Note: I originally posted these tips in 2012 but update them annually based on new learnings and feedback from readers. At the advice of a fellow tennis fanatic/blog expert (who knows how much I spend on tennis!) I created affiliate links for the ticket sites I had been recommending for years. This way, if you end up getting a ticket through one of my links you won’t pay a penny more but the seller will give me a small commission versus giving it to Google Ads or another referring site — which, in turn, helps support my tennis obsession and my volunteer work with the nonprofit Net Gains Foundation.
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.
Me and friends spotted on ESPN during the 2021 Novak v. Brooksby match on Ashe
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.
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.
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 moneyuntil 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
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:
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
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 onAshe 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 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.
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 closethat 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.
Me caught on ESPN cheering for Matteo Berrettini from 2d row Armstrong during 2019 Round of 16 (v Rublev)
BOX 2: WHERE TO GET THE BEST DEAL ON US OPEN TICKETS? SHOULD I BUY NOW OR LATER?
Old tickets shared by fellow fanatic Michael Levin
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!
Thefrustrating 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.
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.
WARNING: DO NOT PURCHASE FROMTickPick. 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.
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.
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:
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:
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 intotwoequal “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.
Roger Federer from Courtside (section 60 row F) 9/4/17
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, chooseMap View, then mouse over or click on any of the dotsto 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.
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.
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, butthere 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.
Preview: Click to view for full chart
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!
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 shadethan 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.
Click to enlarge my Ashe shade map
Click to Enlarge my Armstrong Shade Map (photo from 2:30pm)
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?
From Section 11 front row in Grandstand
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).
Corner sectionsare 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.
Photo from lower row of section 6 in new Armstrong
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 tofactor 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.
Rafa on practice courts at 2017 US Open
Tip #8: Check out the practice courtsfor 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!!).
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.
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 theMets 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.
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 tournamentTuesday 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 groundsthe 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!)
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 towelto 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.
Chart with food options at 2022 US Open
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.
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
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 availablefor 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
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.
(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
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).
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.
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.
Thank you so much for this comprehensive, detailed, and insightful review. I plan to go the the Open for the first time this year – I’ve wanted to go for a long time. My 14-year old son, who just picked up tennis, would go with me. Any tips on how to keep teenagers entertained (other than the intense tennis matches of course!)?
Hi Miki, apologies for the delay in replying! Got COVID around the time you submitted this comment and fell really behind… Thanks for your kind words. At the Open itself there are some interactive areas where there will be some fun diversions for sure. Taking your son to the practice courts to see a big name practice would definitely be fun for a while. Overall, I’d recommend focusing on quality of seats versus quantity of tennis when you’ve got someone with you: e.g., maybe plan on 1 day at at Open then something fun in the evening in Manhattan like… Read more »
Sam C
2 years ago
I’m not from the US, could you give me an idea of the weather in early Sept. I can see historical average temperatures (mid 20s in Celsius) but a colleague said that the city is boiling hot and to avoid day sessions for that reason. Is it likely to be uncomfortably hot during the day? First time visitors, so we thought a day session would give the best mix of the tournament, venue and the tennis but would consider a night session if we’re going to be a sitting in flop sweat! Great site by the way!
Hi Sam, unfortunately the weather here is notoriously variable that time of year. It can be incredibly hot during the day – but it also could be cold and rainy. If you’re planning to attend Mon-Friday during the first week and you’re only going to attend one day, I’d say a Day session is probably the option I’d recommend — you’ll be able to take breaks throughout the day and stick around and watch some matches on outer courts into the evenings. But if you go Day session, pay close attention to my shade maps! P.J.
Sergio Sada Sordo
2 years ago
Hi PJ
We are a family of 6 and want to get tickets for the 2 days of second round or two days for the third round buying tickets at day session at Arthur Ash about $150-$200 each. I would appreciate your advise of which round buy and WHEN is the best time to buy them considering We want to be all together.
Hi Sergio, I would recommend going for the best Loge seats you can during Round 2 (Wed-Thurs) for that time frame. Definitely wait until after tickets go on sale publicly on June 6. Tickets on Friday tend to be significantly higher. There’s a chance you will find tickets under $200 for Round 3, but would take exercising a lot of patience and checking daily throughout the summer and probably closer to the tournament. P.J.
Paramjit Singh
2 years ago
Hi there, I will be coming from NC on labor day weekend. I have Sep 3 night and Sep 4 day available. I am planning to buy Ashe tickets for Sep 3 night and Armstrong for Sep 4 day. Does that sound good?
Also my budget is about $200-250 for each session. Will I be able to get good view tickets within that price?
Hi Paramijt, apologies for the delayed reply! Sep 3 night and Armstrong Day Sep 4 sounds fantastic. Yes you should be able to get decent Loge seats in Ashe for under $250 for that Sat night and courtside Armstrong for around $250 on Sunday round of 16 — but you may have to be patient over the summer to wait for those tickets to materialize either on the resale market or as US Open releases more individual tickets. P.J.
Amy Foster
2 years ago
I’m an ‘upstate’ NYer, so I’ve been to the first or second day session 3 times in the past 6 or so years. This year, I have a work conference in Manhatten later that first week!! So I’m going to hit the day session first day, and the night session on Tuesday the second day. The heat kills me for the day, so I can’t do all in one day. Would you recommend an Ashe ticket for Tuesday night, or Armstrong? I generally get an Ashe ticket for the day and do a lot of the side courts for the… Read more »
Hi Amy! I’d recommend splurging for the best seat you can in Ashe for the evening session where you’ll see the top-seeded players. Armstrong is awesome at night for 3d and 4th round play, but would favor Ashe for rounds 1-2 in most cases. I’d say grab something decent in Ashe for Day session — because you’re planning on seeing some outer court play– so you can reserve most budget for great evening seats. P.J.
I’m coming to NYC for the entirety of the Open (28th-12th) and am aiming to go to as much tennis as humanly possible. It looks like from your post I should maybe consider going with a grounds pass for the first few days of the tournament before splurging as the field winds down. Does that sound like a good plan?
Hi Ryne, you’re most welcome! I actually advise against grounds passes in most cases (see my Tip #3 for why). And if you’re going to be here for the entire tournament and have flexibility, I strongly recommend you allocate at least some of your budget to a “flexible” fund that you use for last-minute purchases when you see particular match-ups announced you’re excited about for the next day. P.J.
Shawn Marshall
2 years ago
I’ve been lurking on this site for many years; thanks so much for assembling all of these tips. I think this will be the year my wife and I pull the trigger to attend a U.S. Open. We’re not rabid tennis fans, but we think it would be awesome to go for two or three days to take in the whole experience. 2021 looked great on TV (aside from the whole hurricane remnants thing). As there are no players we absolutely must see do you have any thoughts on what a good time to go might be? Pre-or post-Labor Day… Read more »
Shawn, HUGE apologies for missing this note when you submitted it! Great to hear you’re finally going to make it to NY. I’d probably recommend coming during Round 2-3 on the Wed-Friday of the first week and/or Sunday/Monday during the Round of 16 if your budget supports. Wed-Friday Day sessions tend to be more affordable, and there’s so much exciting stuff happening on outer courts and crowds aren’t insane like they are on Sat/Sun labor day weekend. Monday Round of 16 evening Ashe tends to be relatively lower priced compared to rest of weekend, so a great deal to see… Read more »
Thanks for the reply. No worries on the delay; I (like everyone else here) greatly appreciate this resource.
My wife and I booked a hotel in Flushing a month or so ago to accommodate attending second round sessions on August 31 and September 1. Maybe a night session on Wednesday and a day session on Thursday.
Let’s say we wanted to spend $150-$200 per ticket each day. Any recommendations as to what venue and tier we should go for and when we should try to buy such tickets?
Hey Shawn, thanks so much for understanding 🙂 Ashe evening Wednesday followed by something else Thurs sounds like a great plan. For Thurs, I’d consider waiting until the day before (I know that sounds crazy, but I promise there will be tickets!) and make the call based on (1) which matches are scheduled where (any players you’re dying to see on Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand?) and (2) the weather! See the 2021 schedule of play for that day to get a sense of what was on that Thursday. P.J.
Jimmie
2 years ago
Thank you so so much for the details. This helps me so much. I can’t thank you enough. I was planning on doing so much research.
