Australian Open - Tennis Fans: Plans, Photos and Tickets

Grand Slam Ticket Fan Giveaways!

Want to watch the pros at the Aussie Open up close and visit Melbourne?

Australian Open tickets are now available from Ticketmaster (via mobile app).

Middle weekend public tickets have been "exhausted" or SOLD OUT already.

Fan Warning: DO NOT buy tickets at the AO Box Office the day of the match - get them online.

Personal bad experience with Ticket Office:
They will sell you a very poor seat selection, claim it is the "only available" one and then overcharge you, especially if you are an international fan.

This happened to me at their main box office for a Margaret Court match as I wanted to see Osaka. The cashier even told me to try to resell my ticket on Ticketek - which is impossible after the session starts. Buy them online the night before, once you know the Order of Play.

I had a "big camera," but the 200mm is allowed, which they ask you a lot of questions, but have few real answers, mostly vague guesses - hint: they aren't trained properly and cannot be reliable for any info, including the practice schedule, which was completely bogus this year.

Get the right tickets to watch Roger LIVE here at the VIP Hospitality Lounge

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Australian Open

For a first-time fan, check out our Australian Open pictures for an idea of what to expect.

Happy Tennis Fan from Brazil
Rod Laver Arena

Melbourne is a great city to visit and escape the cold winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Their "Labor Day" or "Australia Day" happens at the end of their summer and usually occurs around the end of the tournament (late January).

It is cheapest to fly direct from NYC or LA, but it is worth the long flight.

So much to see in Victoria and Australia, I did a layover in Sydney - hope you can come join in the fun with us.

Also, if you can tie it into a longer layover, such as a pit stop in Sydney or Fiji, all the better. I recommend getting a cheap flight to Asia, from there flights will be much cheaper than going directly from the USA.

Known as the "Fun Slam" or "Asian Slam," it's also the Pacific Slam.

Tennis-Bargains...Bringing smiles and great deals to all our fans!

Raonic Fan from Canada
Hisense (Melbourne) Arena

These were some fellow American (North and South American) tennis fans who loved the sport but were stuck outside with no more tickets left, so we wanted to give them a chance to see some great tennis.

US Open Tennis Tickets on Sale Now

The Grounds Pass Deals

Consider buying a "Grounds Pass" that lets you be selective about which sessions to attend*. Similar to the US Open, they do not kick you out of the outer courts once the night sessions start.

You can also upgrade them to a seat at Laver or Melbourne Arena for a small fee.

Helping passionate fans is what we're all about. Sharing tennis love all over the world.

Aussie Open Discount Tickets

At every tennis event (Indian Wells and Miami in March) we give away any extra tickets to our most deserving fans. For a chance to win, follow us on Facebook!

🎾US Open Shade Map for Ashe Stadium and Armstrong

How to Find Shaded Seats at the US Open

Our US Open Shade Map helps anyone find cooler places to watch US Open tennis matches.

Whether at one of the 3 major stadiums, roaming the grounds outside, or at one of the indoor shelters with large screen TVs, fans can find the best spots to enjoy the tennis while keeping cool.

Below, the graphic illustrates how the sun will shift the shade line inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

US Open Shade Map of Arthur Ashe Stadium and Roof

Where to sit so that you're not directly facing the sun

An easy rule of thumb to find shade (or at least a slightly cooler area) is to find the side with the umpire chair. I have sat in many tennis photographers' pits over the years. It can get very hot and humid!

Peak heat and max UV are around 1-4pm

We suggest finding some shade (the cooler parts of Armstrong or Ashe) and adding some sunscreen.

The Umpire Chair side is cooler!
The side with the umpire chair is on the West Side for all US Open tennis courts or stadiums. The rule works as long as you don't sit directly behind the chair, which could partially block your view.

As you can see in the illustration, the shade line will slide slowly toward the East over time.

Green = cool. Red = hot. Yellow = partial sun.
North side gets AM sun; South-East gets some PM sun.

US Open Ashe - Section map of sunny and shaded areas

US Open Fan's tip for shade at Ashe Stadium

Try seats in the main Ashe Stadium (Sections 340 to 324). At the Loge level in Sections 122-136

These will generally be the most shaded areas. They offer cover even while the roof is open.

Moving higher up towards the top under the roof's edges also offers relief from the sun.

Lounges with Air Conditioning

Get an air-conditioned game break and enjoy some free snacks!

Explore the Chase and Amex Lounges for shelter from the heat
We suggest going into one of the US Open Lounges if you need a refreshment.

Note: the Chase Lounge will require an advance RSVP.
The Amex lounge (highlighted in blue) near the Chase Center is open to all Amex cardholders. It has a lot of fun kid activities inside with some A/C.

Chase and Amex offer free indoor spaces for cardholders - check out our fan tips and review

Want more tips? Join our US Open Insider Tips Email List Today!

US Open "Heat Shelter Map". Expect heat indexes into the 90s with Humid Conditions!

Practice Courts and Food Village

Highlighted in green are the best shade areas to rest in if you are outside the stadiums. The Practice Courts 1-5 have an area underneath that lets you watch the players' practice - they usually practice several hours before their scheduled match there.

Our "heat map" shows you the coolest places to go at the US Open and where to find relief from the sun, which is highlighted in yellow. Free swag in Purple to help you stay cool. Click the image above for a larger version.

