The US Open is the largest tennis tournament in North America. It’s held annually for over 140 years without interruption, even during the World Wars or the COVID-19 outbreak. Our article aims to cover everything related to attending the event. We’ll provide recommendations on how to plan your visit, make it enjoyable, and have a good time after the event. Treat it like a short and useful guide with some tips.
Planning Ahead: Tickets and Travel
First things first, you have to figure out the travel-related arrangements. Despite the availability of ready-made tickets, you can easily plan the whole trip alone. First things first, you have to buy your tickets. Find the best way to reach the destination, considering the prices, timing, and other accommodations. There are plenty of services that allow you to buy online tennis tickets.
Of course, you have to choose a hotel. The US Open is a popular event, so it’s better to check for Airbnbs or hotels early since the prices tend to skyrocket as the event date approaches.
What to Bring and What to Leave at Home
And now it’s time to consider what you have to bring with you and the things to leave at home. Let’s start with the list of the prohibited items.
Here are some of the things that you cannot bring with you:
- Backpacks except for single-compartment drawstring ones.
- Aerosol cans.
- Camera and recording devices, except smartphones and DSLRs. If you bring tele lenses for the latter, ensure their focal lengths do not exceed 300 mm.
- Glass bottles and cans, except for small reusable ones.
- Large electronics, including iPads, Android tablets, and laptops.
- Flags, banners, signs.
- Laser pointing devices.
That’s not the complete list, but it gives a general picture of the things you are not allowed to take with you. Another thing to consider is an open-bag policy that limits the bag size and requires all of them to be searched.
Speaking of the things that you’d better bring with you are food, water bottles (make sure they’re clear and reusable so that you can refill them at the water stations at the venue), and food, since the local offers tend to be expensive.
During your stay, there are various ways to spend your free time. We will cover most of them later in this article. One of the ways to enjoy your time is to wager on tennis online. There are plenty of websites that will allow you to place tennis bets. Online betting is a great way to have some fun and possibly win some money.
Arriving at the Venue: Navigating the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
The tournament has taken place at that venue since the 1970s. The USTA Bullie Jean King National Tennis Center is among the largest tennis facilities in the world and operates on an all-year-round basis. Located in Queens, New York City, and offering 22 courts, the venue impresses with its size. Nevertheless, it’s easy to navigate.
Moreover, getting there shouldn’t be difficult once you are in NYC. The venue is accessible by bus, subway, and the Long Island Rail Road.
Making the Most of Your Day
The event usually lasts two weeks, with the first being more active and full of games. The first week is a “Fan” one and includes many free and paid events. The opening ceremony usually involves A-list singers performing. Apart from the courts to watch the games, there are places to dine and shop.
Watching the Matches: Getting the Best Experience
Attend the games and enjoy the show. The US Open usually features the best tennis players in the world since it’s among the four largest “Grand Slam” tournaments in the game.
The first week mainly includes qualifying matches, while the main tournament starts during the second week. There are 22 outdoor courts, with the largest being the Arthur Ashe Stadium, with over 23,000 seats. The Louis Armstrong Stadium is the next biggest court at the venue and includes over 14,000 seats. The Grandstand is the third largest. It opened in 2016, making it a relatively new court that can seat over 8,000 people.
Entertainment Beyond Tennis
Apart from the games to watch, the US Open offers many other opportunities to have some time. Below, in the next few sections, we’ll cover the ways to entertain yourself at the US Open when you are not busy watching the matches.
Checking Out the US Open Fan Experience
The first week of the event is called “Fan Week” and features many activities. During that week, there were plenty of qualifying games. The majority of the events are free to visit, but the others may require paid tickets.
Autograph Sessions and Player Meet-and-Greets
If you’re a big tennis fan, chances are you want to meet your favorite players and get their autographs. Thankfully, it is perfectly doable. The US Open does not feature any special meet-and-great type of tickets, so you are always free to wait for the celebrities and ask them for autographs. The recommended way is to wait for them near the practice courts. Ideally, you should time it to avoid large crowds.
Live Music and Events
The US Open usually features high-level musicians performing some concerts. It has been the norm in the tournament for quite some time. The list of singers that performed during the event is massive. It includes Ben Platt, Dierks Bentley, Caleb Hawley, and many others. Unfortunately, currently, there’s no information on the singers that will participate in the event in 2025 since it’s too early yet.
Staying Comfortable Throughout the Day
It’s especially important to prepare to stay comfortable between the events. Thankfully, the location features all of the needed accommodations. Still, there are some things to make your stay more enjoyable. We will list them below:
- Staying hydrated. Keep some water with you. We’ve already recommended bringing clear, reusable plastic bottles. You can refill them at any water station.
- Getting sun protection. The weather is usually sunny, so protecting yourself from the UV lights is essential. Note that your sunscreen should be of a lotion kind since spray cans are prohibited.
- Dressing comfortably. The weather is usually nice and warm during the second half of August in NYC, but thinking about possible rain protection can also go a long way.
Capturing the Memories
Of course, it’s great to have an option to reminisce about the event when it’s over. Modern smartphones have cameras, so it’s to be expected that you’ll have many photos in your roll to remember. You can also post them to social media to share with others and have quicker access to them later. If you have a dedicated camera, then it’s even greater. The event allows the spectators to bring their DSLRs and film cameras.
Post-Event Tips
After the event is over, there is something to do, to reminisce and reflect on your experience. Below is the list of things we recommend doing to remember your experience at the event.
- Ensure getting home safely. If you do not live in New York City or a neighboring area, we recommend getting the tickets home earlier since the prices will be more affordable.
- Share the experience on social media. If you’re an avid user of services like Instagram, you can post photos and videos of your cherished moments online.
- Reconnect with people. If you made friends while visiting the event, keep in touch. Reconnecting through social media is another option.
- Plan for the next year. If you are a tennis fan and want to visit the event again, planning early is the key. Wait for the early birds’ tickets, plan your vacation, and budget your finances.
Conclusion
With the popularity of the US Open, it doesn’t come as a surprise that many people want to visit the tournament. Our article aimed to provide tips for going to the event. We offered recommendations on how to prepare for visiting the tournament and staying comfortable during its duration, as well as additional tips. We hope that you found this article helpful.
