 |
|
|
|
|
|
By subway take the IRT #7 train from Times Square or Grand Central Station to Shea Stadium / Willets Point Station. The entrance to the grounds is a short walk away. For more information, check the MTA page out. It is, without a doubt, the best deal for your budget.
|
|
You can get a 7-day unlimited Metrocard ($17) or a Fun-pass card ($4 and unlimited rides for the day) for the subway. It is also valid for bus rides. Will save you money and time. If you go for the pay-per-ride card (each fare is $1.5), plan ahead and buy 10 rides at a time; you will get an extra ride for free. |
By train take the Port Washington branch of the Long Island Railroad, from Penn Station to Shea Stadium / Willets Point. It runs at certain times, so you may want to check their schedules. It is more expensive than the subway, but the ride is also faster.
By car who knows??? Besides, you don't want to get stuck on rush hour traffic, pay tolls and then pay for the parking. This is New York City and you don't want to have to deal with a car (or with your fellow new yorkers driving)
By cab: haven't you read the previous paragraph? And still want to be driven around New York? Ok, up to you...
|
|
The weather is quite nice in New York city this time of the year, but it is still summer. So here are a few essentials to pack up with you for the day:
Sun tan lotion (the players use them and so should you)
Sun glasses
A hat
A sweater; early mornings and evenings can be rather cool in September.
A light backpack, to carry around your bare necessities and not break your back.
Clothing; shorts and T-shirts will help you stay cool during the heat hours. You may want to pack something warmer if you plan to stay in the evening games. It is also a good idea to check with local TV stations for the daily weather forecast, to avoid surprises. My favorite for this, NY-1.
|
|
It would be a smart idea to pack some light snacks and maybe a bottle of water; read the eating at the US Open section and you will understand. |
|
|
The National Tennis Center is a huge complex, with two main stadiums (Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong) and several smaller tennis courts. The USTA, which is the tournament organizer, puts out two types of tickets for sale at the main entrance ticket box office:
Ground tickets will get you into the grounds and any court except for the main stadium (Arthur Ashe). They are put out for sale daily and only can be purchased for each specific day. The price (at least this last year) ranged from 25 dollars to 30, depending on the day and the stage of the tournament.
Main Stadium tickets will get you into the grounds and the featured games on the main stadium. They are more pricey but can be purchased in advance. They are good for either the morning or evening sessions at the big stadium. If you have tickets for the evening one, you will not be able to enter the grounds before 6pm.
|
|
Tickets are sold at the main entrance ticket box office. If you want to get
grounds tickets, remember there are only a limited number of them daily, so you
have to go there early to stand in line. Warning
don't try to cut the lines,
because the organizers distribute special line-tickets before the box offices open
and you have to present that ticket in order to buy an admission ticket. Main stadium tickets can
be purchased in advance, through the phone (Ticketmaster) and them picked up at
the door at the day of the event
. |
|
|
Eating at the US Open
As you may have already heard, food and beverages are quite expensive inside the grounds, and not as tasty as their price may indicate. But there are ways around it, if you are willing to go the extra mile. Here are some tips...
Go outside the grounds for drinks When you exit the tennis center, you get your hand stamped and that entitles you to re-enter later on (be careful, some time restrictions do apply, but gatekeepers will inform you as you leave). Once outside, you are back to normal (that is, New York City normal) prices. You can go around Corona Park and get drinks, hot dogs, and ice-cream from the street vendors. Another good idea is to bring a bottle of water from home and refill it in the water fountains throughout the day.
Go to Flushing Just a subway stop away (eastbound), you can step right into Flushing, Queens. This is a regular neighborhood with plenty of fast-food restaurants and other establishments you may need (ATM machines, drugstores, etc...). The prices are quite reasonable and, after several hours inside the Tennis center, you may even enjoy a change of pace. You can always go here, buy your lunch-to-go and smuggle it into the grounds (as long as you don't have cans or alcoholic drinks, they will not stop you at the door).
Eat inside the USTA Tennis Center Ok, so you still want to spend your money in the grounds...fine with me. Probably your best shot here is the buffet on the ground level of Arthur Ashe stadium; all you can eat kind of deal. You can always try the food court, with a wide selection of fast food (or probably best described as "junk food"). Then you have the "Racquets" restaurant, which besides being insanely expensive and quite ordinary regarding the food, it still have the location advantage. You can enjoy (??) your meal while watching your favorite players fight the court. It's a different kind of experience and I don't think you will regret spending the money on it.
|
|
|
|
Back to Home Page |