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Sun Safety - Beating the Heat Wave
In recent summers, NYC has had heat indexes over 90 or even 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix that with bad ozone conditions (code orange or red), and being outdoors for long is a bad idea. I often hear the reason most fans avoid attending the US Open is that the heat for an entire day can be very exhausting. It can even be a danger to your health if you have any elderly fans with heart or lung problems.

I highly recommend that fans drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and stay out of the direct sun. The time between 1-4pm is the hottest period, so consider resting somewhere cooler at that time.

Take a rest under the trees or on the grass near the center

Behind the fountains, try to grab a seat on the grass or under the umbrellas in the Food Village.

If you want to watch some tennis, I recommend getting a bit higher up where there is a breeze or getting under some shade provided under the Practice court viewing area.

Smart Tips to beat the heat

Wear SPF 15 or higher, and reapply every few hours
Having a hat and sunglasses is also helpful
Buy one at the US Open, and you can take home a souvenir too!

Armstrong Stadium Shade Map

How to Find Shade under the Armstrong Stadium's Roof

I recommend buying one in Section 1 through Section 8. Below is the map of the Armstrong seating sections.

Armstrong Stadium's shade line around 1pm moves toward the Rolex Scoreboard in the afternoon

Notice the extra shade provided at the very top, just under Armstrong's roof. The stairs at the corners extend all the way up. If you stand on the very top floor near the slated sides of the building, you will sometimes feel a nice breeze vent through the building's exterior.

Armstrong at the very top, under the lip of the 2nd floor roof also has partial cover from sun

On the East side (opposite the umpire chair), there is some refuge from the sun if you climb up closer to the top. On the 2nd floor, around the entire perimeter is the "lip" of the upper deck. You should be fine if you stay next to the railings and do not enter the lower bowl's reserved seating area.

Like Arthur Ashe Stadium, look for the shade on the South and West sections. This includes sections 1-7 and 17-18.

Grandstand Stadium Shade Map

Sections 1, 2, and 3 are partially shaded near the baseline

There is less direct shade in this circular ring than in other stadiums. However, the umpire's chair side near the top of the ring has some cover and offers an easy way to walk around.

Sections 1-3 offer great baseline views and are often the most sought-after for open seating.

The lower bowl area requires a reserved ticket. Consider buying one if a good match is scheduled during the day, especially if the good Ashe tickets are gone.

If you want a rest, look for an outdoor seating area entrance with umbrellas along the side facing the Big Globe (in purple on the map). If you want a quick bite, look for the food court area along the bottom level near the east side under the stadium. Options are more limited here, but fans can walk over to the P1-P5 practice courts to check out top players practicing, too.

US Open Ticket Deals - this year's lowest prices for each stadium

Grounds Passes FAQ: the late summer sale

Purpose of the Grounds Pass

Historically, the Grounds Pass was a way to allow fans to fill spare capacity at the US Open. It was designed for the first 10 days only. When buying tickets in August and Ashe seats appear too pricey, check the grounds pass! It sets the "floor" Ashe price, offering more fans a way to go for slightly less.

US Open Grounds Admission
Newest batch released for week 1

General Seating = Great Value

The main tradeoff was that you would not have a "reserved seat". So this excluded you from Ashe Stadium and the reserved lower bowls of the Armstrong and Grandstand Stadiums.

There are plenty of "non-reserved" seats higher up and open. Generally ideal for those who are not so picky, these were a great value to roam the 20+ courts on campus throughout the day.

Demand and Price Inflation

About 10 years ago, prices were only about $60-70 for the grounds.

For 2024-2025, the median price for the Grounds Pass was around $150-$180.

Yet, the US Open still managed to set attendance records the last 3 years in a row!

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The sessions for August 27 and August 28 will both offer discount codes for tickets*
Stay tuned for the promo code and release activation details!

Full List of Seat Prices (# of dates)

Ground Admission Passes (10 sessions)
Armstrong Reserved (16 sessions)
Grandstand Reserved (7 sessions)
Ashe - All Access (20+ Day or Night)

My first US Open ticket ever was a grounds pass

I attended my first US Open ever with a grounds pass. I sat next to a friend with a 3rd row seat on the old Grandstand baseline watching a 3rd round match. I paid less than $80 and returned it for many years.

Whenever a tennis fan comes back each year, I know they have great stories and memories to share. If they only remember the high prices or overcrowded lines, then the reputation of tennis as a sport is damaged. To grow the game, the avid fans are customers for life.

Re-sell Mania Market

A year ago, they began only showing the lowest-priced resale grounds passes. So, I would ignore the $250+ prices, because they simply are prematurely priced. Wait for markets to adjust, then reconsider what is sustainable and what fans are willing to pay.

When unreasonably high, it scares away new tennis fans. The patient shopper will find more inventory in late July and again around mid-August. When more tickets are introduced, the prices will come down.

Our advice for folks who just want to get in is to buy the cheapest ticket available!
This might be Ashe, Armstrong, Grandstand, or Grounds.

US Open Standard Tickets (non-resell) will be available again this Summer

We saw 2 rounds of new ticket releases last year for 2024. We expect those ticket batches will arrive with many more Grounds Passes by August for 2025.**Update: The 2nd (and final) "rate cut" happened in mid-August, dropping on around 8/14.

Evening grounds passes (after 7pm entry) have sold out already!

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Many fans and NYC locals can't take a whole day off work. Or can't spend $200+ for Ashe tickets.

For the growth of tennis and the goal of creating lifelong fans, we want more middle-class families to be able to attend this amazing US sporting event live.