Do you need tickets for Arthur Ashe?

Arthur Ashe Stadium, located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York, is the main tennis stadium of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It is the largest tennis stadium in the world and has a capacity of around 23,000 people.

The stadium is named after tennis legend Arthur Ashe and hosts the US Open every year at the end of August and beginning of September. This is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments and features the top professional tennis players in the world.

Many people want to attend the US Open to see the world’s best tennis players competing for the major title. As one of the biggest sporting events in New York and the country, tickets are always in high demand. This leads to the common question – do you need tickets to get into Arthur Ashe Stadium for the US Open?

Do You Need Tickets for Arthur Ashe Stadium?

Yes, tickets are required for entry into Arthur Ashe Stadium to watch matches at the US Open. There is no general admission or ability to walk in without a ticket. All spectators must purchase tickets in advance in order to enter the stadium and watch the matches.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) sells all tickets for the US Open online through the US Open website or Ticketmaster. There are typically no tickets sold directly at the venue during the event. The USTA wants all fans to have tickets before they arrive to control access and crowds.

There are a few different types of tickets available for Arthur Ashe Stadium:

• Individual match tickets – These allow you access to a specific match session in Arthur Ashe. Match sessions are generally broken up into day session (starting at 11am) and night session (starting at 7pm).
• Luxury suite tickets – These premium tickets come with access to a private luxury suite in Arthur Ashe with food/drinks. They are more expensive than regular seats.
• All tournament tickets – These packages allow you access to multiple sessions throughout the 2 weeks of the US Open. This allows you to see many different matches.

No matter which type of ticket you want to purchase, they must be bought ahead of time online or through an authorized ticket seller. Tickets typically go on sale to the general public 6-8 months in advance of the US Open.

Ticket Prices

How much do tickets for Arthur Ashe Stadium cost? Ticket prices can vary greatly depending on the specific session, seat location, and day of the week. In general, these are the price ranges:

• Individual match tickets – $75-$550 per ticket
• All tournament pass – $850-$3000+ per pass
• Luxury suites – $4000+ per suite

Some key factors that affect Arthur Ashe ticket prices:

• Match-up – Tickets are more expensive for sessions with star players (Federer, Serena) or late round matches
• Day of week – Weekend tickets (Sat/Sun) are typically 50%+ more than weekday (Mon-Thurs)
• Seat location – Front row seats can be 5-10x more than upper deck seats
• Session time – Night session tickets are often more in-demand than day

Here is a table showing sample Arthur Ashe ticket prices for different sessions and seat locations:

As you can see, there is high variability based on the specific session. The finals on Saturday is clearly the highest demand and most expensive ticket.

Getting Cheap Tickets

If you want tickets to the US Open but don’t want to pay exorbitant prices, there are a few options:

• Buy early – Tickets are cheaper the earlier you buy, often 6+ months in advance
• Go on weekdays – Monday through Thursday tickets can be 50% less than weekends
• Sit in the upper deck – The highest rows are much cheaper than lower sections
• Avoid prime sessions – Day session and early rounds are generally cheaper
• Last minute deals – Some ticket sellers slash prices at the last minute to sell inventory

Buying individual match tickets on weekdays in the upper deck is your best bet for affordable tickets in the $100 range. You can also try waiting until the day before or day of and buying last minute deals online. Just make sure to only use authorized ticket sellers like the US Open site to avoid fakes.

The cheapest overall way to see the US Open is with an all tournament grounds pass. This allows you access to the entire venue for all 2 weeks to roam around and watch matches on the outer courts. These passes can start around $100-150 for juniors and seniors.

Kids and Senior Tickets

There are discounted US Open tickets available for certain groups:

• Juniors (ages 13-17) – $25+ per ticket
• Seniors (65+) – $50+ per ticket
• Military/Veterans – Discounts vary, must show ID
• Kids (12 & under) – Free with paid adult ticket

Kids 12 and under get in for free with the purchase of an adult ticket. They must sit in the adult’s lap for the duration of the match though.

Juniors and seniors can get substantial discounts on most ticket types. This includes 50% or more off individual match tickets. For an all tournament pass, juniors can pay as low as $100.

Those with a valid military or veteran ID can get discounts on select US Open tickets as well. The discounts typically range from 10-40% off regular prices.

Getting Sold Out Tickets

Many of the prime sessions like the finals weekend, prime night matches, and matches with star players sell out months in advance. If you want to get tickets to a sold out session, you have a couple options:

• Ticket resale sites – Stubhub and SeatGeek let people resell tickets, usually at a markup.
• USTA fan resale – The US Open runs an official ticket exchange where fans can resell.
• Ticket upgrades – You may be able to pay the difference to upgrade your current tickets.
• Outside the venue – Fans sometimes sell extra tickets outside the stadium.

Sites like StubHub are the most common option to find last minute tickets, but prices are inflated 20-50% typically. Still, it may be your only way in besides directly upgrading your own tickets.

Some people also buy the cheapest grounds passes they can find, then try to sell them and use the money to upgrade to a sold out Ashe session. This is risky though, as you aren’t guaranteed to make the sale.

Other Key Information

Here are some other quick tips to know about attending the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium:

• Entry is first-come, first-served within your ticketed session
• Bring as little as possible – no large bags allowed
• No backpacks or chairs allowed
• No outside food or drinks (unopened water bottles ok)
• Take public transportation – parking is $40+ and limited
• Know the code of conduct – no heckling players etc.
• Matches often last 2-5 hours – be prepared for a long day
• Print or download mobile tickets in advance

The key is arriving early, limiting what you bring, knowing the rules, and being prepared for a long exciting day at the US Open!

Conclusion

Arthur Ashe Stadium provides an electrifying environment for watching tennis’s top athletes compete in the final Grand Slam of the year. Advance tickets are mandatory for entry and often sell out quickly for the most popular sessions. While some ticket prices can be expensive, especially for premium seating, there are ways to get affordable tickets too. Understanding the guidelines for entry, preparing adequately, and having reasonable expectations on length makes for an enjoyable day at historic Arthur Ashe Stadium.