Hey Jimmie, you are so welcome – so glad to hear it was helpful! Feel free to loop back as we get closer with any questions that come up. P.J.
Andrés
2 years ago
Hi PJ, I’m planning on going next year. My priority is to get to watch at least two of Rafa, Roger and Andy, who I reckon will play in AA. I saw your pricing chart, do you reckon I’ll be able to get cheaper tickets if I buy one of the ticket plans in advance? For example, I see an “opening sessions” plan, would that generally be a better deal than getting them when they go on sale later on?
Hi Andrés! Apologies for the delayed reply – busy time at work. I would strongly counsel against ticket plans for opening sessions – there is always a glut of cheap Promenade-level seats available throughout the summer for those opening days (both resale and non-resale). You will be able to take your time and apply your budget to better seats with more transparency about what’s available after individual tickets go on sale. P.J.
Christian
2 years ago
Hey PJ, first of all many, many thanks for sharing all this information; this is brilliant! I am a huge tennis fan und plan to see matches at the 2022 US Open. We already booked our flights (from Germany) and will be in town from Sep 1st to Sep 10th. Ideally we want to to see at least two day and night sessions with focus on great matches rather than a specific player. During that vacation we do not want to check the internet every hour for deals and latest returned tickets and rather secure tickets before we fly to… Read more »
Hi Christian, apologies for the delayed reply! Thanks for your kind words 🙂 I would strongly (!) recommend against any hospitality package – prices are wildly inflated for them, and you could apply the same amount for spectacular seats that are even better. Because you’re going to be here for such a long window of time and are aiming for only a handful of sessions, I recommend spending the time now (before individual tickets go on sale to the public) considering your priorities and options, then waiting until after individual tickets go on sale when you will have far greater… Read more »
Liza Ank
2 years ago
Hi there Will you be updating this site with French Open related information. 2021 was my first US Open and this was very helpful, thank you!
Hi Liza, so happy to hear the US Open post was helpful to you! Unfortunately I haven’t been to the French since Edberg played Chang in the final (!) when I as a teenager, so I can’t offer any valuable insight on that tourney. P.J.
Thank you! No prob, I think I found information on the Roland Garros app. I also sent them a question. I was wondering if they have general admission in Lenglen and or Matthieu like Armstrong and Grandstand. Take care!
Hi Liza, many apologies for the delay – super busy time at work. Hopefully you already found your answers, but to confirm: both of those show courts at Roland Garros feature reserved seating only. Only open seating is on the “outer courts.” P.J.
Patrick
3 years ago
Hey PJ,
Loved US Open 2021 and have no problem with sitting nosebleed to save a few bucks. I have put in for two weeks in NY and was told by the open that the first week package is $500~. Probably not a bad deal, but will the finals week re-sells be affordable enough to possibly seat 4 people who don’t mind being up high? What’s the average finals week re-sale ticket price these past years?
Hi Patrick, great to hear you had such a good experience at the 2021 Open! Your question potentially covers a wide ground – not sure if you mean the entire second week, or final weekend… Which particular days/session(s) are you thinking about? Here is a chart that shows the range for standard (non-resale) prices for 2021 — the resale prices can vary wildly for all the sessions, but promenade seats for the 2021 men’s final were averaging around $525 each (with $360 being the cheapest, and in like the last row). P.J.
Thanks for the reply. Let me apologize and clarify my question. If I was looking to get tickets for the quarters through the finals for four people, do you think there’s an ok chance that re-sale prices would be noticeably lower than the standard ticket prices? The finals week packages are already sold out. My hope is that re-sale tickets could be lower. What is your experience?
Hey Patrick, it is rarely possible to get resale tickets for less than the standard price during that period (between quarters and finals) EXCEPT during the day sessions of the quarterfinals, when sometimes amazing last-minute deals pop up because there is less demand for those two sessions. The same can happen if it turns out there are lackluster lineups and no “big names” are featured. But almost never for QF evening sessions, semifinals or finals when resale prices are usually higher. P.J.
Unfortunate news, but good to know. Probably best to get a finals week package for people like me who don’t care too much about being super close. I’m grateful for your insights into this. Enjoy the rest of your holiday season!
Hey Kelly, you’re most welcome, so glad it’s helpful! I’ll update the post in the run-up to next year – feel free to reach out as we get closer if you have questions. P.J.
Gerard Anthony
3 years ago
This is one of the most in-depth, helpful and informative sites I’ve read. Thank you for taking the time to create and post. Remarkable!
Hey Ricky, the finals begin while there is still ample sun and light in the stadium — they do turn in lights if the match runs long and lights would make it better for the players. P.J.
Donald Ruby
3 years ago
Good information but if you don’t keep it up to date you are doing readers a disservice. In addition to the AMEX Centurion lounge, there was an AMEX cardmembers lounge at Armstrong. No reservations were required at the AMEX cardmembers lounge, and platinum cardholders were provided complimentary cocktails and lounge access. It was nice but I missed it the first day because after reading your tips I was not looking for it.
Today, I began going through PJ’s spectacular always up-to-date blog and I came across your comment. While it is true for all things in life to learn about helpful information too late, I felt I had to share with you my experience with PJ, the blog, and the incredible work he does to keep the info up-to-date, practically in real time! Keep in mind that as he answers dozens of comments every day and more DURING the Open – all the while juggling demands of a job, a family, and getting to the Open himself for some fun. He deserves… Read more »
Courtney, thank you so much for your incredibly kind and thoughtful note. You’ve contributed so much to this blog and I’m so grateful! P.J.
Courtney
3 years ago
Ah PJ…It’s late. I know. But this is my very last question until USO 2022 (it all went by too fast). Do Grounds Passes sell out? I’m still torn about going to the grounds for the final and see if any Ashe tickets get reallllly cheap. How do they even accommodate everyone to watch the big screen? I’m old enough to remember when several parks put out a Jumbotron for the Open. Watched the 2010 men’s final in Madison Square Park and it was a blast. And free! I know this year there was a jumbotron mid-week in Metrotech Brooklyn,… Read more »
Hey Courtney, thank you as always for the kind words!! I’ve never seen them sell out during Finals weekend – and I can’t imagine this year they would (if Federer were playing Nadal, maybe…). P.J.
Arjun M
3 years ago
Does the storage locker have hours restrictions by when I need to get my bags out?
Hi Arjun, it probably depends on the day — if for Finals (i.e. today or tomorrow), then it would be an earlier closing time than the rest of the tournament when matches end later. Not sure exact times, sorry. P.J.
Thank you for your reply. Yes I had asked for the finals. I fly in to NYC tomorrow morning and am trying to figure out where can I keep my bag until the match ends. Any suggestions?
I was thinking about the storage facility but if that place closes before I am able to get my bag out, I wouldn’t want that.
I fly out of NYC early morning after the finals.
Hi Arjun, you definitely can check your bag at the US Open grounds (very easy) for the entire duration of the match and a couple hours after it ends– you would just need to pick it up tonight as you leave the grounds (you couldn’t store it overnight). P.J.
Isaac
3 years ago
Thanks so much for this page. It motivated me to schedule a trip w my 12yr son who plays USTA tournaments! We are here. Saw last nights match and it was amazing! We have finals tickets as well and are pumped!
Question: For today/Saturday I was just going to wonder the grounds w a grounds pass and explore, maybe catch the Women’s match on the big screen….but now I want seats! Such a historic match it will be. Should I buy online tickets are get a better deal at the window buying day-of?
Hey Isaac! I am so happy to hear all this. For today, I would recommend studying what’s available online as you go out to the Open, identify the best deals you can so you know what the going rates are, THEN go to the box office And see what the best deals are they can offer. They will almost certainly do exactly what you see on the blue dots on Ticketmaster, so if you know there are resale tickets online that are cheaper including fees, then you may want to go for those. Also, know that Ticketmaster tends to keep… Read more »
Thk again! We did as you suggested. Worked out. Purchased 133 and avoided Ticketmaster fees! What-a-match!! So glad we did that! Can’t wait to come back next year.
Great to hear, Isaac- and so glad you’ll be back next year! Safe travels. PJ
Jiangsen
3 years ago
Anyone who attended today’s semis — were they actually scanning your tickets as you went into Ashe or were they just eyeballing them to make sure you were there for the correct session?
Last week about an hour into the match I bought a cheap ticket for Ashe, only to have the guy not even look abd just wave me in. Other times (entering before a match starts) I have been scanned.
