this area would be my top recommendation.
- This is the vantage point they use for filming for broadcast, because it enables you to follow point construction and see the court from the perspective of the player on your side of the net.
- From these seats, you’ll never have to move your head side-to-side to follow the ball.
- FYI: seats in these sections start several feet higher in these seats than sections on the side (this is why these rows begin with higher letters E instead of AA or A).
- Here’s a photo of the perspective from higher up seats in the new 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 58 in 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. I took the video of Federer I included in my post from this perspective (from section 58). Here’s a photo from Ashe courtside from that perspective.
When considering Loge or Promenade seats in Ashe, I generally recommend prioritizing seats that are in lower rows regardless of location— simply because Loge (and especially Promenade) are already quite high up to begin with. For Day sessions, I strongly urge folks to factor in potential shade benefits (seats on West side, SouthWest, and Northwest tend to get the most shade relief). See FAQ #4 above. With regard to the umpire chair, it really is never an obstruction but may feel a bit of an annoyance to some if you’re sitting in very low rows on that side — simply because you may not always have a complete view of the player on the other side of the net. See this photo for example. I personally don’t mind this for reasons I mention above, and this is ONLY an issue when courtside in very low rows.
Tip #7: The night before you go
Check the app or click this link for the detailed daily Schedule of Play for the following day’s schedule and make your game plan so you can beeline directly to the court where the match you care about will happen (including, potentially, the practice courts– see Tip #8 below). You should also download the official US Open Everywhere App (search on app stores for “2024 US Open Tennis”) to track the latest schedule, scores and live updates. If someone you really want to see will play on Grandstand or Armstrong, get to the grounds as early as you can so you can be among the first in line when the gates open at 9:30am then speed-walk to those stadiums and grab the best seat you can. Check out the day-to-day coverage at SI.com’s tennis page, which is always terrific.
Tip #8: Check out the practice courts for close sightings of the superstars
Check the practice schedule the night before (and morning of) to see when/where players are practicing (you can also see it on the official US Open App).
Note: the best time to see top players practice without fighting crowds is during the free Qualifier Tournament and week before the main tournament (see my Tip #10 below).
Tip #9: Do not drive unless you really have to. Especially if the Mets have a home game.
Option 1: Take the subway #7 train (see 7 train schedule here, runs 24 hours, PM times in bold, see stops here, which include Grand Central). Note: you no longer need a MetroCards for the NY subway– you can simply TAP YOUR PHONE AT THE TURNSTILE if you are set up for tap-and-pay..
Option 2: (FASTEST, only 15 min from Midtown NYC): Take the LONG ISLAND RAILROAD (LIRR), which departs from Penn Station from the new “Moynihan Train Hall” (entrance on 8th Avenue between West 31st-33rd, directly across from Penn Station). to the “Mets-Willets Point” station (the signage will say either “GREAT NECK” or “PORT WASHINGTON” – double check the train number before boarding). Look for the “Port Washington” train on the monitors to find the right track. IMPORTANT: The LIRR stop at Mets-Willets is NOT accessible for fans with disabilities — so anyone with disabilities should exit the LIRR at Woodside/61st Street Station then transfer to the 7 train (or just take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point Station).
- To purchase LIRR tickets:
- Download the very easy-to-use NEW MTA TrainTime App. Within the app, click “Trips”, then at the top fill in From “Penn Station” and To “Mets-Willets Point” then see all the upcoming train options. Click the train you want and select “Buy” and it will show options for one-way or R/T. Ticket(s) will then be in your “wallet” in the app for you to use whenever you like; you just have to press “activate” right before you board your train of choice.
- Alternatively, you can also buy a ticket at Penn Station in the Moynihan Hall using an ATM-like ticket machine (or at the window). But the app is way easier.
- For return trips from the Open, you’ll need to show your ticket at the US Open’s LIRR entrance (top of the ramp near the East Gate) — the individuals checking tickets can also sell you a one-way return ticket if you need and you can use a credit card (tip: you do NOT need to line up at the ticket window!!).
- Here is the 2024 LIRR schedule until September 2 (Labor Day)
- Here is the 2024 LIRR schedule from September 3 until the end of the tournament
- If you fly into Laguardia (LGA) you can take the NYC “Q48” public bus from Laguardia to the US Open (the stop is listed on the MTA website as “ROOSEVELT AV/WILLETS PT BL STATION.” LGA is very close to the US Open grounds, but the bus trip could take around 30 minutes.
If you must go by car…
- See the US Open’s driving directions and details on parking lots.
- On any of the dates below when Mets are playing home games, be sure to reserve a parking spot here. I can’t recommend this more strongly.
- Monday, Sep 2 2024
- Tuesday, Sep 3 2024
- Wednesday, Sep 4 2024
- Friday, Sep 6 2024
- Saturday, Sep 7 2024
- Sunday, Sep 8 2024
- Recommend putting in GPS “Citi Field” to get you to the general area – if parking isn’t available at Citi Field, there should be traffic cops around to redirect you
- US Open recommends using “Grand Central Parkway exit 9E or Whitestone Expressway (678) Exit 13D.”
- You’ll see signs and be directed to available public parking ($25 for cars).
- Citi Field will be the primary lot (“Yellow Zone” parking) except when the Mets are playing at Home (see the Mets home schedule). On those dates, according to the US Open you’ll be “directed to guest parking lots 1-6” (which the map confusingly labels as A-H– sorry I can’t provide any more clarification on this!).
- If you must drive on a day the Mets are playing, ARRIVE AS EARLY AS YOU CAN – like around 8:30am if possible – to avoid major hassles.
- The entrance to Citi Field parking is located at 126th Street and Shea Road, Corona, NY. GPS address to that intersection is “126 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368.
- Consider buying a parking pass on Stubhub to lots A, B, or C (which are closest). Here’s the detailed transportation map showing parking lots.
- Fellow fan Harry pointed out: “If you are willing to walk a bit, street parking underneath or south of Highway 495 is a viable option.”
- Uber/Lyft/Taxi TO the Open:
- You can have the driver put in “Billie Jean King National Tennis Center” if you want to have them drop you near the SOUTH GATE. If you’re aiming for the EAST GATE, try putting in “Mets-Willets Point” as the destination – this will take you directly to the spot on Roosevelt Avenue where the 7 train lets people off, then you can just walk up the stars and across the foot bridge to the East Gate. But that option MAY not be available if they are blocking off traffic, which they occasionally do.
- If considering a taxi or Uber/Lyft home after a night session, be prepared for a long wait, hassles, and a very (very) expensive ride with surge pricing. Getting an Uber/Lyft after an evening session when literally thousands of others are trying to do the same can be a nightmare. I tried it in 2016 as an experiment and here’s what happened: (1) Had to go to designated “zone 3” pickup area for cabs and users– a long walk from the South Gate near the globe (trying to meet them by the 7 train at Roosevelt is really tough given heavy traffic); (2) three Uber drivers cancelled on me after accepting before I finally get one; (3) Surge pricing was in effect, with a ride that should have cost $45 being quoted over $120.
- If you must hire a car back home after a night session, you might try the following instead:
- (1) Reserve a car service pickup in advance. I’ve used Riverside and they’re always reliable (and they have an app as well) – but you can find many other car services in NY if you Google.
- (2) Take the LIRR or 7 subway train into Manhattan (or to another local stop like “Junction Blvd”), then call Uber or a hail a cab
- (3) Try to hail a cab on the street just under the 7 train (Roosevelt Ave); or download the “Curb” app for NYC taxis and hail one that way from that location.
- If you’re lucky enough to be driving a Cadillac to the Open, you’ll get complimentary parking (Cadillac replaced Mercedes-Benz in 2022 as a major sponsor)
Alternatively, consider staying in Queens and biking! Fellow fan Mark shared his experience in 2019: “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!”
Tip #10: Take advantage of these amazing FREE opportunities to see incredible players up close:
- AUG 20-25 FREE “Fan Week“: If you’re a serious fan, don’t miss the FREE qualifying tournament Tuesday August 20- Friday August 23, the week before the main tournament begins. 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. Last year’s US Open women’s singles champion Emma Raducanu became the first in history to win a major after playing in the qualifiers – a reminder this is an amazing opportunity to see major rising players! It’s also a great opportunity to see top-seeded players on practice courts.. Read why Fan Week/Qualies are so special in this excellent piece by Steven Kutz.
- Gates open at 10:00am. You must arrive before 5:00pm to enter.
- Qualifier Tournament matches start at 11:00am
- Official practices (of main draw players) start earlier. However, fans won’t have access to any player practices scheduled before 10:00am, For practices on Ashe, you need to register for a Fan Access Pass to access practices in Ashe (which you can do via the app).
- To understand how players qualify to play in the US Open and why qualifiers matter, see this explanation by Laurence Shanet
- Watch top seeds (including Federer) practicing during this entire “Fan Week. Check the practice schedule here (also available on the app) the day before/ morning of to see when your favorites are scheduled to practice.
- Click here to register for a “Fan Access Pass,” which gives you certain perks (including access to special preferred seating for some practice sessions). Note: the Fan Pass check-in is located by the East Gate on the left.
- FRI AUG 23:
- US Open Media Day at 11am ET on Ashe Stadium, with players answering questions. Fans must register for the event via Fan Pass.
- SAT AUG 24: “Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day:” (9:30am – 4:00pm) If you have kids, this is a great day to go– lots of interactive games, music, and activities.
