Group Day at the US Open Tennis Championships

**DATE IDEAS**

A Love Match(es) at the US Open
A group date to the US Open Tennis Championships has become an annual tradition.

A friend trip to the US Open Tennis Championships has become an annual tradition! And each year, the group gets bigger — and we’re here for it!

What We Love About the US Open

Victoria has been attending the Championships for over 20 years with her family (give or take a couple years when we’ve been out of the country traveling). What started as a family trip to Flushing Meadows turned into a summer internship and then Dad/Daughter dates! Now, it’s a tradition we’ve fully embraced as a couple in our adulthood. And luckily for us, our friends have fallen in love with the sport and the event as well!

Beyond the epic tennis matches (and fun celebrity sightings), we love the atmosphere and the Honey Deuces! There’s nothing quite like the excitement of the first week and the overwhelming rush of the crowd over the first days of the tournament. And nothing compares to a night match in Arthur Ashe that drags into the early morning hours — trust us, we’ve stayed ‘til 3am to finish a match. But our favorite thing? The Honey Deuce! We love them so much, it was the signature cocktail at our wedding dubbed the “Honey, I do!”

We have loved attending the US Open over the years, and we’re excited to carry on the tradition with more of our loved ones in the coming years. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Planning a Date to the US Open

The polo matches don’t begin until 3pm, but the Club gates open to the public at 1pm.

10AM: Arrive at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
- This is a great time to explore the grounds! There are so many brand activations from the Chase pavilion to pop-ups with freebies, there’s a lot to do and see off the court. And if you’re going to immerse yourself in the tennis, you might want to tick these experiences off your list before the tennis begins.
11AM: Do you have grounds passes? Check the match schedule and claim a seat if you’re hoping to view a stadium or bleacher court.
2PM: Avoid the major lunch rush. Have a later lunch and it’ll pay off with shorter lines. Grab a Honey Deuce while you’re at it!
~6PM: The transition to night sessions is when chaos ensues! You have folks coming in for the evening matches in Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums, while folks from the day session are exiting. You can wait out the crowds and catch the tail-end of matches in the outer courts, or settle in by the fountain and grab another drink to catch the opening games of the night session that kicks off at 7pm.

Sit back and enjoy the match!

What to Know about the US Open

GUESTS

The US Open is a family affair! And honestly, as someone who has been going since childhood, had the privilege of interning there, and now attends as an adult, Victoria claims that the Open is way more enjoyable as an adult because of the Honey Deuces. We say the more the merrier, especially if you’re getting Grounds Passes.

TICKETS / SEATING

General Admission / Grounds Passes: Grants access to the entire USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center complex, except for a reserved seat in Arthur Ashe Stadium. A Grounds Pass does gain entry to all other courts (like Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand) with first-come, first-served seating and access to practice courts (although it gets very crowded when big names have reserved courts). You can also stay for the evening session on non-Ashe courts if you entered during the day. These are ideal if you want to hop from match to match!
Arthur Ashe Stadium: These tickets get you full access to the entire complex as well as a reserved seat in Arthur Ashe Stadium! If you’re eager to see a big name on the day of your attendance, nabbing one of these will be ideal. If you’re attending a day session, be aware that the stadium roof may be open and shade is limited at certain parts of the day. In our opinion, if you’re going to invest in Ashe tickets, an evening session is the way to go — the atmosphere is electrifying and the matches are usually superb! Plus, the temperature tends to cool down drastically making for a much more enjoyable experience.
Other Stadium Seating: If your goal is to get court-side in a stadium, this may be the most cost-effective route. You’ll see bigger names without the sky-high prices of Ashe. If you’d like a guaranteed seat at one of these stadiums, this is also the way to go. However, if you’re okay with sitting a couple rows higher for the match, Grounds Passes do gain you access to Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand.
Fan Week: The US Open offers Fan Week for free and every year the offering gets better. When Victoria attended as a kid, this week was usually for qualifying matches. But now it includes mixed doubles! With more big-name singles players taking on mixed doubles, you have a good chance of catching them for free! And this is an excellent time to scout and support up-and-coming talent.

PARKING

We have three recommendations — and none of them are buying an official parking pass. Trust us. We’ve had the (mis)fortune of being gifted parking passes through the years, and unless you want to be stuck in traffic for over an hour while you navigate the maze that is Flushing Meadows Corona Park, it is not worth it. Instead, try these:

Public Transportation: If you’re coming from Manhattan, or even NJ/CT, the 7-line extremely convenient, especially if you catch the Express. For those along the LIRR, there’s a stop right at the entrance of the Tennis Center! It really can’t get easier than that. And if you’re lucky (particularly on days/nights they anticipate a huge wave of traffic), they MTA will waive the subway fee and you can get on the train for free.
Citi Field: Granted this is limited to days where the Mets are not playing at home (and they always have at least a few games that overlap with the Championships), but if you’ve planned well and there isn’t a game when you’re going to the Open, this is the most convenient and stress-free parking option. For $40, you’re a short walk over the boardwalk to the Tennis Center and it’s relatively easy to get in and out of the lot, especially for night sessions and even more so, during the final week of the tournament. The attendants are well-trained and run a smooth operation.
Reserve a Spot then take the Subway: Combine the the above! Reserve a parking spot a stop or two over on the 7 line and take the subway to the Tennis Center (Mets-Willet Station). You’ll be able to find a spot for closer to $20 and avoid the majority of traffic around the park. We recommend reserving a spot via SpotHero or ParkWhiz ahead of time, if you’re able. But we actually found a garage that was cheaper to pay by the hour than to reserve online.

SNACKS & DRINKS

Just as the US Open draws the who’s who of Hollywood and entertainment, it also draws the biggest names in Manhattan’s dining world. Through the years, the roster of chefs and restaurants has evolved drastically. And the food is just as show-stopping as the tennis!

For our gluten-free friends, this is tough! There are not too many options, but we’ll do our best to call out the places we’ve tried and what we loved. The good news is that the US Open does allow your own snacks, sandwiches (non-glass containers), fruit.

Coqodaq: Known for their gluten-free nuggets and caviar, we honestly thought this was overhyped and over-rated. It was essentially the equivalent of a McDonald’s happy meal but with a hefty price tag. We’d recommend you skip this one and avoid the 30 minute line.
Grey Goose: A trip to the US Open isn’t complete without a Honey Deuce! And if you head to the Grey Goose booth in the food court area, you can even get a frozen Honey Deuce! It’s the way to go on a hot day. Grab as soon as you’re in the mood to drink as the souvenir cups do have a tendency to run out.
Korilla BBQ: Our go-to! Their bowls can be modified (no kimchi) to be gluten-free! And it’s filling and delicious. Even our non-gluten-free friends enjoyed it.
Lavazza Cafe: Start your day with a delicious coffee from one of these booths. If you head to one of these right when you arrive in the morning, the further you get from the main entrance, the shorter the lines. And when you’re in need of an afternoon caffeine boost, opt for an espresso martini!
Poké Yachty: Poké on a hot summer’s day. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options with or without modifications are available.
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream: When you need to cool down, there’s always ice cream. Given the chaotic nature of the US Open, we can’t guarantee that the staff will be as accomodating of gluten-free diets as they are in their stores. So please proceed with caution.