US Open Tennis Advice?

There are a bunch of ways to go about it. They announce when tickets go on sale (through Ticketmaster) and do a presale for AMEX card holders (a sponsor) that begins a week early -- I can't remember if it is May or June. That morning, I think it is 9 am. You have to hit the site with a plan -- what days you want and just go for the tickets as quickly as possible.

This is an issue for me, because we do Labor Day weekend every year (preferably Saturday which is a round earlier than Sunday, so more good players on the outer courts), and we prefer doing it with a grounds pass (which gives you access to pretty good matches still on Armstrong, if you don't absolutely have to see Federer, who if it is his day will be on Ashe, which you don't have access to).

But that Saturday and Sunday are the most popular tickets, so they sell out quickly. If you have a plan like that, you can't miss that AMEX presale and getting in line for tickets quickly. They actually used to give access even earlier to USTA members, but did away with that last year.

I have never bought Ashe tickets when they go on sale. I usually buy them from people I know who have bought the plan (tickets for every session) and buy for a session they are trying to unload. If you are having trouble and want to be in Ashe on a particular day, PM me, and I'll see if I know anyone looking to unload their tickets for any of the sessions you want.

This is just my perspective: A lot of people will disagree, so ask others what they think. ... 1) Re: Ashe tickets. I hate having tickets that are more than half way up the stadium. It's just too far away to watch a tennis match. But tickets down low are harder to get for most sessions and can get expensive on the aftermarket. At the same time, I also prefer the grounds pass if it is early in the tournament (late in the tournament it is a waste), because you still have great matches in Armstrong and the Grandtstand, and if you plan well, you can get in and sit really close. You also can wander the outer courts and be really close to some very good tennis -- often things like two ranked players in a doubles or mixed doubles match. It makes for a nice change of pace for a half hour.

I know you want your hot fudge sundae, but I find the food so overrated and at some of the food area, actually kind of disgusting to me -- and it goes without saying it is overpriced. But it is what it is. Every year, we walk in, immediately buy our two Evians for a crazy amount of money (I think it was $8 for a bottle of water last year), and I embarrass Ms. Ragu by asking if there a gold flakes in the water for that price. It went over well 2 years ago when I told them I didn't pay that much for Ms. Ragu.

EDIT: As for your photo. ... yeah. I have a photo of Ms. Ragu from every year going back a decade, standing close to the court in Armstrong. Same kind of photo, year after year after year. Last year, I made a collage. Also, AMEX gives out a free ear radio that gives you access to the broadcast if you show them your card. I like having it. It hangs around your neck and you can listen in occasionally to get updates from the other courts, or hear what McEnroe is saying about the match you are watching.

 

If you want to see a night match, you'll be in Ashe (assigned seating). I have never heard of a twilight grounds pass. The grounds pass gets you in for the day; from 11 am until. You can hang around into the evening (they show the matches in Ashe on a giant jumbotron and people hang out by the fountains), but the only actual matches are in Ashe in the evening. It's a lot of fun, and depending on the matches, the atmosphere can be electric. So have fun with it!

As for getting back and forth, yeah, from 40th Street in midtown, you'll walk to closet stop for the 7 train on 42nd Street. Depending on where you are staying, it will be either Times Square, 5th Ave. @ Bryant Park or at Grand Central Station near Lexington Ave. Get on the 7 heading toward Queens, and it's a straight shot. ... the second to last stop -- you'll see Citi Field on one side, the Tennis Center on the other.