- SAT-SUN AUG 24-25: Go see top players practicing up close by taking advantage of free access to the US Open grounds the day before the main tournament begins to watch practice sessions – it’s one of the best-kept secrets that the grounds are open to the public all day.
Box 4: What to Bring and What NOT to bring (Backpacks not allowed!)
Be sure to review this 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
- As of 2022 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: $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 from 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 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). Evian is $6 for a small so bring your own!
- If taking subway (7 train), fill up your subway Metrocard in advance for your return trip in advance if taking 7 train so you don’t have to wait in long lines; If taking LIRR (my favorite) you need to get your ticket before boarding
- 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.
Box 5: FREE ADMISSION ON SECOND THURSDAY (September 5)!
DOUBLES SEMIFINALS (Men’s & Women’s) Plus the World’s Top Wheelchair, Junior, and Collegiate Players
Gates open at 11:00 AM
One of the best-kept secrets is that you can usually enter the US Open grounds for free on the second Thursday (gates open at noon, must arrive before 5pm) and see the Doubles Semifinals plus all-star wheelchair players, the world’s top juniors, and incredible collegiate players.
If you are a serious tennis fan, particularly if you’re a doubles player, this is a day not to be missed.
Among the world-class wheelchair players to watch for:
- Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid, who in 2021 completed the Grand Slam for the first time in wheelchair tennis history.
- The world’s #1 in the “Quad” (quadriplegic) division (ranked #1 in singles and doubles), American David Wagner. Born in 1974, David became paralyzed from the mid-chest down at age 21 when he was playing frisbee on the beach and a wave tossed him head-first into the sand. With only thirty percent function in his hands, David plays by taping the tennis racket to his hand. And by all accounts he’s a super cool guy besides being an extraordinary athlete .
A FEW MORE RECS
- I agree with every word of “Here’s How to Have the Best Time at the U.S. Open: Tips, Tricks and Transportation“ by the brilliant Sports Illustrated writer Jon Wertheim. Note: if you haven’t yet seen Wertheim’s 2018 Strokes of Genius documentary on the Federer/Nadal rivalry, RENT IT! It’s one of the best documentaries on anything I’ve ever seen, beautifully capturing so many of the unique aspects of tennis that make us so passionate about our sport.
- Bring a backup phone charger if you have one. However, there are several re-charging stations, but after all the photos and video you take with your phone and use of Wi-Fi you’ll run out of juice quickly.
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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 2025.
- 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
- Need an affordable hotel room? Fellow tennis fanatic Melissa maintains a great list of hotels appealing to all budgets, starting at $25 per night.
- AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDHOLDERS: Bring your Amex card if you have one! See full Amex Benefits at US Open here. Perks from 2024 likely to be repeated in 2025:
- (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 2025.
- Click here to make a reservation to access the “Chase Lounge”
- Other past perks have included offering cool video+mobile “Chase Charge & Watch” chargers
- Sign up for the “Fan Pass” on the app to be entered into a sweepstakes and track your activity on site. Scan your personal barcode at various stations around the event to collect “badges,” which can redeem for prizes.
- Do your shopping for US Open gear early in the tournament – stores run out of the popular sizes fast.
- $25 Grounds Admission tickets will be available for Finals Weekend (Fri-Sun Sep 6-8) on this Ticketmaster page. Note: these grounds ticket options are not yet showing up on main Ticketmaster pages displaying the other stadium ticket options. 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 performing a random act of kindness for fellow fans during the tournament. Our tennis community is big, but relatively speaking, it’s small… Our passion for our sport is infectious; do something kind for someone today, they’re likely to pay it forward. Last year, a reader emailed me saying he had an emergency and couldn’t go to the tournament but had amazing New Grandstand seats – he asked if I knew anyone that would really value them for free so they didn’t go to waste. I was able to share with a fanatic who’s in town on a budget, who as you can imagine was elated. In past years, I’ve gifted a lot of tickets myself – and it always feels wonderful. It takes seconds to “transfer” tickets from Ticketmaster/Ticketmaster Exchange to others simply by putting in an email address.
BOX 6 (INDEX): OUTLINE OF COMMON QUESTIONS AND IMPORTANT LINKS
This post has gotten long over the years to include many more details, so I’ve created the outline below with shortcuts to help you find what you need more quickly. Click below for shortcut links to key topics and FAQs I get most often:
CLICK HERE FOR OUTLINE OF COMMON QUESTIONS AND KEY LINKS
WHERE TO BUY TICKETS: How to Get the Best Deal? Which sites can I trust?
- Where to get the best deals on tickets? See Box #2
- Read my full advice for getting best deals on tickets (Box 2)
- What are reliable ticket sites?
- Ticketmaster – Official site – always check first then compare options on reseller sites. It also includes most resale tickets from the official Ticketmaster Exchange (resale tickets are shown as red dots on seat maps, standard non-resale tickets are blue dots)
- Official US Open Ticket Exchange (Official reseller site – also check this site for comparison purposes as it includes ALL verified resale tickets on the exchange. Confusingly, there are some verified resale tickets here that don’t show up on the main Ticketmaster site because they may not be available for immediate delivery– which is why it’s worth checking in addition to the main Ticketmaster site.
- You may want to see if you can spot any other exceptional deals on Stubhub, SeatGeek, Ticket Liquidator, or other resellers.
WHEN SHOULD I BUY? WILL PRICES GO UP OR DOWN?? What are average prices?
- When should I buy my tickets– now or closer?
- Will sessions sell out if I wait too long?
- Will prices go down or up?
- Should I buy a subscription ticket plan?
- How can I recognize a good deal?
- What are average prices?
- (NEW posted July 23, 2021): See my Chart listing 2021 prices for standard (non-resale) tickets as a point of reference to what may be a “good deal,” noting that sometimes better resale seats are available for the same or less than standard prices.
I WANT TO SEE SERENA AND RAFA! Which tickets should I buy?
- How can I be sure to see Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal (or Novak Djokovic, Sasha Zverev, Naomi Osaka, Sloane Stephens, etc)? See FAQ #1
- Can I predict when my favorite player will play on a specific day or night? See FAQ #1
- How does the draw influence when players are scheduled? Do rankings affect the draw?
WHAT TIME CAN I ENTER WITH A DAY OR NIGHT SESSION TICKET (and how long can I stay)?
- Once you enter the Grounds of the US Open (through the East or South Gate), you can stay as long as you want and access non-reserved seating in any stadium (except Ashe, the only stadium where every seat is reserved and requires a ticket).
- If you enter with a Day session ticket, you can stay on grounds all night and access unreserved seating in any all stadiums (except Ashe), including Armstrong general admission seating for night matches on first-come basis.
- If you have a day and evening ticket the same day, you will NOT need to exit the US Open grounds and re-enter again
- If you have both Day and Evening session for Ashe on the same day, you will need to exit and reenter Ashe Stadium (they clear the entire stadium between Day and Evening sessions)
- If you were in Armstrong for the Day session (either Courtside reserved or GA seating), you will need to leave your seat between Day and Evening sessions (as they clean up). However, you may stay inside the concourse area of Armstrong (the inner-stadium areas with food stands).
- See Box #1 (Ticket Options Explained)
WHICH SEATS ARE BEST? BEST VIEW? SHADE?
- Which sections have the best view?
- “How do a see the exact location of seats that I might buy?
- Related: See my annotated Seating charts (including some shade maps) for all stadiums (including New Armstrong)
- “Which seats get the most shade?“
- Related: Annotated Ashe Stadium SHADE map
- Related: Annotated Armstrong Stadium SHADE map
CAN I BRING AN SLR CAMERA, BACKPACK, FOOD, WATER BOTTLE, ETC?
- Can I bring…
- An SLR camera with video capability? YES
- A plastic water bottle? YES, just not glass bottles – and they must be 24 oz or less. They can be plastic or metal.
- A backpack? NO, but you can bring a drawstring bag
- Food? YES, in “limited quantities” (they don’t define limited). “No sealed packages of any kind”
- See Red Box #4 above (“What to Bring and Not to Bring”) and review official list of prohibited items here
DAILY SCHEDULE OF PLAY/ PRACTICE SCHEDULE
- 2024 Tournament Schedule – See my “Schedule at a Glance” in Box #1 (note: official tournament schedule is here but more vague)
- 2024 Daily Schedule of Play – Note: The schedule for Day 1 (and possibly Day 2 too) is released on the Friday (or sometimes even on the Thursday) before the main tournament begins.
- 2024 Practice schedule
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BRACKETS
- See full Men’s Draw (bracket) and Women’s Draw (bracket)
- I prefer the more easy-to-read ESPN version of Men’s Bracket and ESPN version of Women’s Bracket
WHAT IF IT RAINS?
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS? SUBWAY OR CAR OR LIRR?
- See Tip #9 above
- 7 train subway schedule
- 2019 LIRR special schedule for 2019 US Open through September 2
- 2019 special schedule for 2019 US Open September 2-8
- Detailed transportation map showing parking lots
- Q488 bus from Laguardia Airport (5 min away)
HOTELS?
US OPEN POLICIES, RULES, AND OFFICIAL GUIDE
GOT A QUESTION OR COMMENT?
Please submit below and I”ll reply ASAP (although it may take some time before I can reply before I can given my demanding real job!)
P.J.