There is no way to know. Also if/once you get into Ashe without a ticket you may be asked at another point to show your ticket such as at the gate into the seats.
Update: just had a friend tell me that they used their day semi ticket to go back in for night session. No one checked. UNREAL.
Maybe I’ll come out to the grounds and see what can be done!
Ayush P
3 years ago
Hi PJ,
Do you think it’s worth getting the $25 grounds pass to watch the game on big screen at the venue than watching Men’s Finals at home? Tix are too pricey for the Men’s finals. I already attended US open 2021 entire day during Day1 this year.
Thank you for your excellent blog.
Hi Ayush! Depending on the weather (which looks quite warm but at least sunny and clear) it can be a pretty exciting and fun place to be around fellow fans… Also if you’re there and check tickets just as the match is starting, who knows there may be some amazing resale deal by a desperate seller that you can grab – and then you’d be right there in case you want to take advantage of it. In addition, there are some inspiring wheelchair and juniors matches beginning at Noon that day (gates open at 11am). P.J.
Renegade
3 years ago
BTW, not sure if it is still there but the 4 years I went to the US Open (2016-2019) I loved the seafood place. Somewhere near Court 7 if I am not mistaken. It is there that for the first time in my life I ate a lobster roll. Heavenly! The place also has oysters and ceviche if I am not mistaken.
US Open has excellent catering. I say that as a European “gourmand” :-).
So glad to hear that! Yes, “Fly Fish” (two locations, one in Ashe Courtside, the other “Fly Fish @ Oyster Bar 7” in Grandstand Village) — I also LOVE their lobster rolls – a tradition for me, albeit a very expensive splurge! They seemed a little smaller this year than in the past, but still amazing. There’s also a very good lobster roll at “Fish Shack” in Grandstand Village. P.J.
Emma
3 years ago
Hi PJ,
Thanks for all the good information! Is there any information posted about when general parking lots will open on Saturday? We will unfortunately need to drive and would like to get there as early as allowed. I couldn’t find this info posted anywhere!
Hi Emma, you’re welcome! Not 100% sure unfortunately, but pretty confident they’ll be open by 9am (possibly earlier). Gates open at 11:00am. (If anyone else knows from prior years’ experience, please weigh in!) P.J.
Jane
3 years ago
Thanks for this amazing site! My tickets for Friday state section ASHGA1. Where is that located?
Hi Jane, you’re welcome — although I’m so sorry not to have been able to reply sooner (big deadline at work today)! Hope you solved the mystery… I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been helpful apart from urging you to check to ensure there was an actual section/seat number on your mobile ticket. Hopefully there was? P.J.
Courtney
3 years ago
PJ. First off, You’ve made some great changes to the blog in the past day to get in all that last minute info at the top of the blog- sooo helpful (though I have yet to find a no-bag express line. I haven’t brought a bag any day and there is no special line. Each time I ask, the staff say no, and I make a silent grrr sound.) My question is for Friday and Sunday. What goes on on Friday? I don’t trust the official tournament schedule. It says Friday : men’s doubles finals at 12 noon, 1st men’s… Read more »
Hey Courtney, THANK YOU and apologies for the delayed reply! Yeah, I was hopeful they’d resolve the bag line issue… such a bummer they didn’t. For Friday: yes, that was the right info! For Sunday:
Noon: (I’m almost certain on outer courts, not Ashe- probably Grandstand and 17): Men’s Wheelchair Singles Final; Women’s Wheelchair Singles Final; and Quad Wheelchair Singles Final + some Juniors finals
1:00 Ashe: Women’s Doubles Finals
4:00 Ashe: Men’s Final
P.J.
Windy City Tennis Fan
3 years ago
PJ,
We returned from a great Labor Day weekend viewing as much tennis as possible largely fulfilling the combination of day/night stadium scenarios you recommended. Thank you for creating this page and sharing your accumulated experience so generously. We are so glad to have attended in this very unusual time and regardless of whether a certain player fulfills the CYGS, it was an unforgettable experience!! Thank you!
By chance did anyone notice Gwyneth Paltrow in the audience during the Brooksby Djokovic match?
I’m so glad to hear it worked out, thanks so much for letting me know!! I was at that match and was near Lin Manuel Miranda but didn’t see Gwyneth! Safe travels and thanks again.
Chris Horn
3 years ago
Hi PJ, your guide every year is must read, thanks for all the advice and the time / effort you put into it. We’re very lucky to be going to the men’s 7pm semi-final Friday night. Its our first semi-final and we are very excited. Do you know what time we will be allowed into the US Open grounds generally? It wasn’t mentioned on the ticket. I believe from your notes above that it usually is 6pm for the evening session but wasn’t sure if it was different for the semi-finals (or if it was different if the first semi-final… Read more »
Hey Chris, THANK YOU so much!! That’s awesome you’re going to Semis tomorrow. Yes, it’s officially still 6pm to enter on an evening ticket, even during Semis. They may be a bit looser about it tomorrow, but that’s only a guess. Have a blast!! P.J.
Tim Bryan
3 years ago
After 5 days at the US Open, I must say all of your information on this site is spot on. I was more prepared, thank you. I took your advice and bought court side tickets to last nights’s Djokovic and Berrettini. It was exhilarating. Possibly the best live sporting event I’ve been to. My wife had the time of her life and even got her picture taken with Djokovic after the match. Thanks again.
I found the crêperie hiding by court 17. I was going to try the recommended banana chocolate crepe. It’s a little after 11 and it hasn’t opened. Do we know if it will today (Wednesday)?
Sam
3 years ago
Hey PJ – Just wanted to say a big thanks for all your time and energy here. Went to the Open for the first time last week and had just a magical experience — in large part due to following pretty much all your advice and recs! Your work here transformed what at first seemed like an overwhelming and bewildering set of options into a stress-free, wonderful experience in which all our energy and attention could be directed at the thing we were actually there to enjoy: world-class tennis. Can’t thank you enough!!
Sam! Honestly, it’s comments like yours that fuel my energy and passion… They mean the world and I’m so grateful you took the time to write and let me know it was helpful. SO glad you had such a great experience!! Thank you again. P.J.
Crystal
3 years ago
Hi PJ! Thank you for all that you do to help the tennis community! Question for you you: Do we have any way of knowing (or speculating about) how officials will schedule the men’s semis on Friday? We are interested in the Medvedev/FAA match and have no interest in the other semifinal. Is our best bet to wait until the night before to purchase or do we already know which match will be scheduled during the day and night?
Hey Crystal, you’re so welcome! We don’t have any way to know for sure – there are big scheduling surprises every year. That said, I would be seriously shocked if they didn’t put Novak on the Night session. My strong bet would be they do Medvedev/FAA for Day. I would counsel waiting until the schedule comes out tomorrow afternoon (should be relatively early, start checking this page around noon tomorrow): if I’m right and Novak is night, demand for those tickets will likely go up a bit (whereas demand for Day will likely stay the same or go down, meaning… Read more »
Thank you PJ! This is incredibly helpful, as always!
Joby
3 years ago
Hey PJ, thanks for sharing all this very useful info! Thoughts on corner sections 7, 30, 41, and 64 for match viewing quality? Really trying to find a way down to lower bowl for potential Novak semi instead of row A loge. Never sat that close in Ashe so trying to justify it’ll be worth it.
Hey Joby, those sections are all very good. You might also look at the resale tix in section 58 Row B, which with fees end up being around the same as the available standards and are amazing seats. Honestly, anywhere down courtside level is a thrill. P.J.
Jim
3 years ago
Really helpful hints. I’ve not yet been to the Open but am looking forward to doing so. Made it to Wimbledon a few years ago – just a grounds pass – and was amazed by what an enjoyable experience it was. And saw some seriously good tennis. The Open looks equally fun.
Maura
3 years ago
PJ et al, today I had a hard time entering with a drink in plastic cup (as I’ve been doing for years…and every day of this Open…) and told no outside food/drink so II argued and had supervisor come over and had them look on website and guidance saying yes/no specifically. Eventually I was allowed in but just flagging since they tried to act like it’s a new policy for this week. Sigh… and while I was arguing I asked again about the Thursday community day (and was told it was on) and Finals grounds pass (supposedly for sale day… Read more »
Oy vey… Yes, thankfully the tennis is off the charts and a lot of other things finally running smoothly. And with huge thanks to you we all now have confirmation about Thursday, which even senior USTA officials were confused about. Thanks for the update on the cup issue and for all your persistence and help on the community day issue! P.J.
