US Open Grandstand: Opening Day Preview and Swag

US Open - Full Fan Preview & Grandstand Map

After 3 days at the US Open this weekend, I wanted to share my tips and findings with all the US Open tennis fans from around the world. Should give you an idea of what to expect*

Millions of fans will be attending this year in NYC or following it online and on TV.
Our goal is to make your experience fun, safe, and most importantly a good value.

Personal Weekend Experience and Opinions:
Two days of Qualifiers plus Arthur Ashe Kids Day. I witnessed a lot of new things while they were on my preview tour of the grounds at Flushing Meadows.

The Good - Great New Venue and Sponsor Freebies

*NEW*: Our Insider's Instagram - US Open Grandstand Map is now on Instagram
- FOLLOW US for Secret TIPS and info about this new stadium!

Grandstand Court - US Open Map Guide

Grandstand Lounge - hidden secret on the far side
Access up the stairs. Turn LEFT after you pass the SMART car booth

New 2016 US Open Grandstand Court - most-shaded seats looking towards Ashe

Bonus: New Grandstand Stadium

Absolutely gorgeous architecture and a facility designed by Rossetti Architecture.

The flow of the tennis campus now draws crowds in more of a circular path, but bottlenecks still occur at the food court pavilion and effectively isolate Court 17 as it is in the opposite corner from everything else.

A few tricks to save yourself time and sweat: Walk *behind* the new Grandstand stadium area. Stick to the paths at the South edge and West Edge. There is a "secret" back entrance along the South side of the Grandstand...with lounge seating and a private bathroom if you go all the way up to the top of the Grandstand. This is where most of the ESPN crew go to use it. It's like a private little hotel up there.

Also, another optimal and shaded path you can take is between the P1-P5 courts and cut through to see the new Grandstand.

Summary

1) Good = New Grandstand Stadium and Ashe Roof. Great Weather. Lots of Tennis.

2) Bad = HIGH Food Prices. Still not Tech Savvy. Lack of Easy Info.

3) Ugly = US Open Staff Service (not everyone) - a few rotten apples in the big apple...more later

Best Perks of US Open Freebies

Free US Open Game Ball. My favorite tennis souvenir.
Tip: Go early morning to find them next to the practice courts!

All USTA members can pick up this cooling towel FREE!

Get your free US Open art poster
Just show them your pre-sale ticket.

Free Fan! Visit Orlando = Fan Friendly

Go inside the American Express Private Lounge
Amex Card gets you upstairs for Beverages and Snacks :)

US Open: The Ugly side of the US Open - what to avoid!

Tip: Look for the Good and the beware Bad.

WALL OF SHAME

Check this out: Mr. Clueless Fan with the flip flops.

CHALLENGE: Can you name 3 things wrong with the picture below??

*The Clueless Fan* (yes, I know we've all seen them before...)
Here's a funny one fan who come into the US Open with complete disregard for his fellow fans.

Surplus of bad US Open Jobs
If you work at the USTA membership booth, I expect you to be able to find my USTA number quicker than I could by simply looking up Gmail.

If you run the bathrooms, please do not be sitting in there, watching video on your cell phone while charging and just pretend to stand in the doorway with a trash can in the way to try to block people from entering.

If you are an usher, be a good docent and guide of Tennis. Just by telling people to leave and yelling at kids like a Soup Nazi isn't your whole job. From the Sound of it, you don't enjoy it. Well, let me say there are lots of other people who would be happy to do your job instead - step aside.

When I'm ordering my food at the food court, do you really need 3 cashiers standing around who cannot figure out how to turn on one cash register? How about you give me just 1 single competent cashier.

NYTimes Article: Where the $ Millions of US Open Really Going?

State of (In)-Security: Contracted Hoodlums

Rising prices for USTA annual memberships and organizational member fees I pay do not seem to be recruiting any talented USTA staff. Most of them are not-tech-savvy at all and who have NO CLUE about marketing. Yet annually, the US Open spends $12+ Million on marketing expenses!

In fact, I usually see 2x-3x more USTA staff just standing around than doing actual work. That includes in the bathrooms, staff, ushers, security and guest service folks who actually will snatch money out of your hands when you're going through the bag check area.

Be careful with your possessions! Even the US Open staff cannot be trusted to be professional (more on this later...part 3 of the Ugly).

One of many Bullies working for Guest Services at US Open this year. Probably not getting paid enough, so has resulted in several instances of staff reportedly taking bribes and stealing at access control points around the stadium. This one was at the East Gate near the NTC.

Gregory Y. Rabener, 40 Cheslan Ct, Oceanside NY:
"This is MY property now...I may or may not give it back to you..."
After refusing to return my property pass, money and paper receipts stuck to my daily access media wrist band.

Guest Services Employee "Randi" warned by ATP ref 3 times! Stop walking during play at Court 17.
Not sure where they hire these "guest service" employees from.
If you don't know tennis etiquette - find another job you bum!

US Open staff hiding at the back of Grandstand and Court 8.
Again, you see these Staff sitting around or sleeping (on the right) at important checkpoints.
Zero accountability by the supervisors who let this behavior happen daily!

Big question to US Open: Where are the Supervisors?!

What are they doing to fix this? Worst they have many of them just sitting around to collect a paycheck. I recommend hiring competent staff / reduce the numbers of redundant positions. Or find volunteers who *love tennis* as they do at the Cincy Open and do a better job for FREE than most US Open paid employees.

Several times there are Ushers who know little or nothing about tennis. They simply stand there giving fans the evil eye all day long - especially those working in the P1-P5 areas. Occasionally at P5 there were some helpful ones that could actually identify the player playing and offer helpful suggestions. I tried to do this for a few fans who came up to me: "who's famous here"? I pointed out Monica Puig (Gold Medalist for Women's Doubles). Unfortunately, the Usher standing there was surprised as the young fan who asked the question. Let's get some knowledgeable

Don't be rude, know that we see you hiding there...
I want to highlight the staffers who are going the extra mile. But for those who are treating my fans with disrespect - I have no patience. Not even in NYC, there's no excuse to be rude and unprofessional at an important tennis event shared by the world.

In my book, you don't get away with being a jerk or stealing patron's hard earned money. Period.

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US Open Amex Offers

See all the US Open Amex Perks here on their official page

Spend $100 or more at participating on-site merchants between August 26, 2024 and September 8, 2024, get a one-time $10 statement credit.
Spend $2 or more with the MTA by tapping to pay, get $2 back, up to two times (total of $4)
Card Member Offers and Perks (terms apply):
- When the tournament begins, Card Members can pick up an iconic American Express Radio to help keep them tuned in to all the match action no matter where they are on the grounds.
- Get a $5 bag check discount at the Main Entry and Champions’ Entry when they show and pay with their Card.
- Did you miss the American Express Pre-Sale and 2-for-1 Deals?


Get your free US Open art poster Just show them your pre-sale ticket.