Hi PJ – As many have commented, thank you for compiling this information! I plan on going to the Open on either Sunday or Monday of Labor Day weekend this year (i.e., session 13, 14, 15, or 16). Like most, I would love to see Federer, but understand it’s hard to secure that. I have a few questions for you, and hope you can help me out with my decisions. 1) For Sunday (9/3) or Monday (9/4), would you prefer to see Day or Evening matches and on which day? I’m leaning toward a Day session, as it seems like… Read more »
Incredibly helpful! Thank you so much for offering such detailed, clear, and useful information!
You’re very welcome, Mohamed! P.J.
Hello PJ, First of all, thank you so much for all the information in your post and, maybe even more valuable, in all your very thoughtful responses. I am 24 years old from Brazil and never traveled abroad, and as a tennis player, I always got my inspiration from RF. I’ve been working and putting some money together for the last year, with the only objective of going to a grand slam in 2017. So thank you very much for helping me and others achieve our dreams. That being said, I will be going to NY probably August 26th-27th, and… Read more »
Hej PJ, This site is sick! Thx for all the information you have provided here. I have used ’em all to book the tickets I needed. I’m currently based in the Middle East and it will be my first time to watch the US Open! Federer and Djokovic are my boys….such a bummer that I won’t see Djokovic this year but I’m still excited to see Roger play! I will be in NY on Aug 31 and September 1 so I have booked the following tickets, pls tell me I have made the right choices: Aug 31: DAY Session –… Read more »
Hey Willy, thanks so much – and yes, looks like you did great with your tix! I share your disappointment about Nole 🙁 The Men’s SF day is absolutely amazing (and unfortunately so are the prices). If I could choose one session to go to the entire tournament, it would be that one: you get to see both matches plus as an added bonus the Mixed Doubles Semi (I love dubs, and really enjoy watching mixed). I’ve gone to the Women’s Final several years and it has been hit or miss, simply because they only play three sets and sometimes… Read more »
Thx P.J.,
I ended up buying additional ticket for the Women’s Finals in addition to the tix I have previously purchased.
But now I am contemplating on seeing the MEN’s SF matches as well since it is possible that Nadal and Federer will meet in the SF. Should I buy a ticket now or should I wait and watch closely?
Too bad we won’t see Nishikori as well this year. Which matches are you attending, it’ll be cool to see you around!
Willy
Hey Willy, that’s great. If you’re sure you’d want to go to the semis regardless of who’s playing, then you might consider I’d grabbing one of the standard price Loge seats in sections 134 or 102 now (or a standard Promenade seat, there are some available there too). Otherwise you may want to hold off to see if both make it through to at least 3d round. I’ll be there all day Sun (Ashe) and Mon Labor Day (Armstrong Day, Ashe Eve), plus Thurs Sep 8 to support wheelchair players on Ashe (see last box above). Would be great to… Read more »
Hej PJ,
I’ll hold off and see what happens in the early rounds.
Unfortunately, I will be in Montreal that Labor Day weekend and won’t be back til the Men’s SF day, if I decide to get tickets. Won’t you be watching the W/M Finals?
Quick question, can you resell via Ticketmaster a ticket purchased from TicketLiquidator?
Hey Willy, sounds good. I’ll be watching Finals on TV this year – I’ll be at the tournament Friday evening Sep 1, Sun and Mon Labor Day weekend, and Thurs day Sep 7 for wheelchair. You should have no problem posting a ticket purchased from another source on Ticketmaster Ticket Exchange. Let me know if you do, my impression is it should be just fine. P.J.
That’s too bad but I guess you’ve been to a lot of US OPEN Finals anyway.
Cool, i’ll try to resell and let you know!
I’ll see you on Sept 1 evening then LOL 😛
Willy
Hej PJ, How you doin’? I have just returned from my New York trip and I must say that the highlight of the entire trip was my first US OPEN experience! I got to see incredible matches from amazing players. The MEN’s finals was kind of boring but still OK. I’ve enjoyed the Women’s finals better because I really like both Sloane and Madison. Watching the players practice was also a lot of fun! I got to see Venus, Federer, Nadal and other players really close, so exciting! It is also worth mentioning that I have enjoyed the matches on… Read more »
Hey Willy, thank you so much for this great summary of your experience and for the kind note, I really appreciate it and am so glad you had a great experience!! P.J.
Hi PJ:
Great information. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. This will be my first time at the US Open and it can be a little intimidating without these tips. Couple of quick questions:
Generally speaking, where would you say is the best area to sit in Ashe: baseline, corners, half court…? Also, what is the deal with row N in the Loge section? Appears to be behind a railing or wall and tickets are significantly lower than even one row ahead. I cannot find any info on this.
Thanks!
Suzanne
Hey Suzanne, my pleasure, thanks for your thanks 🙂 Generally speaking, for most people it would be behind the server or corners. However if you see a ticket at your budget that is much much closer in another area, it’s generally worth getting that. If you go on the side, look at my annotated map re: shade (choose West side over East when possible to maximize shade). Row N is wheelchair accessible seating – so when you purchase they ask that you confirm you have a need to sit in those seats for yourself or someone you’re with. Cheers, P.J.
Just realized I will be in NYC on Aug 28th and have changed my flight home to the 29th for the chance to see Venus play on Monday the 28th. Do you have any historical knowledge on if she usually plays at 11am or the 7pm? What stadium would she likely play in in the 1st round?
Hi Mo, please see this backgrounder on who plays where when: http://www.roadto45tennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Who-Plays-When-Where-at-US-Open.pdf Best, P.J.
Thanks for all this awesome information! Hoping to watch the finals this year (hoping to see federer!). Given budget constraints (and having to fly over from michigan!) im probably going to go with the cheapest ticket – which over the last week have been 270-300 usd for seats high up in the promenade but behind the server. Any advice on 1. When to buy resale tickets. Seems like they change often so i am checking frequently but if they are only going to go up from here maybe i should pull the trigger soon? 2. Buying and reselling if I… Read more »
HI Raghav, 1. It’s just so hard to say (see response I just wrote to Sujiv re QFs). I personally would venture to guess prices for men’s finals will stay around the same as they are until end of round of 16, at which time they may go up or down depending on who is looking strong and may make it through… I always encourage people NOT to buy Promenade tickets unless they plan to use them or they are willing to take a loss if they have to resell them – even for finals. P.J.
Hi PJ
I am looking to get tickets for one of the first couple of days once the schedules are released. We will want to see some of the big names and therefore are thinking of going for the day pass with Ashe entry. Is this something that is easy to get the day before once the schedule comes out?
Also, I am aware that we would get kicked of Ashe at around 6 however, if there are empty seats are you able to get back into Ashe without a reserved ticket?
Thanks
Hi Karen, probably – and if not will be easy to get a cheap Ashe Promenade seat for about the same cost the day before too (which I always recommend in any case). No, you can never sneak back into Ashe even if there are empty seats – they clear the stadium between the two sessions. P.J.
Thanks for the information. It is our first visit to the US open and want to get the most out of our time there.
Karen
Thanks so much for such a informative website. It has really made it easy for me to take so many decisions. I am coming in from India just to see the US open. I am hoping to see the quarterfinals /semis and hopefully the finals too. I am choosing to spend a bit on loge seats for the QFs and then go for the promenade seats for the semis/finals. It is difficult to predict which QF Roger will play in so I am planning to see all 4 of them. Do you think I should buy the QF tickets now… Read more »
Hi Sujit, thanks so much for your very kind words. It’s so hard to say, always a bit of a gamble. I encourage you to take at least a week to get really familiar with the range of prices currently being offered for different seats, then make the call next week when you feel like you can recognize a good deal when you see it. I think your gut is probably right: evening QF ticket prices probably will stay around the same as they are now or go up slightly, whereas day sessions might decline during the event once it… Read more »
Thanks for your response, PJ ! I went crazy monitoring the tix for a few days and then put the demons to rest and bought whatever best I could for all the QFs thru to the finals. For QFs I just waited for row C/D/E loge tickets to pop up at a price which seemed ok and grabbed them. For Semi/Finals I went for promenade, again the best rows I could. I managed the day QFs less than $250 and evening ones $350-$425 row C/E. The two links of the ticketmaster and the exchange sites were the most helpful. I… Read more »
Hey Sujit, great to hear it – every year I go through a very similar process, and finally pull the plug once I know I’m within a range that’s reasonable. Sounds like you made excellent choices. Now you can just focus on getting excited! P.J.
PJ,
Do you know if e-tickets are upgradable?
Thanks
Leonardo, really good question. Nothing clear on the website about that specifically. Let me call the box office on Monday and I’ll ask… P.J.
Did you have any luck? I also have a doubt, I bought tickets from Ticketmaster Exchange and was given the e-tickets, but when I entered my US Open AccountManager it told me that my way to access the event was via a Ticket printed by the box office. Should I be worried?
Hey Leonardo, sorry for the delay. Regarding upgrades for e-tickets, the short answer is that no one really knows right now. I called the main US Open ticket office, and they said “you should call Ticketmaster.” I explained that this was something handled by the US Open box office itself during the event, and they said “we aren’t the box office, you’ll have to check back once they open closer to the event.” I called Ticketmaster and they had no clue. I am confident that they will consider e-tickets for upgrades, because that is the majority of tickets this year… Read more »
Thanks man, I´m flying from Costa Rica just for the tournament, I´m on a budget so every detail on your tips was really useful. I´m expecting to see Roger Federer and I think this is my only opportunity, so I´m crossing my fingers to get to see him and I don´t even care if it´s on his first match.