So community day is on!!! I will be there, gates are open for those matches at noon, right? Can’t wait to catch all the doubles/juniors and wheelchair action! Then hopefully see Leylah continue her run in the semis at night on Ashe!
They were saying no outside food or drink and I was arguing. I also had a bagel and some nuts. I couldn’t find on their website the ‘limited food is allowed’ but the head supervisor let me in when he saw that food wasn’t on the list of prohibited items. But it took me about 20 minutes of standing my ground saying I’ve been doing this for over a decade..and demanding to see where it said I couldn’t. I was going to look on the computer’s website (not the app) to screenshot for my next visit.
Hey Maura, As far back as I remember too, it always was the policy (and I also saw it in writing) that you could bring outside food in limited quantities. But I just went back to the new “security procedures” page and that language is no longer there… So I asked the bot on that page and it returned: “I think you are asking if you can bring outside food and beverage items onto the grounds. Unfortunately, no outside food or beverages can be brought into the US Open grounds.” If they don’t adjust the language next year, then the… Read more »
This is pathetic. How much more money do they need to make? I always see working class families bring their kids, ya know, those people who save up to buy the very last row in Ashe promenade? And they want them to now buy $8 hot dogs!? Meanwhile instead of being jerks enforcing a new and not widely known prohibition on food, how about they enforce the mask rule inside Ashe when roof is closed?! Or be kind enough to cover up the banner that says “check in no bags” so that we know there is no more express lane?… Read more »
I agree. Heck I don’t want to pay their ridiculous prices when I’m going there every day. If I went just once, sure I’d suck it up. But every day, it adds up.
I also asked in a chat yesterday and got a response saying limited food was ok. Sigh. I wish they’d sort themselves out and have some
clear defined policies.
I looked at the page out of curiosity and it’s ironic that they still list :
“For guests without bags, Speed Lines will be available at the East Gate and the South Gate entrances.”
Well that’s not accurate.
And then it does NOT say no food allowed.
(Not everyone is as smart as you PJ to as the bot!)
They definitely need to work in their info page! Argh!
Kiran
3 years ago
COVID-19 vaccine
Is a picture of the COVID-19 vaccine card on a phone good enough for the entrance to Ashe Stadium or do we physically need to carry the card with us to the Stadium?
I am attending the night session today (09/07/21) and travelling from Philadelphia.
Hi Kiran, yes absolutely – they’ll check at the very first gate (east or south) when you first arrive. P.J.
Victor Daniel Casas Hernandez
3 years ago
Dude, I love this explanation! You are the best and honestly, cannot thank you enough! I am going loge in a semifinal, this is almost a dream come true!
Hey Sam, I was just about to post… One of our readers an official reply from Client Services that it’s “on” and admission is free. I haven’t seen anything else in writing anywhere (they certainly aren’t advertising it and some staffers seem to think it’s off), but I think we can pretty safely assume they won’t turn anyone away who shows up! P.J.
I was told (verbally) today it was on for community day.
Candice Harrison
3 years ago
Hi PJ! I just wanted to say thank you for this blog! I contacted you several months ago when I was purchasing my tickets, and I went to my first US Open match on Saturday and my seats were great!! thanks for everything and I can’t wait to go next year!
Candice, you are so welcome, thank you for your thoughtful note and I am SO glad you had a great time!! P.J.
Ben Sparks
3 years ago
Thought it would be fun to sit down close to the doubles today on the Grandstand and was surprised to see there is zero resale on Ticketmaster or Stubhub for these reserved seats. Am I missing something? Are they not reserved starting today?
Hey Ben, there are tickets available for Armstrong today (great doubles action on it); you can get into Grandstand with that ticket (all seating will be first-come, including the “reserved” seats in the lower bowl today). See my Box #1 above for detailed outline of all the ticket options for each day – it’s confusing, I know! P.J.
Matt
3 years ago
Hi, thanks for all your wisdom! I’m questioning whether my kids should bring their oversized tennis balls for autographs today. US Open website says autographs are discouraged. Any insight?
Hey Matt, I originally thought they’d enforce this and would have said don’t bother a month ago… But having been I see players signing them left and right. Bring em! P.J.
Drew
3 years ago
Hi P.J! I’m going this year for quarterfinals onward. I noticed that men’s semifinal I night is much more booked / expensive than the men’s semifinal day session. Would it be safe to say Novak would be at night?? Thanks in advance
Hey Drew, that’s awesome! Normally I hesitate to predict on scheduling… But for QFs and Semis (only), it’s a pretty safe bet that they will put the biggest/most popular stars at night and.or the biggest “stories” (e.g. tonight they put Felix v Carlos, which I expected). I’d be shocked if they didn’t put Nole on at night tomorrow – as much as Zverev Harris will be awesome (!) I cannot imagine them putting it on night tomorrow. P.J.
Drea
3 years ago
how do you envision organizers pick who’s on when for Men’s semifinal sessions? I noticed they are two different sessions this year. I just want to see what would hopefully be the Zverev Djokovic match
Hey Drea, I expect them to follow the pattern they have for years with QF matches: they put the biggest/most popular stars at night and.or the biggest “stories” (e.g. tonight they put Felix v Carlos, which I expected). I’d be shocked if they didn’t put Nole on at night tomorrow – as much as Zverev Harris will be awesome (!) I cannot imagine them putting it on night tomorrow. P.J.
Rey
3 years ago
Hi, thanks for this informative blog. A couple of questions:
As I am on a budget, was considering to select either Ashe (Upper Promenade) or Armstrong tickets for Wednesday, Sep 9th Day session tickets. Based on current schedule of Quarterfinals, which of the 2 do you think is better option?
If Ashe (Upper promenade) ticket, which sections and rows have best views between Section 306-325?
Hi Rey, fortunately your choice is made easier in that Armstrong tickets are not an option 🙂 (only sold through today). All singles matches from today on are exclusively on Ashe. See my Ashe shade map – if you’re going Day session, strongly discourage you from seats on the East or even North side! As for views, just go with the lowest seat you can in a shaded section, all views from Promenade are so high it doesn’t matter much – shade and proximity are most impt. P.J.
Sure thing. Tomorrow’s schedule should be posted on this Daily Schedule of Play page this afternoon (probably around 3:30pm) and check the Practice Schedule here later today AND tomorrow morning for updates. You can go to watch any match or practice in any stadium/court once you are in the grounds (gates will open at 9:30am). P.J.
Thanks, I see Novak practicing at 5.30 pm on court 1. With my day pass tickets, will I be able to see this practice and if yes at what time should I make it to court 1?
Hey Rey, absolutely. If this is a bigger priority to you than seeing Zverev/Harris, I’d get there by 4:30 just so you can stake out a comfortable spot – that court is at the far end of the practice courts. But there shouldn’t be hordes of people today (no grounds admission, and Zverev/Harris will be going on) so you will probably be fine getting there later. PS — Just to be sure you know where to go, it’s court “P1”, see my map above.
Hey PJ. What’s your guess on Raducanu? Looking to try and see her Wednesday. I’m assuming she will get the Wednesday night match but I’ve been wrong before. Thanks!
Lol – so much for my crystal ball! Schedule is out, Raducanu on Day.
Maura
3 years ago
I saw Juan Martin del Porto is coming to NY and the US Open to hit with John McEnroe on Tuesday (or after). He posted on Instagram. Do you know what this might be (or more importantly where or when???!!!)? These are my two all-time favorites. I will peak thru EVERYTHING in the grounds tomorrow looking… 😍
I’ve seen in Spanish Twitter accounts court 1 at 4:30? Do you think that could be Ashe after end of day session? P1 is booked. Is there a court 1 somewhere else on the grounds?
Hi Ann-Marie, here’s the policy: “Strollers are permitted inside the US Open, but you are responsible for their safe keeping. You can also check our storage facility located outside the East Gate and South Gate entrances.” P.J.
