US Open: Tickets, Schedule, Parking And What You Need To Know

Correction: Shortly after this article was originally published, the U.S. Tennis Association announced that fans need to be vaccinated in order to enter the U.S. Open, after pressure from the Mayor's Office and local politicians.

FLUSHING, QUEENS — After closing to spectators in 2020, tennis fans will flock to the courts Flushing Meadows-Corona Park next week, when the US Open kicks off its 2021 tournament.

Qualifying matches for the Queens-based tournament began on Aug. 24, but the event’s main competitions begin Monday, Aug. 30 and run until Sept. 12.

In order to keep track of everything going on at the two-week-long tournament, Patch wrote up a guide on everything you need to know about the 2021 US Open — from where to get tickets, to where to park. Read on for our best tips.

Tickets
Individual tickets are available here, with prices ranging by day and match — some matches start at $25 per person, whereas other events don’t have tickets under $250. As a rule of thumb, events during the first week are cheaper than the quarter- and semi-finals, which kick off as of Sept. 7.

Cheaper options
Unlike years past, the US Open isn’t offering its Fan Access Pass, a cheaper alternative to tickets which enables fans to reserve spots during player practices. Fans can, however, stream practices online. Also, if you don’t want to splurge on tickets, you can still go on a virtual tour of the US Open Grounds — it’s not the same as being there in person, but it’s free.

Time and place
Each day’s first match starts at 11 a.m., until the quarterfinals begin on Sept. 7, from which point the day’s first match begins at noon.

A full schedule of events is available here, and the location of each match is listed on the tickets. If you want to enter the grounds before a match — which organizers recommend, in order to go through security — a list of the stadiums’ gate opening times is available here.

Health and safety
All US Open attendees ages 12-and-older need to show proof of vaccination in order to enter the event site. Organizers' original plan to not mandate masks or vaccination was nixed on Aug. 27, after the USTA faced pressure from the Mayor's Office and local politicians.

"Over the past day or so further evolution on what specifically qualifies as an indoor space became clear, so we needed to further adjust our protocols," USTA spokesperson Chris Widmaier told The City following the announcement of the vaccine requirement. Arthur Ashe stadium, where the event is held, as a retractable roof, rendering the space indoors during inclement weather.

Ticket holders who do not have proof of vaccination can request a refund, Widmaier told The City.

Although masks still are not required, the US Open “recommends” wearing them indoors, unless actively eating or drinking. Certain indoor locations, however, like retail stores, may require a mask for entry. Also fans ages 12-and-older need to show proof of vaccination in order to dine at the site’s indoor restaurants, per the city’s mandate, which came amid attempts to reduce the spread of the highly-contagious delta variant.

Fans also can’t bring a long list of prohibited items — including backpacks — to the court’s grounds.

On-site food, shopping
There are over a dozen US Open Collection Stores selling US Open souvenirs and apparel on site. You can find them on this map of the grounds.

The map also highlights all of the food options available on the stadium grounds. In addition to indoor restaurants there are a host of food stands with global grab-and-go options — from curry chicken wraps to ice cream and a couple of bars, too.

Public transportation and parking
You can get to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadow Corona Park on public transportation, including the 7-train and Long Island Rail Road.

You can also drive by car, but organizers caution fans to keep New York Mets games in mind, since the traffic on Mets game days is especially congested.

During Mets home games, drivers will park in blue and orange parking zones (map here), but when home games aren’t taking place, tennis goers will park in the Mets Stadium parking lot. Daily parking costs $25 per car, according to the US Open website.

The only place where rideshare vehicles, like Uber and Lyft, can pick up people is next to the New York State Pavilion. There’s a walking path, or a free shuttle, that takes fans between the pavilion and the tennis center’s South Gate.

Find more transportation information here.