Me da mucho placer escucharlo! Que lo disfrutes! P.J.
Dear all,
A few Standard (face value) Loge tickets (row M & N though)just popped up for Men’s Semi-Finals on Friday 09/08, if it’s what you are looking for, grab them fast!
P.J.,
Just out of curiosity, is there a limit for how many times a ticket can be resold on Ticketmaster Exchange?
Scott
Hey Scott, not that I’m aware of! PJ
Hi P.J.
We are going to be near NYC so we are going to see what we have seen on TV. It will be just for the final day and need to get there by car so we bought a parking ticket for LOT F. Do you know what address should I put in my GPS to get in that parking lot. Also if we need to take a bus to get into the venue and back. We are going to have fun and enjoy it. Thanks for your help
Hi Gretel, the GPS address to the general area is “122-02 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11368” – but not sure about exact address for each lot. Here’s a detailed map: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ustaassets/assets/1/15/2017_uso_transportation_map-1.pdf Generally, the train is your best bet over the bus (LIRR or 7 subway train). However if you are looking into buses, it’s the Q48 bus goes directly to CitiField/Mets-Willets and is only about 5 min from Laguardia Airport. The stop on the MTA website is listed as ROOSEVELT AV/WILLETS PT BL STATIO. You can transfer to the Q48 from the: Q12, Q15, Q15A, Q17, Q20A/B, Q25, Q25-Ltd, Q26,… Read more »
Hi again P.J 3 years ago in 2014 it was my first time and i succeeded buying ground admissions for middle sunday 31/08/2014. Bought them the 02/08. This year middle sunday is the 3th of september. And we are the 27/07 i don’t find standard tickets any more. Only resale tickets more expensive. Same for Arthur Ashe day session. I don’t want to spend more than 100$ because i want to buy tickets for 3 other days. So now it’s too late to find standard tickets for the weekend? Or i can wait more? At box office could it be… Read more »
Hi there, correct – there are only resale General Admission (GA) tickets available now for that Sunday. Not sure whether they will release more closer to the event – really no way to predict. But I wouldn’t count on it… And across the board, GA seats are much more expensive this year than in 2014, so I’m not sure how much under $100 face-value GA seats would be even if they show up. There are some upper Promenade resale seats in Ashe available for a bit less than the average cost of resale GA tickets – probably your best bet.… Read more »
Thanks PJ
You’re so kind to give Quick answers
For the prices of GA it is cheaper this year than in 2014 for the first days
But you are probably right it Must be contrary for week-end I paid in 2014 81$ fee included.
And weird thing saturday is even more expansive
PJ thanks one more Time for your advices
My pleasure – and yeah, the prices go up substantially for Labor Day weekend GA – that’s when the demand is highest. P.J.
PJ, just an update on what I’ve got:
Earlier, I found 2 Grandstand tickets for Sat, Sept. 2nd, in Section 6, Row M, for $180 each.. I just realized that’s behind the umpire’s chair- is that an issue, or are these good seats?
Just tonight, I found several standard tickets for the Ashe Evening session for the same day (FYI to those searching) in Loge Section 105, Row L, for $175 each. Are these a good deal as well?
Should I be satisfied with these, or should I keep looking?
Thanks for everything!
Hello! My brother and I are trying to get tickets for the Mixed Doubles and Men’s Semis. Does the ticket cover all 3 matches?
Yes!
P.J.,
Have you ever been to Arthur Ashe Kid’s Day or know someone who has? Is it really just for kids or adult can have some fun as well? My wife’s a huge Federer fan and since he is participating this year, do you think it’s worth to buy tickets just to see him? Would it be weird if we go without kids?
Scott
I love this question! But I don’t really know the answer… I will check with some USTA friends. In the meantime, another reader might have some thoughts… Will get back ASAP.
Hi Scott, I’ve been to Arthur Ashe Day (as an adult a couple times) and I can tell you that there are a TON of kids around the entire US Open that day. That being said, there are also a lot of great players practicing on P1-P5 courts as well as on Armstrong/Grandstand during that Sun. Also, if you do like to see fun exhibition matches with Rafa/Roger in it – it is guaranteed that at least one (probably both) of them will be inside. They do trick shots and make fun commentary as they are “mic’d up”. They also… Read more »
Thanks JC!
JC,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! My wife would be thrilled if there’s exhibition matches featuring Federer. One question though, what’s the difference between $50, $25 & $10 Standard tickets if it’s first-come first-serve, If my wife’s main goal is to see Federer, will purchasing $50 ticket give us the best experience/chance? Thank you!
Scott
If you want courtside tickets, those are ~$90, Loge starts at $25, but all else is in the Promenade. I was able to get into the front rows of the lower Promenade and thought it was a fun experience. Seeing Federer live in person is a goal for many fans – my favorite place to watch him includes checking out his practices during the end of Qualifier week but the last couple years he has practiced privately behind the locked doors of Ashe. If you’re lucky enough to see him on Armstrong, you’ll be in absolute Awe (as it’s only… Read more »
JC,
Thank you again!
Hopefully, we will get lucky this year!:)
Scott
I love Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day! It’s really best if you don’t have kids. There are crowds of kids lined up for activities on the numbered courts (except 17.) But there are fun practice sessions with the top pros on the stadium courts (including 17.) And seating is open, so you can get courtside. The pros will pair up, so I’ve seen Murray and Lopez on 17, Federer and Fish on Armstrong, etc. Sometimes pros will have a hitting partner. The mood is light, coaches are on the court. It’s fun and different. And free! Tickets are for the concert… Read more »
Awesome, thanks Meredith!
Meredith,
Thanks for sharing! My wife’s main goal is to see Federer (up close) if possible, does that mean we should go for the exhibition in Arthur Ashe? If we end up going, I will definitely check out the practice sessions!
Scott
Honestly, I’ve never been into Ashe for Kids’ Day. I’ve only ever gone to the practice sessions. From past AAKD videos it looks like you can get pretty close, but those tix are expensive. The cheap $10 tix are GA and will be far up.
There’s no guarantee, but as a fellow Fed fan I plan to get there early and hope that he has a practice session scheduled for Armstrong, Grandstand, or 17. You can usually get pretty close.
Meredith,
I see…I will let my wife know what our options are and let her decide then.
Thank you!
Scott
Hi PJ, thanks a lot for the useful information! Quick advice: I’m looking at the 2016 schedule and I notice that on Thursday R2 mens, seed 2 and seed 3 played the same day during the day, therefore I would be inclined to buy a Ashe day ticket for thursday. Do you think that’s a situation that could repeat this year? I’m a Rafa fan but would also love to see Federer. Also, I could always look the day before and try to exchange them for Friday I guess (I’m travelling from Peru but have a US account). Thanks a… Read more »
Hi Augusto, a couple clarifications about how the draw works: (1) The men’s #1 seed and #2 seed always play on different days (and are played at opposite sides of the draw). Either the #1 or the #2 seed may end up playing on day 1 or 2 (and then they will play again 2 days later… e.g., if men’s #1 seed plays Monday, he will be schedule again for Wed). For the past three years, the men’s #1 (Nole all three years) has played on day 1, but in 2013 the #2 seed (Nadal) played on day 1. (2)… Read more »
Thanks for the incredibly prompt response PJ! Good clarification. Then it seems possible that Nadal (2) and Federer (3) would play on the same day then, right? In 2016 Murray (2) and Wawrinka (3) played on Day 4 during the day (although perhaps one of them would play in the evening). I’d like to secure tickets now and perhaps then try to exchange instead of waiting and maybe risking the price going up. Does that sound reasonable?
Yup! FYI you’ve inspired me to post something more detailed on this whole issue of who plays when/where… Will work on it 🙂
Awesome, thanks!
Waiting for that post, P.J.! No pressure or anything!
I’m coming to the US Open for the first time–would love to see Fed live–like so many others. I’ll be there Aug 29, 30 or 31…wish I knew which session to purchase and when. So confusing!
Here you go! http://www.roadto45tennis.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Who-Plays-When-Where-at-US-Open.pdf
Hi Augusto, I am in a similar state. Rafa fan but want to watch Roger too.
I just wanted to warn you that given their form, if they play well in Canada and Cincinnati, they could become 1 and 2 seeds. Murray was a Finalist at Cincinnati last year and will likely drop points there given his current form. So, take that into consideration too 🙂
Hey Augusto, I prepared this short backgrounder with some historical data on “Who Plays Who When (and on which court)” Let me know what you think. P.J>
Hey PJ! Once again you are the best, can’t imagine all the people you have helped for so many years, you are such a great guy!!! I have a couple of questions… (1) In relation to bringing a bag with us, I have read in the comments something about lockers and being able to leave your bag inside a locker, but going back and forth for something you might need doesn’t sound that good, is bringing a bag a good idea? (2) Items that I may need, i.e. mobile phone, sunscreen, camera (gopro, Samsung 360º, professional camera like Nikon or… Read more »
Hola Juan, mil gracias por los comentarios tan amables – te agradesco mucho! (1) I usually bring a small drawstring sport bag (google “drawstring bag” to see what I mean) and carry it with me all day. Note: While I wouldn’t recommend others take this risk (because it’s technically not allowable), I sometimes bring this all folded up (it folds into something that looks like a teeny bag that would hold some sunscreen or minimal items), then put that little folded up pack within a small plastic shopping bag with a few other items in it (e.g. sunscreen, my camera,… Read more »
Hey PJ!