Ted
3 years ago
Just thought I would put in a report on entry today (Sunday.) Arrived at CitiField parking at 9:30, got to the East Gate at about 9:40. First a vaccine check then the bag check. No line at all for either! (There was not a separate bag line at the time.) Quickest I ever entered the grounds in 40 years. I was pleasantly surprised. Can’t guarantee this for Labor Day though. Had good tickets to Armstrong but wanted to start off in the Grandstand to see some Women’s Doubles. Unfortunately, match was rain-delayed after 1 game, so we spent most of… Read more »
Ted, this is awesome to hear! The decision on Armstrong was probably a temporary measure given huge crowds for Sinner/Monfils – the stadium was packed. Normally they don’t limit based on type of ticket, but over Labor Day weekend the demand on both Grandstand and Armstrong is usually intense. P.J.
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Thank you so much for this comprehensive, detailed, and insightful review. I plan to go the the Open for the first time this year – I’ve wanted to go for a long time. My 14-year old son, who just picked up tennis, would go with me. Any tips on how to keep teenagers entertained (other than the intense tennis matches of course!)?
Hi Miki, apologies for the delay in replying! Got COVID around the time you submitted this comment and fell really behind… Thanks for your kind words. At the Open itself there are some interactive areas where there will be some fun diversions for sure. Taking your son to the practice courts to see a big name practice would definitely be fun for a while. Overall, I’d recommend focusing on quality of seats versus quantity of tennis when you’ve got someone with you: e.g., maybe plan on 1 day at at Open then something fun in the evening in Manhattan like… Read more »
I’m not from the US, could you give me an idea of the weather in early Sept. I can see historical average temperatures (mid 20s in Celsius) but a colleague said that the city is boiling hot and to avoid day sessions for that reason. Is it likely to be uncomfortably hot during the day? First time visitors, so we thought a day session would give the best mix of the tournament, venue and the tennis but would consider a night session if we’re going to be a sitting in flop sweat! Great site by the way!
Hi Sam, unfortunately the weather here is notoriously variable that time of year. It can be incredibly hot during the day – but it also could be cold and rainy. If you’re planning to attend Mon-Friday during the first week and you’re only going to attend one day, I’d say a Day session is probably the option I’d recommend — you’ll be able to take breaks throughout the day and stick around and watch some matches on outer courts into the evenings. But if you go Day session, pay close attention to my shade maps! P.J.
Hi PJ
We are a family of 6 and want to get tickets for the 2 days of second round or two days for the third round buying tickets at day session at Arthur Ash about $150-$200 each. I would appreciate your advise of which round buy and WHEN is the best time to buy them considering We want to be all together.
Best Regards
Hi Sergio, I would recommend going for the best Loge seats you can during Round 2 (Wed-Thurs) for that time frame. Definitely wait until after tickets go on sale publicly on June 6. Tickets on Friday tend to be significantly higher. There’s a chance you will find tickets under $200 for Round 3, but would take exercising a lot of patience and checking daily throughout the summer and probably closer to the tournament. P.J.
Hi there, I will be coming from NC on labor day weekend. I have Sep 3 night and Sep 4 day available. I am planning to buy Ashe tickets for Sep 3 night and Armstrong for Sep 4 day. Does that sound good?
Also my budget is about $200-250 for each session. Will I be able to get good view tickets within that price?
Hi Paramijt, apologies for the delayed reply! Sep 3 night and Armstrong Day Sep 4 sounds fantastic. Yes you should be able to get decent Loge seats in Ashe for under $250 for that Sat night and courtside Armstrong for around $250 on Sunday round of 16 — but you may have to be patient over the summer to wait for those tickets to materialize either on the resale market or as US Open releases more individual tickets. P.J.
I’m an ‘upstate’ NYer, so I’ve been to the first or second day session 3 times in the past 6 or so years. This year, I have a work conference in Manhatten later that first week!! So I’m going to hit the day session first day, and the night session on Tuesday the second day. The heat kills me for the day, so I can’t do all in one day. Would you recommend an Ashe ticket for Tuesday night, or Armstrong? I generally get an Ashe ticket for the day and do a lot of the side courts for the… Read more »
Hi Amy! I’d recommend splurging for the best seat you can in Ashe for the evening session where you’ll see the top-seeded players. Armstrong is awesome at night for 3d and 4th round play, but would favor Ashe for rounds 1-2 in most cases. I’d say grab something decent in Ashe for Day session — because you’re planning on seeing some outer court play– so you can reserve most budget for great evening seats. P.J.
This is brilliant! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much, Roxanne! P.J.
Hey PJ!
Thanks for this incredibly helpful blog.
I’m coming to NYC for the entirety of the Open (28th-12th) and am aiming to go to as much tennis as humanly possible. It looks like from your post I should maybe consider going with a grounds pass for the first few days of the tournament before splurging as the field winds down. Does that sound like a good plan?
Hi Ryne, you’re most welcome! I actually advise against grounds passes in most cases (see my Tip #3 for why). And if you’re going to be here for the entire tournament and have flexibility, I strongly recommend you allocate at least some of your budget to a “flexible” fund that you use for last-minute purchases when you see particular match-ups announced you’re excited about for the next day. P.J.
I’ve been lurking on this site for many years; thanks so much for assembling all of these tips. I think this will be the year my wife and I pull the trigger to attend a U.S. Open. We’re not rabid tennis fans, but we think it would be awesome to go for two or three days to take in the whole experience. 2021 looked great on TV (aside from the whole hurricane remnants thing). As there are no players we absolutely must see do you have any thoughts on what a good time to go might be? Pre-or post-Labor Day… Read more »
Shawn, HUGE apologies for missing this note when you submitted it! Great to hear you’re finally going to make it to NY. I’d probably recommend coming during Round 2-3 on the Wed-Friday of the first week and/or Sunday/Monday during the Round of 16 if your budget supports. Wed-Friday Day sessions tend to be more affordable, and there’s so much exciting stuff happening on outer courts and crowds aren’t insane like they are on Sat/Sun labor day weekend. Monday Round of 16 evening Ashe tends to be relatively lower priced compared to rest of weekend, so a great deal to see… Read more »
Thanks for the reply. No worries on the delay; I (like everyone else here) greatly appreciate this resource.
My wife and I booked a hotel in Flushing a month or so ago to accommodate attending second round sessions on August 31 and September 1. Maybe a night session on Wednesday and a day session on Thursday.
Let’s say we wanted to spend $150-$200 per ticket each day. Any recommendations as to what venue and tier we should go for and when we should try to buy such tickets?
Cheers!
Hey Shawn, thanks so much for understanding 🙂 Ashe evening Wednesday followed by something else Thurs sounds like a great plan. For Thurs, I’d consider waiting until the day before (I know that sounds crazy, but I promise there will be tickets!) and make the call based on (1) which matches are scheduled where (any players you’re dying to see on Ashe, Armstrong, or Grandstand?) and (2) the weather! See the 2021 schedule of play for that day to get a sense of what was on that Thursday. P.J.
Thank you so so much for the details. This helps me so much. I can’t thank you enough. I was planning on doing so much research.
Hey Jimmie, you are so welcome – so glad to hear it was helpful! Feel free to loop back as we get closer with any questions that come up. P.J.
Hi PJ, I’m planning on going next year. My priority is to get to watch at least two of Rafa, Roger and Andy, who I reckon will play in AA. I saw your pricing chart, do you reckon I’ll be able to get cheaper tickets if I buy one of the ticket plans in advance? For example, I see an “opening sessions” plan, would that generally be a better deal than getting them when they go on sale later on?
Thank you in advance
Hi Andrés! Apologies for the delayed reply – busy time at work. I would strongly counsel against ticket plans for opening sessions – there is always a glut of cheap Promenade-level seats available throughout the summer for those opening days (both resale and non-resale). You will be able to take your time and apply your budget to better seats with more transparency about what’s available after individual tickets go on sale. P.J.
Hey PJ, first of all many, many thanks for sharing all this information; this is brilliant! I am a huge tennis fan und plan to see matches at the 2022 US Open. We already booked our flights (from Germany) and will be in town from Sep 1st to Sep 10th. Ideally we want to to see at least two day and night sessions with focus on great matches rather than a specific player. During that vacation we do not want to check the internet every hour for deals and latest returned tickets and rather secure tickets before we fly to… Read more »
Hi Christian, apologies for the delayed reply! Thanks for your kind words 🙂 I would strongly (!) recommend against any hospitality package – prices are wildly inflated for them, and you could apply the same amount for spectacular seats that are even better. Because you’re going to be here for such a long window of time and are aiming for only a handful of sessions, I recommend spending the time now (before individual tickets go on sale to the public) considering your priorities and options, then waiting until after individual tickets go on sale when you will have far greater… Read more »
Hi there Will you be updating this site with French Open related information. 2021 was my first US Open and this was very helpful, thank you!
