Experience the US Open Tennis Championships for Free
If you love energy and excitement it is hard not to love New York City combined with the US Open Tennis Championships. The finale of the Grand Slam Tournaments, it draws not only current and former professional tennis stars, but celebrity fans and tennis enthusiasts from all over the world. It can be hard to justify spending hundreds of dollars on tickets to the US Open matches, especially if you have kids.. but what if you could capture the experience for FREE?
US Open Fan Week
The week prior to the start of the first round matches, you can experience the US Open Tennis Championships for free! Starting Monday, August 18 to Saturday, August 23 the grounds at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY are free and open to the public. This week combines the qualifying tournament and top player practice sessions, so there is excellent tennis to watch, combined with daily events and family-friendly activities.
US Open Fan Week – Free events
Throughout the week of August 18-23rd the qualifying tournament is free and open to the public on courts 4-17. Everyday, you can watch players practice both at Louis Armstrong Stadium and the Grandstand. There are also kid-friendly activities around the grounds, including Face Painting and roving entertainers. There is music at the Fountain Plaza during the day and Heineken Happy hours from 5-7pm. Merchandise and food vendors are open and ready to sell you tasty food and US Open swag.
Fan Access Pass – free registration
Register today for your US Open Fan Access Pass to get into even more events. The Fan Access Pass is completely free, takes 2 minutes to sign-up and gives you even more options during Fan Week. During Fan Week, you can enter Arthur Ashe Stadium to watch the top players practice and can hang out at the Advantage Arena gaming zone. On Friday, August 22 – Fan Access pass holders can head to the US Open Media Day from 12:00-2:00pm at Arthur Ashe Stadium and stick around for the US Open Block party from 7:00-10:00pm.
The Fan Access Pass can be downloaded to you Apple or Google Wallet and is only required for adults.
Ticketed Events
Bring the whole family to the Stars of the US Open presented by Chase on Thursday, August 21 and enjoy some amazing tennis at a fraction of the cost. The play starts at 7:00pm so you get the full US Open Tennis Championship experience under the lights. Tickets start at $45 for promenade seating and go up to $140/ticket for courtside seats.
American Express cardholder benefits
American Express partners with the US Open Tennis Championship to offer additional perks. As an American Express cardholder you have access to buy US Open tickets a few days prior to the general public, which is typically the end of May.
There are also 2 lounges you can access to find a spot to relax away from the crowds, the Cardmember lounge and the Centurion Lounge. Check out American Express FAQs for US Open lounge access details and reservations. In the past years, these lounges were also open during fan week, some require reservations.
Chase Customer Benefits
Chase Bank is also a sponsor of the US Open Tennis Championships. They host the Stars of the US Open on Thursday, August 21 and offer deals for seating (TBD at the time of posting). Like American Express, there is a Chase Lounge open for customers. In the past, reservations were required starting the first day of play on August 24, with first-come, first serve access during Fan Week. Sign up at Chase Experiences to make reservations.
Where to Stay
There are several considerations about where to stay. First, staying close to the grounds is ideal if the US Open is the focus of your visit. If you are doing other things in New York City, the grounds can be reached by the 7 metro train from Grand Central Station. Second, August in NYC is pretty hot and muggy, so after a long day my kids would love to have a pool at the hotel to cool off. There are great hotel options and if you plan ahead you can lock in some excellent free stays!
Hyatt Place Flushing/LaGuardia Airport
The award price rooms book up fast during the US Open week, but there is availability for Fan Week. Book a king room with sofabed for 18,000 points and you will be a 20 minute walk to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Learn how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to book your Hyatt stay.
The Westin Flushing LaGuardia Airport
This is a new Marriott hotel and if you signed up for the new Marriott offer, you can use your free night certificates since the points price during Fan Week is just below 50,000 points/night. This hotel has a pool and is about a 30 minute walk to the grounds or plan to hop on the 7 train to cut down the walk.
Four Points by Sheraton Flushing
The Four Points by Sheraton in Flushing is another Marriott hotel which you can book on points or with your 50,000 free night certificate, although double check the cash rate too. It is walkable or a short metro ride to the tennis center and has a pool.
This intimate experience, although not a semi-final or final match, is a great way to introduce kids to tennis and have an opportunity to enjoy the US Open Tennis Championships for practically free!