Thanks a lot for your answer, Im not sure I understood (just the part of the bag). So just to clarify, you have two options. (1) Bringing a drawstring bag with the permitted stuff in. And option (2) is the bag that can be folded up (teeny bag) and then inside a plastic shopping bag would come this teeny bag with all the other permitted stuff.
I think the option for me would be the drawstring bag since I already have one.
Well and once again thanks for all your help!
I’ve seen so many selfie sticks get confiscated and left at the gate. I wouldn’t want that to happen to your tripod. No metal or glass bottles. You are allowed to bring an unopened bottle of water. I always freeze one the night before and on a really hot day at the Open it’s great to have it on your lap. There are water fountains around if you want to refill during the day. (The alternative is really expensive Evian.) I don’t think they allow metal/aerosol cans of sunscreen either–only plastic! I always bring a thin towel or scarf to… Read more »
Awesome Meredith, thanks!
My pleasure!
These posts are getting me excited about the Open. Also excited to go watch some WTT on Court 17 this Friday! Will be nice to be on the grounds and get even more excited:)
Awesome! And I love WTT – so intimate, so cool. P.J.
Hi P.J.! Thanks for the great tips! Similar to some of the people here, this is my first time in the US Open. I’ve been planning to watch the Grand Slam tournaments and thought that I would start with either this or the AO (since I’m from the Philippines). I’m planning to watch on the 5th (for both the morning and evening sessions). I originally was planning on just lower promenade seats but reading through the comments here, I am thinking of maybe getting a loge seat in one of the sessions. Would you recommend that I get the loge… Read more »
Hi Maria, great to hear from you. I personally would do Promenade for day and Loge for evening. — Promenade will give you more shade during day (see my recommendations above re: which sections get most shade!) — You will no doubt see a “star” both sessions because it’s QF, but they will probably put the bigger star on evening (no guarantees, but that’s usually how it works… And if it’s Federer, almost certainly he’d be scheduled for evening) — It will be much much more fun to “upgrade” and treat yourself in the evening after a day in Promenade…… Read more »
Me an my husband are planning on travelling from Canada to the US Open for the first time… but can only stay for a couple of days. We were wondering what would be the best time to come: Is the opening night really worth seeing? Is it a full concert or just a couple of songs? We love doing the back courts, and watching some doubles will definitely be a priority.
What do you suggest?
HI Marta, if you like Shania Twain then maybe worth it (details) – not a full concert, just a few songs. It’s cool to see the ceremony, but if tennis is your priority I wouldn’t necessarily prioritize this. I would definitely suggest getting a day Ashe session ticket for whichever day you choose during the first week so you can catch as much tennis day and night as possible on outer courts and have “rain insurance” with the Ashe ticket just in case. See last year’s schedule (see 2016 schedule above in my post above) for examples of what you’d… Read more »
Hi again, Quick question. On the GS interactive viewer why are section 1 seats labelled “limited view” seating?
Hey John, I believe it’s television crew/cameras. PJ
Hi P.J I am in France and want to come to Us open. I am lost about the entering stadium with tickets. On site usopen.org, in Tickets FAQ, about Buying tickets, in the question ‘Does Ticketmaster ship internationally’: there are 3 choices , especially Ticketfast delivery, that i used 3 years. I had my tickets in my ticketmaster account and i could print them. But when i try to buy tickets, i have only 2 choices: Mobile and Will Call. That could mean that i will not be able to print them. But what happens if i have no mobile… Read more »
Hi there, yes correct – I need to make a point of this in the text of my blog post. They have changed policy this year: no more PDF printed versions of ticket will be accepted. Only options: mobile with barcode, or delivery or Will Call option with actual hard tickets. I think there have been so many scams over the years of people selling PDFs more than once via Craigslist etc. that they finally are cracking down. You will have to either plan to have your mobile with you (I’d recommend downloading the tickets in advance in case of… Read more »
If you have an I phone , you can save the tickets in advance into your Apple wallet. I’m coming from the UK and was also concerned about the cost if mobile data etc to keep logging in to the tickets!
Great point, Julie – thanks!
Thanks a lot P.J.
So people without mobile the day of the venue, must go to will call office?
Unfortunately not an option for most individual ticket holders (sounds like you can see that option, so you are an exception). Those who expect not to have a mobile must choose the mail delivery option of actual tickets, just like the old days… See here for more details.
Sorry PJ there is not the choice : delivery of actual tickets.
When i try to buy GA for 28/08: i have the screen:
Delivery
USA Canada Other Country
When you click on USA :4 choices,
when you clik on Canada 2 choices
when you click on Other Country: 2 choices
1)eTickets – FREE
Go Mobile
Your phone’s your ticket. Locate your tickets in your account – or in your app. When you go mobile, your tickets will not be emailed to you or available for print.
2)Customers in Other Countries: by Will Call
No additional charge
Got it. So yes, you’ll either have to plan to bring a mobile phone and download tickets in advance or choose the Will Call option. P.J.
Thanks for the very helpful info.
It’s my first visit and would like to know if the evening Ashe ticket of August 28th gives you access to the official opening ceremony? Also does the opening ceremony start at 7pm before the matches?
Hi Frances, sure thing. Yes it does – and usually starts at 7 before the matches. Double-check your ticket prior, but 99% sure it will start at 7pm again this year. P.J.
Hi PJ, thanks again for all the information. Quick question, have you bought tickets from ticket liquidator before? prices for men’s semis seem cheaper on that site but that’s before fees and one can’t see what their fees are. Also is it reliable and will I get the tickets on time being from South Africa?
Hi Tshepo, I have and always had a good experience – however I personally have only bought tickets on Ticketmaster or the official Ticket Exchange for the past couple years because (1) as I mention always worth checking Ticketmaster throughout the summer to see if new “blue dot” regular face-value tickets appear; (2) it’s very very hard to find resale tickets elsewhere that beat the price on the Exchange after you factor in other site’s fees; (3) the official sites are always totally reliable and it’s incredibly easy to transfer tickets to others by simply entering their email address in… Read more »
Got it. Thanks Bud.
Sure thing!
Hi P.J. Just an update that I managed to pick up men’s semis tickets. Section 105 row F for $691 each on ticketexchange. Thanks for all the help.
Awesome, and sure thing! P.J.
Hey PJ,
There’s currently single ticket in Grandstand on Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Sec 13, Row O, Seat 12 for $300. It’s pretty tough to find single tickets but this location looks pretty great. You think it’s a good one to jump on or be patient for a while?
Thanks for your help!
Dan
That’s a pretty sweet seat, 3d row behind the server – I have sat in that section before. It will be hard to beat that price. There will probably be others that pop up before the tournament that aren’t as good but cost a bit less (although probably not behind server seats). It just depends how much that particular seat appeals and if it’s within your budget. It is a good deal for that particular seat and a great day to be in Grandstand. P.J.
PJ, in your experience, do standard price tickets get released for Labor Day weekend to this late, or do you think that is pretty well done?
Hi Bill, not a ton, but I have seen them. Just looked at status now and saw a couple in Ashe on Saturday — 331D, 134L. If you’re willing to keep checking back, it’s worth being patient – there will always be resale ticket around the same prices as being offered now. PJ
Hey PJ,
I just found Ashe Loge tickets in section 105 row B for Monday, September 4th night session for 210 dollars each.
Is this a good deal?
Hey Leonardo, yes that is. There are also several upper loge blue-dot face-value tix available – but I’d personally go for Row B above them. P.J.
Great blog! I am ready to buy tickets for 2017 US Open and have read your blog in detail however I am still not sure what to buy. We are only able to attend one day and based on your comments I was thinking September 5th: 11 am at Armstrong Stadium and then 7 pm at Ash. So I am ready to buy two sets of reserved seat tickets. My husband is like you die hard tennis fan and wants to see as many matches and also experience an atmosphere at the stadiums. We arrive to NY on Sept 4… Read more »
Hi Lara, if you intentionally want to watch the DOUBLES QF in Armstrong (which would interest me a lot), then yes that’s a good strategy. Deals for Armstrong on Tues Sep 5 are great because there all singles matches after R16 are played on Ashe. Be sure to check my detailed schedule above and also the link to the 2016 schedule to have a clear sense of what you’ll see before you buy. P.J.
Great stuff here! Do you have any recommendations if I go myself? Looking for one ticket seems to be harder.
Hey Jason, it’s usually an advantage for the buyer – those trying to resell single tickets usually have to offer at a lower price because most people try for 2+. I have gone by myself to many sessions over the years. Only advice: wait until you see a good deal for one pop up. One will! P.J.
Hey Clelia, thanks! Which shady website did you use? Unless it was Craigslist, I wouldn’t worry too much – it’s probably legit. 1) For the day session on Wed Sep 6th, gates will open at 9:30am. If you get there at 9:30am the lines shouldn’t be bad at all – unlike prior, there won’t be people lining up to try to run to grab GA seats at Armstrong or Grandstand or Court 17… 2) I would just bring in a large plastic water bottle and plan to refill using fountains 3) Well “freezing” was a bit of hyperbole on my… Read more »
Hey PJ thanks a lot for all the info as usual. The “shady” website is mytickettracker.com (actually this website is not the one where I bought the tickets, which is toptickets.us, after the purchase I received an email redirecting me to the first website I have mentioned. They sent me 2 e-tickets for the quarter finals, apparently purchased on Ticketmaster but the layout is completely different from the one I have received directly when I bought the tickets myself, hence my perplexity. Also, there are terrible reviews for my ticket tracker online. Let’s see what happens when I’m at the… Read more »
Hey Clelia, well I’m hopeful that all will get sorted with your tickets and I suspect they will deliver – but yes, that site does have a truly insane 30% service fee on tickets. For access to the grounds during the day, you need a Day session ticket (for Ashe, Armstrong, Grandstand). If you have an Ashe evening session ticket, you can’t enter the grounds before 6pm. Let me know how it works out! P.J.