Hi Liza, so happy to hear the US Open post was helpful to you! Unfortunately I haven’t been to the French since Edberg played Chang in the final (!) when I as a teenager, so I can’t offer any valuable insight on that tourney. P.J.
Thank you! No prob, I think I found information on the Roland Garros app. I also sent them a question. I was wondering if they have general admission in Lenglen and or Matthieu like Armstrong and Grandstand. Take care!
Hi Liza, many apologies for the delay – super busy time at work. Hopefully you already found your answers, but to confirm: both of those show courts at Roland Garros feature reserved seating only. Only open seating is on the “outer courts.” P.J.
Hey PJ,
Loved US Open 2021 and have no problem with sitting nosebleed to save a few bucks. I have put in for two weeks in NY and was told by the open that the first week package is $500~. Probably not a bad deal, but will the finals week re-sells be affordable enough to possibly seat 4 people who don’t mind being up high? What’s the average finals week re-sale ticket price these past years?
Thanks for your information and enthusiasm!
Hi Patrick, great to hear you had such a good experience at the 2021 Open! Your question potentially covers a wide ground – not sure if you mean the entire second week, or final weekend… Which particular days/session(s) are you thinking about? Here is a chart that shows the range for standard (non-resale) prices for 2021 — the resale prices can vary wildly for all the sessions, but promenade seats for the 2021 men’s final were averaging around $525 each (with $360 being the cheapest, and in like the last row). P.J.
Hey P.J.
Thanks for the reply. Let me apologize and clarify my question. If I was looking to get tickets for the quarters through the finals for four people, do you think there’s an ok chance that re-sale prices would be noticeably lower than the standard ticket prices? The finals week packages are already sold out. My hope is that re-sale tickets could be lower. What is your experience?
Thanks again!
Hey Patrick, it is rarely possible to get resale tickets for less than the standard price during that period (between quarters and finals) EXCEPT during the day sessions of the quarterfinals, when sometimes amazing last-minute deals pop up because there is less demand for those two sessions. The same can happen if it turns out there are lackluster lineups and no “big names” are featured. But almost never for QF evening sessions, semifinals or finals when resale prices are usually higher. P.J.
Unfortunate news, but good to know. Probably best to get a finals week package for people like me who don’t care too much about being super close. I’m grateful for your insights into this. Enjoy the rest of your holiday season!
Wishing you the same, Patrick!
Really had a great time at the 2021 Open, not so crowded and super cheap tickets- all thanks to this great blog…saves me lots of money
Thanks PJ and I owe you an ice cream!!
AO -here I come.
*** hope my post will on top for a long time until the US Open 2022 comes along….he he..
Thanks, Chris! So rewarding to hear that. Have a blast at the AO! P.J.
Thanks for all of the information!! We are planning on attending the US Open in 2022 and I appreciate all of the amazing tips.
Hey Kelly, you’re most welcome, so glad it’s helpful! I’ll update the post in the run-up to next year – feel free to reach out as we get closer if you have questions. P.J.
This is one of the most in-depth, helpful and informative sites I’ve read. Thank you for taking the time to create and post. Remarkable!
Gerard, THANK YOU so much for your very kind word – deeply appreciate them! P.J.
Curious to know your thoughts on why the U.S. Open finals are not held at night under lights?
Hey Ricky, the finals begin while there is still ample sun and light in the stadium — they do turn in lights if the match runs long and lights would make it better for the players. P.J.
Good information but if you don’t keep it up to date you are doing readers a disservice. In addition to the AMEX Centurion lounge, there was an AMEX cardmembers lounge at Armstrong. No reservations were required at the AMEX cardmembers lounge, and platinum cardholders were provided complimentary cocktails and lounge access. It was nice but I missed it the first day because after reading your tips I was not looking for it.
Hi Donald, thanks very much for pointing this out. Will definitely update the post to include. P.J.
Today, I began going through PJ’s spectacular always up-to-date blog and I came across your comment. While it is true for all things in life to learn about helpful information too late, I felt I had to share with you my experience with PJ, the blog, and the incredible work he does to keep the info up-to-date, practically in real time! Keep in mind that as he answers dozens of comments every day and more DURING the Open – all the while juggling demands of a job, a family, and getting to the Open himself for some fun. He deserves… Read more »
Courtney, thank you so much for your incredibly kind and thoughtful note. You’ve contributed so much to this blog and I’m so grateful! P.J.
Ah PJ…It’s late. I know. But this is my very last question until USO 2022 (it all went by too fast). Do Grounds Passes sell out? I’m still torn about going to the grounds for the final and see if any Ashe tickets get reallllly cheap. How do they even accommodate everyone to watch the big screen? I’m old enough to remember when several parks put out a Jumbotron for the Open. Watched the 2010 men’s final in Madison Square Park and it was a blast. And free! I know this year there was a jumbotron mid-week in Metrotech Brooklyn,… Read more »
Hey Courtney, thank you as always for the kind words!! I’ve never seen them sell out during Finals weekend – and I can’t imagine this year they would (if Federer were playing Nadal, maybe…). P.J.
Does the storage locker have hours restrictions by when I need to get my bags out?
Hi Arjun, it probably depends on the day — if for Finals (i.e. today or tomorrow), then it would be an earlier closing time than the rest of the tournament when matches end later. Not sure exact times, sorry. P.J.
Thank you for your reply. Yes I had asked for the finals. I fly in to NYC tomorrow morning and am trying to figure out where can I keep my bag until the match ends. Any suggestions?
I was thinking about the storage facility but if that place closes before I am able to get my bag out, I wouldn’t want that.
I fly out of NYC early morning after the finals.
Hi Arjun, you definitely can check your bag at the US Open grounds (very easy) for the entire duration of the match and a couple hours after it ends– you would just need to pick it up tonight as you leave the grounds (you couldn’t store it overnight). P.J.
Thanks so much for this page. It motivated me to schedule a trip w my 12yr son who plays USTA tournaments! We are here. Saw last nights match and it was amazing! We have finals tickets as well and are pumped!
Question: For today/Saturday I was just going to wonder the grounds w a grounds pass and explore, maybe catch the Women’s match on the big screen….but now I want seats! Such a historic match it will be. Should I buy online tickets are get a better deal at the window buying day-of?
Hey Isaac! I am so happy to hear all this. For today, I would recommend studying what’s available online as you go out to the Open, identify the best deals you can so you know what the going rates are, THEN go to the box office And see what the best deals are they can offer. They will almost certainly do exactly what you see on the blue dots on Ticketmaster, so if you know there are resale tickets online that are cheaper including fees, then you may want to go for those. Also, know that Ticketmaster tends to keep… Read more »
Thk again! We did as you suggested. Worked out. Purchased 133 and avoided Ticketmaster fees! What-a-match!! So glad we did that! Can’t wait to come back next year.
Great to hear, Isaac- and so glad you’ll be back next year! Safe travels. PJ
Anyone who attended today’s semis — were they actually scanning your tickets as you went into Ashe or were they just eyeballing them to make sure you were there for the correct session?
Last week about an hour into the match I bought a cheap ticket for Ashe, only to have the guy not even look abd just wave me in. Other times (entering before a match starts) I have been scanned.
There is no way to know. Also if/once you get into Ashe without a ticket you may be asked at another point to show your ticket such as at the gate into the seats.
Just don’t count on it!
Update: just had a friend tell me that they used their day semi ticket to go back in for night session. No one checked. UNREAL.
Maybe I’ll come out to the grounds and see what can be done!
Hi PJ,
Do you think it’s worth getting the $25 grounds pass to watch the game on big screen at the venue than watching Men’s Finals at home? Tix are too pricey for the Men’s finals. I already attended US open 2021 entire day during Day1 this year.
Thank you for your excellent blog.
Hi Ayush! Depending on the weather (which looks quite warm but at least sunny and clear) it can be a pretty exciting and fun place to be around fellow fans… Also if you’re there and check tickets just as the match is starting, who knows there may be some amazing resale deal by a desperate seller that you can grab – and then you’d be right there in case you want to take advantage of it. In addition, there are some inspiring wheelchair and juniors matches beginning at Noon that day (gates open at 11am). P.J.
BTW, not sure if it is still there but the 4 years I went to the US Open (2016-2019) I loved the seafood place. Somewhere near Court 7 if I am not mistaken. It is there that for the first time in my life I ate a lobster roll. Heavenly! The place also has oysters and ceviche if I am not mistaken.
US Open has excellent catering. I say that as a European “gourmand” :-).
So glad to hear that! Yes, “Fly Fish” (two locations, one in Ashe Courtside, the other “Fly Fish @ Oyster Bar 7” in Grandstand Village) — I also LOVE their lobster rolls – a tradition for me, albeit a very expensive splurge! They seemed a little smaller this year than in the past, but still amazing. There’s also a very good lobster roll at “Fish Shack” in Grandstand Village. P.J.
Hi PJ,
Thanks for all the good information! Is there any information posted about when general parking lots will open on Saturday? We will unfortunately need to drive and would like to get there as early as allowed. I couldn’t find this info posted anywhere!
Thanks!
Hi Emma, you’re welcome! Not 100% sure unfortunately, but pretty confident they’ll be open by 9am (possibly earlier). Gates open at 11:00am. (If anyone else knows from prior years’ experience, please weigh in!) P.J.
Thanks for this amazing site! My tickets for Friday state section ASHGA1. Where is that located?
Hi Jane, you’re welcome — although I’m so sorry not to have been able to reply sooner (big deadline at work today)! Hope you solved the mystery… I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been helpful apart from urging you to check to ensure there was an actual section/seat number on your mobile ticket. Hopefully there was? P.J.
PJ. First off, You’ve made some great changes to the blog in the past day to get in all that last minute info at the top of the blog- sooo helpful (though I have yet to find a no-bag express line. I haven’t brought a bag any day and there is no special line. Each time I ask, the staff say no, and I make a silent grrr sound.) My question is for Friday and Sunday. What goes on on Friday? I don’t trust the official tournament schedule. It says Friday : men’s doubles finals at 12 noon, 1st men’s… Read more »
Hey Courtney, THANK YOU and apologies for the delayed reply! Yeah, I was hopeful they’d resolve the bag line issue… such a bummer they didn’t. For Friday: yes, that was the right info! For Sunday:
Noon: (I’m almost certain on outer courts, not Ashe- probably Grandstand and 17): Men’s Wheelchair Singles Final; Women’s Wheelchair Singles Final; and Quad Wheelchair Singles Final + some Juniors finals
1:00 Ashe: Women’s Doubles Finals
4:00 Ashe: Men’s Final
P.J.
PJ,
We returned from a great Labor Day weekend viewing as much tennis as possible largely fulfilling the combination of day/night stadium scenarios you recommended. Thank you for creating this page and sharing your accumulated experience so generously. We are so glad to have attended in this very unusual time and regardless of whether a certain player fulfills the CYGS, it was an unforgettable experience!! Thank you!
By chance did anyone notice Gwyneth Paltrow in the audience during the Brooksby Djokovic match?
I’m so glad to hear it worked out, thanks so much for letting me know!! I was at that match and was near Lin Manuel Miranda but didn’t see Gwyneth! Safe travels and thanks again.
Hi PJ, your guide every year is must read, thanks for all the advice and the time / effort you put into it. We’re very lucky to be going to the men’s 7pm semi-final Friday night. Its our first semi-final and we are very excited. Do you know what time we will be allowed into the US Open grounds generally? It wasn’t mentioned on the ticket. I believe from your notes above that it usually is 6pm for the evening session but wasn’t sure if it was different for the semi-finals (or if it was different if the first semi-final… Read more »
Hey Chris, THANK YOU so much!! That’s awesome you’re going to Semis tomorrow. Yes, it’s officially still 6pm to enter on an evening ticket, even during Semis. They may be a bit looser about it tomorrow, but that’s only a guess. Have a blast!! P.J.
After 5 days at the US Open, I must say all of your information on this site is spot on. I was more prepared, thank you. I took your advice and bought court side tickets to last nights’s Djokovic and Berrettini. It was exhilarating. Possibly the best live sporting event I’ve been to. My wife had the time of her life and even got her picture taken with Djokovic after the match. Thanks again.
Tim, you made my day – I’m so happy to hear the post was helpful and especially that you had such an incredible time!! You’re so welcome! P.J.
Got my answer from Ben and Jerry’s next door: crêperie closed 🙁
🙁
I found the crêperie hiding by court 17. I was going to try the recommended banana chocolate crepe. It’s a little after 11 and it hasn’t opened. Do we know if it will today (Wednesday)?
Hey PJ – Just wanted to say a big thanks for all your time and energy here. Went to the Open for the first time last week and had just a magical experience — in large part due to following pretty much all your advice and recs! Your work here transformed what at first seemed like an overwhelming and bewildering set of options into a stress-free, wonderful experience in which all our energy and attention could be directed at the thing we were actually there to enjoy: world-class tennis. Can’t thank you enough!!
Sam! Honestly, it’s comments like yours that fuel my energy and passion… They mean the world and I’m so grateful you took the time to write and let me know it was helpful. SO glad you had such a great experience!! Thank you again. P.J.
Hi PJ! Thank you for all that you do to help the tennis community! Question for you you: Do we have any way of knowing (or speculating about) how officials will schedule the men’s semis on Friday? We are interested in the Medvedev/FAA match and have no interest in the other semifinal. Is our best bet to wait until the night before to purchase or do we already know which match will be scheduled during the day and night?
Hey Crystal, you’re so welcome! We don’t have any way to know for sure – there are big scheduling surprises every year. That said, I would be seriously shocked if they didn’t put Novak on the Night session. My strong bet would be they do Medvedev/FAA for Day. I would counsel waiting until the schedule comes out tomorrow afternoon (should be relatively early, start checking this page around noon tomorrow): if I’m right and Novak is night, demand for those tickets will likely go up a bit (whereas demand for Day will likely stay the same or go down, meaning… Read more »
Thank you PJ! This is incredibly helpful, as always!
Hey PJ, thanks for sharing all this very useful info! Thoughts on corner sections 7, 30, 41, and 64 for match viewing quality? Really trying to find a way down to lower bowl for potential Novak semi instead of row A loge. Never sat that close in Ashe so trying to justify it’ll be worth it.
Hey Joby, those sections are all very good. You might also look at the resale tix in section 58 Row B, which with fees end up being around the same as the available standards and are amazing seats. Honestly, anywhere down courtside level is a thrill. P.J.
Really helpful hints. I’ve not yet been to the Open but am looking forward to doing so. Made it to Wimbledon a few years ago – just a grounds pass – and was amazed by what an enjoyable experience it was. And saw some seriously good tennis. The Open looks equally fun.
PJ et al, today I had a hard time entering with a drink in plastic cup (as I’ve been doing for years…and every day of this Open…) and told no outside food/drink so II argued and had supervisor come over and had them look on website and guidance saying yes/no specifically. Eventually I was allowed in but just flagging since they tried to act like it’s a new policy for this week. Sigh… and while I was arguing I asked again about the Thursday community day (and was told it was on) and Finals grounds pass (supposedly for sale day… Read more »
Oy vey… Yes, thankfully the tennis is off the charts and a lot of other things finally running smoothly. And with huge thanks to you we all now have confirmation about Thursday, which even senior USTA officials were confused about. Thanks for the update on the cup issue and for all your persistence and help on the community day issue! P.J.
So community day is on!!! I will be there, gates are open for those matches at noon, right? Can’t wait to catch all the doubles/juniors and wheelchair action! Then hopefully see Leylah continue her run in the semis at night on Ashe!
Yes Noon! Awesome you can make it – have a blast!
No food?!? Did you try to bring some in? Or they said that while they were hassling you over the cup?
I always bring food.
They were saying no outside food or drink and I was arguing. I also had a bagel and some nuts. I couldn’t find on their website the ‘limited food is allowed’ but the head supervisor let me in when he saw that food wasn’t on the list of prohibited items. But it took me about 20 minutes of standing my ground saying I’ve been doing this for over a decade..and demanding to see where it said I couldn’t. I was going to look on the computer’s website (not the app) to screenshot for my next visit.