Hi Graham, while I can’t promise 100%, it’s generally easy to get Grounds Admission tickets for Mon-Thurs of the first week just before the tournament. But as I recommend in my post above, often times you can get an Ashe seat for the same price (or even sometimes less!) – which in addition to giving you full grounds access also gives you an opportunity to get into Ashe if you want to see a particular player or if it rains. Always check that first – you might never set foot in Ashe, but might as well if it costs the… Read more »
Hi
This will be my first trip to the US Open and I noticed that it says that it says no “Flags, banners or signs” is this actually enforced as there are always some present do people just sneak them in?
Hi Rose, I have definitely seen a flag or two over the years (always up in the Promenade section!)… so I think some people do sneak them in. Not that I’m encouraging it! 🙂 P.J.
I’ve never brought anything in myself, but I’ve seen some. I think they are mostly concerned with sticks/poles (that could cause injury) and blocking people’s views. I don’t think they would confiscate anything of a reasonable size, but… As the saying goes: hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Well put! 🙂
Hi
What an incredible blog of all things US Open. I am looking to purchase seats in Ashe in the 300 section. What section is the best in regards to sunlight? Better to sit behind the player, side view or diagonally? Thanks so much for your time. I live in Florida so I go to the Miami Open every year and have seen Federer close up as we have a small stadium, but I know the NY atmosphere can’t be beat. Just want to spend the day and see great on Sunday Labor day weekend.
Hi Evelyn, thank you! See my annotated Ashe map and avoid the areas in grey on the East side of the stadium – they are the last to get any shade. The shade starts in the South and wraps around west. When you’re watching from the 300 sections, I personally think the most important thing is to find the row that is closest… That high up, you don’t have to worry about turning your head side to side to track the ball. All things being equal, I’d choose a behind the server or diagonal seat view. P.J.
Hey PJ, Thanks for this awesome blog and your responses to my previous comments in helping make the most of our US open experience! I’ve been able to grab Loge seats for Arthur Ashe on Saturday, Sept. 2 and super excited about that 🙂 Hopefully we get to see Roger in 3rd round action. Fingers crossed!! Unfortunately, there has been a change of travel plans for me on Sunday, Sept. 3 and I have one reserved grandstand stadium seat for that day in Section 16-A that I no longer need. I’ve listed the ticket for sale on Ticketmaster at a… Read more »
Hey Shaurya, thanks so much for your very kind words – so glad it’s been helpful! For your GS ticket on Sunday, I really don’t think you’ll have a problem selling that – just be prepared to wait a bit. Let me know if you still need a buyer as we get closer. And yes I’ll be there on Sun/Mon Labor Day and will try to pick a meet up spot – would love to meet you and several others I’ve met through this blog in person! P.J.
Thanks for your reply, PJ!! Sure, I’ll keep you in the loop if my ticket remains unsold as we get closer. As I said in my original thread, I’d much rather prefer a tennis fan on this blog getting a chance to watch the action at a discounted price rather than the reserved seat going unsold. I’ll be at the USTA complex for a little bit on Sunday. Let me know if you decide a meet up spot and I’ll make a point to swing by before heading out. Quick question – Have you visited the Chase Lounge at the… Read more »
Hey Shaurya, sounds great. In all my years I’ve never once stopped in the Chase Lounge even though I’m a Chase customer – when I’m at the Open I’m pretty hard core about the tennis, and am usually glued to my seat or running to another stadium to catch another match. I’m also usually with a gaggle of friends… But it does look like a great setup. Also this year they’re offering what look to be very cool video+mobile chargers (see “Chase Charge and Watch here). If you go in this year let me know what you think! P.J.
Fantastic website. Thank you for all of the wonderful tips!
Thanks Luke, really appreciate you taking the time to say thanks! P.J.
coming from canada, and i just thought i want to see federer play at a slam before he retires, trying to do it cheap. so my question is, if i wait until the draw is out, i assume all tickets will be only resale and will be marked up from face value? if i bought extra tickets could i sell them outside the venue or something (cant be a reseller since im from canada)? all i know is i want to see fed play a match and thats pretty much it, for as cheap as possible. also, if im up… Read more »
what im getting at is could i buy a bunch of cheap tickets and then just “scalp” any tickets i dont want to use? id buy 2 tickets to 4 round of 16 sessions and 2 tickets to 4 quarterfinal sessions if i could resell them either online or on site easily once i find out when federer plays. this and visiting a shaman in the jungle are currently the only 2 items on my bucket list.
another note…i think they do top half i.e. 1 and 4 on the first day, and bottom half on the second days, if this is the case, federer will be ranked 2 or 3, almost guaranteed not 1 or 4 going into the us open, in which case i can avoid buying tickets for the sunday (R4) given he will be playing on the second set of days.
could i open a us bank account through rbc here in canada, they do some sort of cross border banking, this way i could resell easier and not have to scalp.
Shawn, a couple clarifications about how the draw works: (1) The men’s #1 seed and #2 seed always play on different days (and are played at opposite sides of the draw). Either the #1 or the #2 seed may end up playing on day 1 or 2. For the past three years, the men’s #1 (Nole all three years) has played on day 1, but in 2013 the #2 seed (Nadal) played on day 1. (2) Similarly, the #3 and #4 seeds always must play on different days and are played at opposite sides of the draw, in different quarters… Read more »
Hey Shawn, (1) Yes, probably all face-value seats will be gone by that point. But if you act immediately when the draw comes out that Friday for a 1st round session, you should be fine – and will probably end up paying less than if you buy tickets for 4 sessions then try to recoup your $ for sessions you don’t attend. It is really hard to resell Promenade seats for early-round sessions. (2) New York state law (not just US Open) prohibits selling of tickets at any price within 1,500 of an event. That basically means nowhere even close… Read more »
thanks for the replies! ive now got tickets for most R16 and quarterfinals matches on ashe, got most of em for face value (upper bowl, north and south ends, pretty much all in the very middle sections, so very good alignment for viewing). do you see me having any issue reselling them through ticketmaster? so what i ended up doing is opening an american savings account through RBC, so i can now resell them straight through ticketmaster.
Hey Shawn, hard to predict for sure but should be fine! P.J.
Hello PJ, thanks for the insightful article… I went to the US Open last year for Round 2 with Arthur Ashe Day tickets. It did rain for the first 90 minutes but the Ashe ticket came in as great insurance as you recommended. This year I want to shake things up a little and maybe go to watch the 3rd round or the 1st round, but I am still open to seeing another 2nd Round. I am looking to pull the trigger on tickets this weekend but am having trouble deciding when to go. The 3rd Round Ashe day ticket… Read more »
Hey Scott, sorry I’m a bit confused by your comment about the number of matches typically on Ashe during 3d round… There are usually only 2 women’s matches plus 1 men’s match scheduled each day session in Ashe during R1-3 (last year there was an exception on day 3 (R2) when they had 2 men’s plus 2 women’s – I wouldn’t count on that being repeated. There are many matches each day happening on all the courts (including Armstrong and Grandstand, but also #17, #7 etc) all throughout R1-R3. I always try to throw in a night session in Ashe… Read more »
Sorry if my comment was a bit confusing. I only buy the Ashe day ticket as insurance but do not frequent the stadium during the day because I love the outer courts and being close to the action. My budget is quite limited to one day session and MAYBE one cheap night session. Also, I poorly phrased my initial comment, but I meant to say more competitive matches with slightly higher quality players facing each other (as in low seeded players in high teens and mid twenties facing off). R2 last year was great, but I am unsure if I’d… Read more »
Hey Scott, got it! It’s really such a personal preference decision – and some luck. I personally always skip R1 when pressed for time. R2 and R3 can both have super competitive surprising awesome matches and duds… I’d check last year’s schedule and make a decision based on which match-ups would have appealed most to you. P.J.
Hi, just to alert people here who want to see the Men’s Singles Finals.
Standard tickets for Men’s Singles Finals are now available for 225 USD each (Lower Promenade).
@ PJ: any idea why so many Standard tickets became suddenly available? I wish I had waited for a while before purchasing Upper Promenade seats for almost 300$. I have now purchased the standard tickets (better view and lower price) and am hoping to find a seller for the earlier tickets that I bought.
Hi Sarat, just checked and unfortunately they are no longer there. Every year, we see the release from time to time (inexplicably, no rhyme or reason to timing) of face-value “blue dot” tickets on Ticketmaster (note: not all blue dots are face-value, some are “premium seating package” seats). Why? It may be they were being held by USTA (kind of like “house seats” at a Broadway show) and are no longer needed; or that they were once “Premium tickets” that didn’t sell at the exorbitant premium those tickets usually charge… no one really knows. In any case, this happens throughout… Read more »
Is $300 including fees a good price for Ashe 123 Row G on Labor Day Sunday? Or is it possible to do better (or at least not any worse) by waiting? I see other prices in loge not too much higher than these so maybe patience would pay off
Hey Bill, it’s pretty good but won’t hurt to wait and keep monitoring, as you may be able to get a few rows closer for the same price if you wait (probably not too much cheaper). As another reference point, I was able to score face-value tix yesterday that randomly popped up in 101 Row C for Sun EVENING for #265.50 including fees. P.J.