Hey Maura, As far back as I remember too, it always was the policy (and I also saw it in writing) that you could bring outside food in limited quantities. But I just went back to the new “security procedures” page and that language is no longer there… So I asked the bot on that page and it returned: “I think you are asking if you can bring outside food and beverage items onto the grounds. Unfortunately, no outside food or beverages can be brought into the US Open grounds.” If they don’t adjust the language next year, then the… Read more »
This is pathetic. How much more money do they need to make? I always see working class families bring their kids, ya know, those people who save up to buy the very last row in Ashe promenade? And they want them to now buy $8 hot dogs!? Meanwhile instead of being jerks enforcing a new and not widely known prohibition on food, how about they enforce the mask rule inside Ashe when roof is closed?! Or be kind enough to cover up the banner that says “check in no bags” so that we know there is no more express lane?… Read more »
I agree. Heck I don’t want to pay their ridiculous prices when I’m going there every day. If I went just once, sure I’d suck it up. But every day, it adds up.
I also asked in a chat yesterday and got a response saying limited food was ok. Sigh. I wish they’d sort themselves out and have some
clear defined policies.
I looked at the page out of curiosity and it’s ironic that they still list :
“For guests without bags, Speed Lines will be available at the East Gate and the South Gate entrances.”
Well that’s not accurate.
And then it does NOT say no food allowed.
(Not everyone is as smart as you PJ to as the bot!)
They definitely need to work in their info page! Argh!
COVID-19 vaccine
Is a picture of the COVID-19 vaccine card on a phone good enough for the entrance to Ashe Stadium or do we physically need to carry the card with us to the Stadium?
I am attending the night session today (09/07/21) and travelling from Philadelphia.
Regards,
Kiran
Hi Kiran, yes absolutely – they’ll check at the very first gate (east or south) when you first arrive. P.J.
Dude, I love this explanation! You are the best and honestly, cannot thank you enough! I am going loge in a semifinal, this is almost a dream come true!
Hey Victor, thank you and I’m so psyched for you! Have an amazing time!! P.J.
Still no update on Thursday entry I presume? I keep looking and looking.
Hey Sam, I was just about to post… One of our readers an official reply from Client Services that it’s “on” and admission is free. I haven’t seen anything else in writing anywhere (they certainly aren’t advertising it and some staffers seem to think it’s off), but I think we can pretty safely assume they won’t turn anyone away who shows up! P.J.
I was told (verbally) today it was on for community day.
Hi PJ! I just wanted to say thank you for this blog! I contacted you several months ago when I was purchasing my tickets, and I went to my first US Open match on Saturday and my seats were great!! thanks for everything and I can’t wait to go next year!
Candice, you are so welcome, thank you for your thoughtful note and I am SO glad you had a great time!! P.J.
Thought it would be fun to sit down close to the doubles today on the Grandstand and was surprised to see there is zero resale on Ticketmaster or Stubhub for these reserved seats. Am I missing something? Are they not reserved starting today?
Hey Ben, there are tickets available for Armstrong today (great doubles action on it); you can get into Grandstand with that ticket (all seating will be first-come, including the “reserved” seats in the lower bowl today). See my Box #1 above for detailed outline of all the ticket options for each day – it’s confusing, I know! P.J.
Hi, thanks for all your wisdom! I’m questioning whether my kids should bring their oversized tennis balls for autographs today. US Open website says autographs are discouraged. Any insight?
Hey Matt, I originally thought they’d enforce this and would have said don’t bother a month ago… But having been I see players signing them left and right. Bring em! P.J.
Hi P.J! I’m going this year for quarterfinals onward. I noticed that men’s semifinal I night is much more booked / expensive than the men’s semifinal day session. Would it be safe to say Novak would be at night?? Thanks in advance
Hey Drew, that’s awesome! Normally I hesitate to predict on scheduling… But for QFs and Semis (only), it’s a pretty safe bet that they will put the biggest/most popular stars at night and.or the biggest “stories” (e.g. tonight they put Felix v Carlos, which I expected). I’d be shocked if they didn’t put Nole on at night tomorrow – as much as Zverev Harris will be awesome (!) I cannot imagine them putting it on night tomorrow. P.J.
how do you envision organizers pick who’s on when for Men’s semifinal sessions? I noticed they are two different sessions this year. I just want to see what would hopefully be the Zverev Djokovic match
Hey Drea, I expect them to follow the pattern they have for years with QF matches: they put the biggest/most popular stars at night and.or the biggest “stories” (e.g. tonight they put Felix v Carlos, which I expected). I’d be shocked if they didn’t put Nole on at night tomorrow – as much as Zverev Harris will be awesome (!) I cannot imagine them putting it on night tomorrow. P.J.
Hi, thanks for this informative blog. A couple of questions:
Thanks in advance!
Hi Rey, fortunately your choice is made easier in that Armstrong tickets are not an option 🙂 (only sold through today). All singles matches from today on are exclusively on Ashe. See my Ashe shade map – if you’re going Day session, strongly discourage you from seats on the East or even North side! As for views, just go with the lowest seat you can in a shaded section, all views from Promenade are so high it doesn’t matter much – shade and proximity are most impt. P.J.
Thanks for the response, with my Arthur Ashe day tickets for tomorrow how many matches/practice sessions can I see in which all stadiums?
This is my first time to US Open, hence asking the above.
Sure thing. Tomorrow’s schedule should be posted on this Daily Schedule of Play page this afternoon (probably around 3:30pm) and check the Practice Schedule here later today AND tomorrow morning for updates. You can go to watch any match or practice in any stadium/court once you are in the grounds (gates will open at 9:30am). P.J.
Thanks, I see Novak practicing at 5.30 pm on court 1. With my day pass tickets, will I be able to see this practice and if yes at what time should I make it to court 1?
Hey Rey, absolutely. If this is a bigger priority to you than seeing Zverev/Harris, I’d get there by 4:30 just so you can stake out a comfortable spot – that court is at the far end of the practice courts. But there shouldn’t be hordes of people today (no grounds admission, and Zverev/Harris will be going on) so you will probably be fine getting there later. PS — Just to be sure you know where to go, it’s court “P1”, see my map above.
Tough luck, looks like Novak cancelled the training in P1. Had occupied good seats to watch his practice, but I guess have to wait for next time!
Oh Rey, bummer – so sorry about that!!
Hey PJ. What’s your guess on Raducanu? Looking to try and see her Wednesday. I’m assuming she will get the Wednesday night match but I’ve been wrong before. Thanks!
Hey Tim, with the caveat that I’ve guessed wrong many times too – my very strong bet would be Raducanu/Bencic night session. P.J.
Lol – so much for my crystal ball! Schedule is out, Raducanu on Day.
I saw Juan Martin del Porto is coming to NY and the US Open to hit with John McEnroe on Tuesday (or after). He posted on Instagram. Do you know what this might be (or more importantly where or when???!!!)? These are my two all-time favorites. I will peak thru EVERYTHING in the grounds tomorrow looking… 😍
Probably Armstrong?? … I’ll ask around. If anyone else hears please weigh in!
I’ve seen in Spanish Twitter accounts court 1 at 4:30? Do you think that could be Ashe after end of day session? P1 is booked. Is there a court 1 somewhere else on the grounds?
Hey Maura, may be one of the courts outside the east gate (ie off the official grounds)?? Definitely not Ashe.
If nothing else I did see him on the Jumbotron in his box during Medvedev-Botik. 😍
Can I bring a stroller?
Hi Ann-Marie, here’s the policy: “Strollers are permitted inside the US Open, but you are responsible for their safe keeping. You can also check our storage facility located outside the East Gate and South Gate entrances.” P.J.
Just thought I would put in a report on entry today (Sunday.) Arrived at CitiField parking at 9:30, got to the East Gate at about 9:40. First a vaccine check then the bag check. No line at all for either! (There was not a separate bag line at the time.) Quickest I ever entered the grounds in 40 years. I was pleasantly surprised. Can’t guarantee this for Labor Day though. Had good tickets to Armstrong but wanted to start off in the Grandstand to see some Women’s Doubles. Unfortunately, match was rain-delayed after 1 game, so we spent most of… Read more »
Ted, this is awesome to hear! The decision on Armstrong was probably a temporary measure given huge crowds for Sinner/Monfils – the stadium was packed. Normally they don’t limit based on type of ticket, but over Labor Day weekend the demand on both Grandstand and Armstrong is usually intense. P.J.