SUPER blog, really appreciate the great skinny on every aspect of the event for us first-timers! Huge help, great work!
Thanks Nancy! Much appreciated. I keep learning myself, thanks to so many people sharing their experiences! P.J.
Nancy, THANK YOU so much!! P.J.
Hi PJ, this is SO informative and useful – thank you so much for putting this together! I was wondering if it would be okay to book tickets as soon as the Order of Play is out? I just want to see Federer and I don’t want to book 4 sets of tickets (2 days * 2 sessions). Right now, with a month to go, I see that there are still a lot of tickets available. Do you think it’ll sell out before the tournament starts? Looking at R1/R2 matches, and I’ll be booking just the one ticket. In case… Read more »
Hi Alvina, thank you for your thanks! Yes, that’s actually what I suggest folks do who are interested in particular players like Fed (see Box 3 FAQ 2) – just be prepared to act very quickly once order of play is announced. There are ALWAYS tickets on the resale market for every session available until the last minute – the only variable is price. You can be sure that resale ticket prices for whichever session Federer plays in will go up significantly and quickly. I do not recommend buying all sessions in hopes of reselling, particularly for early rounds and/or… Read more »
Thanks a million! This gives me hope 🙂
Do you have any idea as to where Federer might be staying? Or how to find out?
Sure thing! No idea on where Fed is staying… I think in recent years he (and other Wilson-sponsored athletes) have been spotted at the W Hotel (Lexington Ave) – but I would put a lot of money on a bet that he will have a private residence somewhere away from media and crowds… P.J.
Think he has his own floor in the Carlyle near Central Park upper east side
Thank you Andy!
For fans that want to see Roger , best thing to do is go to the atp finals in London in November and book tickets for the round robin matches , an afternoon session and evening session for the 2 days before the Last Saturday and Sunday , Roger has already qualified and barring injury will definitely be there. You will be guaranteed to see him in all his glory
Great advice, Andy. I’m almost certainly going to go (finally!) to the ATP finals in London in 2018 myself- can’t wait.
Can u tell me a date for when the us open box office will open to sell tickets?
Hi Maria, usually one week before – date not yet announced. You can call the main box office at 718-760-6363 or check usopen.org closer to the tournament to get the exact date. Not sure why you’d want to buy tickets at the box office though, unless you’re trying to upgrade? P.J.
Avoid some/all of $27.50 fees for 2 Ticketmaster tickets?
(answer to “Not sure why you’d want to buy tickets at the box office….”)
Great point, thanks so much – I didn’t realize that they waive the service fees at the physical box office (presumably only on standard, non-resale tickets if they’re available..). If that’s the case, the fee that’s avoided will depend on the cost of the tickets: for example, right now Ticketmaster charges $8.50 in fees on a $75 ticket, and $15.50 on a $145 ticket.
Hi PJ! I don´t know if you remember me haha. I wrote here months ago asking for suggestions. In the end, after watching Federer good level my friend and I went all in and just bought airplane tickets (from Perú) for semis and final! I´m checking the exchange market in Ticketmaster and there are not very good deals IMO. I just want to know the following: 1. What range do you consider good prices for good loge seats (rows A-F)? So I know when would it be right to pull the trigger. I want to buy them at least 2… Read more »
Hello Sebastien,
I’m sure PJ will have some more insight here, but I thought I would reply as I have been doing the same research.
My family was able to buy row B seats for $1200 including fees in the loge. I have been monitoring regularly for a month now and have not seen any row A-C tickets this cheap. However, it looks like you can find deals on row E/F seats for around the same price.
I foresee ticket prices increasing as long as Federer is in the running.
Hey Andrew, thanks for sharing your experience! P.J.
Thank you Andrew! That gives me some reference. Yeah, I´m thinking of spending 700-800 for good Loge Seats. I think for rows A-C that will be impossible so I hope I can get something on rows D-F.
Hope you can Help me with some insight from your experience too P.J 🙂
Hey Sebastian, every year is different… but prices this year are quite high given excitement about so many great players playing this year – especially Federer. This year I would expect prices to stay quite high unless both Federer and Nadal get eliminated before semis. Given the conditions, the following are pretty good deals for lower Loge on Ticketmaster and provide a good reference point if you research other reseller sites: 132 Row G (7th row) at $834++ 104 Row F (6th row) at $880++ 124 D (7-8) $995++ As always, please take this as only a guess… but I… Read more »
Thanks!
Just one question:
Those prices that you are putting include fees?
Hey Sebastian, no sorry – by “++” I meant plus fees… P.J.
Ok, thanks P.J!
Just bought tickets on section 104 row E for $730 plus fees!
I hope it was a good decision haha
EXCELLENT choice – great deal!
Hi PJ, Thanks so much for your work and write-up. Just spent the afternoon reading this and went ahead and bought 4 granstand tickets for the family. However, I bought it for memorial day, where upon reading your comment section – I’ve learned that only doubles matches are played here on the memorial monday. I was quite upset as we want to see a mix of singles and doubles matches. Is this the case every year, that on the actual Memorial Day Monday, only doubles matches are played? I’ve went back to 2015 and 2016 and it does indeed seem… Read more »
Jason, I feel terribly that I didn’t emphasize that in my main post. I just adjusted the wording both in the body and on the schedule at a glance to make it more clear. Going to reach out to you by email too… P.J.
Hi,
This is a great post and you definitely helped me picking up tickets (I’m flying from London, UK). I’m going to both kids day and the first day (28th August). 🙂
Would you definitely recommend to go te day before for free access to practice? I have to say I’m so excited !!
All the best,
Julie
Hey Julie, great to hear it! I do think it’s worth spending some time out there on practice day. It’s free, and a good time to get familiar with the grounds and courts, shops, etc so you can focus exclusively on tennis on the 28th… And you may get to see some big names practicing up close, which is really cool! P.J.
Hi, P.J.
My wife and I have been attending US Open for the last two years following your tips, once again, THANK YOU SO MUCH! We will be going during the labor day weekend this year, I know it’s hard to predict the price trends but in your opinion, will the prices go up or down going forward? I am just wondering if now is a good time to pull the trigger or should I wait until it gets closer? THANK YOU once more!
Scott
Hi, P.J.,
By the way, we are looking for decent loge seats.
Scott
Hey Scott, you’re so welcome! Really really hard to say. Personally, I take my time every year until I see a good deal on something specific I want – there are always some desperate sellers closer to the event. This year, I pulled the trigger early (a couple weeks ago) on four second row courtside Ashe evening tickets for Labor Day (for me and three die-hard friends who are serious players/fans) for $570 each (including fees) because I know from experience getting second row for that price is not easy. Will something else cheaper but just as good pop up… Read more »
P.J.,
Thanks for your prompt reply and input, I see there are a few pairs of loge tickets for evening session on Exchange are around $400 (including fees), which is tempting but I will take your advise and keep looking for better deals.
Scott
Hey Scott, are you checking on main Ticketmaster site? Click the map to see seat-level view. Look for blue dot tickets (not Premium). Here are some great deals I just saw for Sat night Labor Day weekend:
Face-value: 131 M seats 22 and 23
Resale: 132 row C
P.J.
Hey, P.J.,
You really go above and beyond, even check ticket prices for your “followers”. That’s very kind of you, you really don’t have to do this. We are actually looking to catch some fourth round actions so that would be Sunday 09/03 & Monday 09/04, right? I will just keep monitoring the prices on both Exchange and main Ticketmaster site. Your help is much appreciated!
Scott
Hey Scott, thanks! I enjoy it and do what I can when work isn’t too crazy… 🙂 Yes, Sep 3-4 are fourth round (R of 16). Let me know how it works out. P.J.
P.J.,
I just saw some face value ticket for Arthur Ashe 09/03 evening session released on Ticket Master Main Site for Section 101 Row C @ $265.75 per ticket (fees included), should I go for them?
Scott
YES! Are you getting just 2? Let me know because I want to grab the other 2 you don’t get! P.J.
P.J.,
I got them! 4 left!!!
Scott
Sweet! Will grab 2 for myself now and look forward to meeting you that night! 🙂 P.J.
Looking forward to meeting you in person as well! Just realized I replied to the wrong thread yesterday:P, quick question here: For 09/03 Day session Arthur Ashe, which one would you recommend? Last row of Loge (face value $225 per ticket plus fees) or 2nd row of lower Promenade (face value $150 per ticket plus fees)? I am still monitoring if there’ any standard tickets pop up but just curious which one would you personally choose? Thank you!
Scott
Hi Scott, I’d definitely (myself) go for last row Loge over anything in Promenade. You will almost certainly have an opportunity (especially during a day session that Friday) to sneak up at least a few rows WITHIN YOUR SECTION to empty seats until any actual ticket holders show up (there are ALWAYS empty seats) – you’re not supposed to, but people routinely do and most fellow fans understand. Just be prepared to move FAST if people come as a courtesy to them and everyone around you. You will not have this opportunity with a Promenade seat because there are ushers… Read more »
I see…. I will focus on loge seats then.
Thank you!
Scott
P.J.,
I was just randomly checking and saw there were a pair of standard tickets popped up for 09/08 Men’s Semi-Finals Lower Promenade Section 302 Row F (face value $240 per ticket plus fees), I did not grab them right away and they were gone a few minutes later, do you think it’s worth to pick them up if this kind of tickets ever pop up again? I might just take a day off and go.
Scott
Absolutely. Any regular-priced ticket for men’s semis or finals in Lower Promenade is a sound investment. If you decide not to go, should be absolutely no problem reselling – possibly for significantly more (esp section 302 behind the server). P.J.
How about Lower Promenade Section 320 Row D (face value $260 per ticket plus fees), they just popped up! There’s no shade though, not sure if my wife would be okay with that…
Yup, that’s a good deal for semis. P.J.
PJ, do you know what the standard non resale prices were for promenade and loge?
Yes, for Men’s Semis this year, listed non resale (face-value) ticket price range is as follows (you can see the range for any particular session on Ticketmaster by clicking the session then looking for “Price Range” just under the date and time at the top of the listing):
Promenade: $160-300
Loge: $170-1000 (I’ve never ever seen face-value Loge tickets listed for Semis available anywhere near $170)
Courtside: $2,000-3,200
Do you think face value 326 G for Sunday Labor Day is good investment?
Only if you’re sure you want to go to that session and that’s hitting the upper end of your budget. If so, I’d probably do 323G for $15 more per ticket – 5th row in that section vs 7th row in 326, and behind the server. P.J.
P.J., You are still going to the 09/03 Sunday night session in Ashe, right? Unfortunately my wife and I will not be going since Federer & Nadal will be scheduled for the day after so I am going to list the ticket for resale and get the tix for 09/04 Saturday day & night session as my wife’s main goal is to see Roger & Rafa. I guess we will meet up next time then. There could still be interesting matches on Ashe though, I see on the Men’s side there could be an all American match between big John… Read more »
Hey Scott, yeah going tonight then all day/night Sun and Mon. Super excited. Have a great time tomorrow!! PJ
P.J.,
A few Standard Loge (Section 101, 113 & 118 Row L & M) tickets just popped up for Men’s Semi-Finals ($600 plus fee each),would you grab those tickets? I got the Lower Promenade for that day but is thinking maybe I should upgrade? What would you do if it were you?
Scott
Where are you sitting tonight P.J.?
Hey Lor, well it’s a little embarrassing… I was invited by a USTA official who I know through Tennis Congress to join her in the President’s Box. My first time and needless to say I’m over the moon excited about it! How about you? PJ
That’s very nice. They should hire you as an ambassador for the sport!
Thanks David!
Hi Sarat, (1) no obstruction in any promenade seat; (2) about the same. PJ
so now it will be interesting to see what happens to prices for the US open – surely demand will be high with expectation that Federer and Nadal will do well. I am studiously checking the rankings and points on offer before the US open as I would love for Federer and Nadal to stay as 2nd and 3rd, as I have semi final tickets and that means they would meet at that stage and that would be a dream come true! But I think it’s more likely that Nadal will be 1st by the time it comes around –… Read more »
Very cool, Lee – I share in your excitement!! 🙂 P.J.
Looking forward to meet you as well!:)
Scott
Oh my gosh, that’s awesome!!! Congrats!!! I am in Section 56, Row H. I was going to go alone tonight but I convinced my sister to come with me. I got her a ticket in Section 43, Row J. So we’ll be alternating between those two sections, haha.
That’s very cool she’s coming too! I’ll be wearing a blue suit and tie (it’s section 2 on the map) so maybe we can at least wave to each other! I’m so psyched… PJ
Hi PJ, I found your website very helpful!! I’m traveling from Medellín, Colombia with my wife fot the second week of the tournament. We’ll be arriving the 2nd of September to NY. I have to be on a Federer match 😀 :D, would you please suggest us what is the best choice? We were thinking on going that saturday to the cheapest ticket, which one will it be? Then try to watch the quarterfinals with Federer. For what I read here, we’ll have to wait until the day before the match to buy the tickets. How much would be the… Read more »
Hola Alejandro, me da mucho placer que sea util! For Saturday, I’d recommend getting an Ashe Promenade section ticket (both as rain insurance and in case someone amazing like Federer is playing): Just looked quickly – best deal I could find on Ticketmaster is Sec 326, Row B, Seats 13-14 $189.00 ea + fees. With fees that’s only slightly more than a Grounds Admission pass, but well worth it for the peace of mind in case it rains and opportunity to see at least one big name that day. For Federer strategy, yes, I stick to my recommendations in Box… Read more »
Hi PJ, when you said this: <> Did you mean Sep 5 and Sep 6 instead? Also, another curious question? Why are the prices higher for the second day? I thought it is equally likely that the good players would be there on one of the two days. FYI (since many people seem to be asking about QF), these are the seeds of the players who had their QF matches (last three years): 2016: seeds 10 vs 24, seeds 6 vs 2 happened in the morning seeds 1 vs 9, seed 3 vs (unseeded) happened in the evening 2015: seeds… Read more »
Yes, great catch, thank you! Just edited the comment with corrected dates. Love your analysis of past few years day v eve sessions, thanks so much. As for your question about prices on day 2 of quarters, no idea! It may be purely psychological – purchasers may not be following schedule carefully and think buying another day later will get them a better match. I can guarantee if Federer ends up playing on the first QF night the situation will be reversed 🙂
Hi PJ, there is another surprising trend I noticed (with Arthur Ashe). Among the four corners of the stadium, one of them seems to be in more demand than the others. It is the one with sections 101-108 and 301-308. Any particular reason (such as shade or autographs or view)? I thought the left and right halves of the stadium are symmetric.
Also, may I know why one end of the stadium doesn’t have the Upper Promenade?
Hey Sarat, not sure – 104-108 and 304-308 actually get less shade so generally less desirable. The South side of the stadium has no upper promenade because there’s a viewing deck for press at the very top instead. P.J.
Hi PJ. What if I bought both evening session tickets for the QF, and after figuring out which day does RF play, put on the resale market the other ones? Is that a feasible strategy?
Thank you 😀
Hey Alejandro, I just learned a couple days ago that Ticketmaster requires you to have a U.S. bank account to put up tickets for resale on Ticketmaster Exchange. I’m not sure about other reseller sites – you may want to research carefully before pressing “buy.” P.J.
You are awesome!! Such fast replies!! Thank you very much!!!
Con mucho placer!
In 2015 I bought 2 tickets from stubhub and sold one of them through Ticketmaster. Some weeks later I received by post a check that I could cash in in my bank in Switzerland, for a $15 fee. It seems this is the way it’s handled if you don’t have a US bank account.
I’d love to go this year but it’s hard to justify flying over the Atlantic when you have a newborn at home!!…I just hope Federer will go again next year!
(By the way thanks PJ for the page, it’s awesome).
Ismail
Hey Ismail, thanks for your thanks – and congratulations on your newborn! That’s great to know about your 2015 experience – my only caution to others is that the Ticketmaster site now explicitly says “You must have a US bank account to sell tickets for an event in the US.” So if anyone has questions regarding their particular situation, I’d recommend they submit a question on the Ticketmaster Contact Us page and get an answer in writing before making any assumptions. P.J.
Hi PJ, first of THANK YOU so much for thispost, I am trying to plan a quick trip to the Open for my mothers birthday surprise – she is a life-long tennis fan and will be so excited! Question for you, we are going to do the least expensive Ash tickets during the day on 8/30 as I know she will want to see the doubles on the back courts for most of the day and these are the same price as the grounds tickets. For the night session, do you think there is a big difference ($200 total) between… Read more »
Hey Katie, my pleasure! Great strategy for the day. For night session, yes there’s a very big qualitative difference between any section in the Loge (100s) and Promenade seats (300s). What most people don’t realize is Loge is already higher up than they might appear on a seating chart because between them and the Courtside seats are two decks of suites. So Promenade seats feel pretty remote. Not a huge difference between first row Promenade and last row Loge, but substantial difference between anything mid-Promenade and Loge. Also, if you’re in an upper Loge seat you can easily sneak up… Read more »
ABSOLUTELY!!!
For a one time event at a night session in Ashe, pay for the BEST ticket you can afford. The charm of the night session used to be the open air stadium, on a cool night with the stars above, and the crowds roaring at times. Now with the roof installed, the seats up high are shielded from the sky, the sounds are muffled and delayed, and there’s no wind so it gets very stuffy. Pay up for the 100’s or courtside if you can afford it for a one time event. Your mom will drool over it.
Nicely put, Jeff!
Hi PJ,
Thanks for the advice, I upgrade and got the good night seats. One more question: I see from your below posts that there are lockers, but they are outside the grounds. Is there rentry to the grounds throughout the day? The lockers may be a great solution to leaving bags outside, but I want to make sure we have access to this throughout the day as needed.
Thanks!!!
Hi Katie, yes absolutely – they will give you something or a stamp to permit re-entry. It’s a bit of a shlep to the lockers, so I’d just urge you to try to plan such that you don’t need to go back more than once. P.J.
There is a luggage drop outside the gates on the bridge from the subway to the venue. You have to check it there. And that is available for pick till the end of the matches at night. Not sure if there is a charge now or not. But even if there is, it’s worth it.