The heavenly grounds of the US open grand slam event! (Corona Park / Flushing Meadows)

Member Name: kellya1

Product:	Corona Park / Flushing Meadows
Date:	03/09/06 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great grounds, great tennis

Disadvantages: Pricey food

I love tennis, in fact it’s one of the very few sports I can watch and play. So when planning a trip to New York last year we decided to incorporate it around the US open held at Flushing Meadows….

*** History of event ***
Celebrating its 125th year, the US open is the richest professional tennis event in the world, with the winner of the singles events winning $1,200,000! This is the hard court event in the grand slam series, held late August/early September at Flushing Meadows in Queens, New York. The first U.S. National Singles Championship for men was held at the Newport Casino, Newport, R.I., in August 1881. Only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter. That was the beginning of a 34-year reign for Newport as the tennis center of the country. Beginning in 1900, the U.S. National Men's Doubles Championship was layered, with tournaments held in the East and West and sectional winners playing off to determine which team would meet the defending champions in the challenge round. The advent of the Open Era in 1968 consolidated all five major U.S. tennis championships into the US Open at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y. A total of $100,000 was offered to the field of 96 men and 63 women who entered men's and women's singles and doubles that year. Today, the US Open, now called Flushing Meadows, offers more than $18.5 Million to a field of more than 600 men and women, including qualifying.

*** Getting to Flushing Meadows ***
Flushing meadows is located in Queens around 45 minutes by subway from Manhattan. We took the metro; take the Flushing bound 7 train from Times Sq and go to Willets point-Shea stadium station, or the Queens bound E or F trains to Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue and transfer to the 7 train. If outside of Manhattan, you can also get the New Jersey Transit train to Penn station and take the LIRR to Shea Stadium station. The entrance is around a 10/15 minute walk from the metro. There is a form of transportation from the metro (a guy riding a bike pulling a cart!) at a small cost. Limited car parking is available for $13. (£8)


*** The grounds ***
Flushing meadows has around 20 courts dotted around the grounds. Apart from the main stadiums, you can dip in and out of each court depending on which match you want to see. There is no allocated seating, and you are more than welcome to stand. Before going into the Arthur Ashe for the main matches, we dipped in and out of a few doubles games whilst walking around and taking everything in. We also watched Agassi training on the practise court. I believe he played the previous day. The grounds themselves are stunning, with glorious water features dotted around, and lots of greenery for relaxing picnics.

As you’re enthralled on one match, you sometimes miss the other results. So a large screen with the days fixtures and results is prominent outside the Arthur Ashe stadium.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium is the main tennis stadium of the U.S. Open, the equivalent of Centre Court in Wimbledon. It was named after the famous African American tennis player, Arthur Ashe, who won the inaugural U.S. Open in 1968. It opened in 1997, replacing Louis Armstrong Stadium as the main stadium. Arthur Ashe Stadium features 22,547 individual seats, 90 luxury suites, five restaurants and a two-level players' lounge. It is truly spectacular! We were lucky to see the round 4 which involved Federra and Hewitt. Play started at around 1pm. We opted for the cheap seats at the back making it extremely uncomfortable with the sun beaming down, (although we were given a paper fan!) also making it difficult to see the players and even the ball at times! As it is a very steep drop it also made me feel a little nauseous at times. I couldn’t sit down for more than 10 minutes without taking a break from the sun. So I spent much of the time of the Federra match standing by the refreshments shop watching it on TV. During Hewitts match we had a walk around the stadium, and I noticed how relaxed and informal the atmosphere is compared to Wimbledon. You could talk during play, walk around, and even sit in empty seats (which we did when there was shade available!) We spent much of our day here as the main matches took place, but was forced to leave after the last afternoon match to make way for the evening audience, which I believe was Venus Williams (and was completely sold out).

*** Entertainment ***

When going to the US open I was expecting to see only tennis….but as you walk through, to the left of the entrance there is an activity tent with various tennis related games. You can see how fast your serve is, practise your return of serve, and test your speed of reaction. I literally had to be dragged out of here! You can also have your photo taken in a booth and check the Internet, or just sit and relax in a comfy chair watching the matches on a big screen! And all of this is free! Expect queues and don’t forget your camera!

*** Shops ***

Near the Arthur Ashe stadium there is a large store selling various US Open related merchandise from T-shirts to tennis balls! The prices are what you would expect of a major tournament…$20 (14) for a T-shirt, $60 (40) for a tracksuit. My only souvenir was a programme, which cost $10 (6). Despite the cost there seemed to be huge queues, so make sure you get there early.

*** Food & drink ***

Not only is there a whole food village dedicated to your culinary delights, but there are also specialty restaurants if you feel like treating yourself. I found the food very expensive (1 awful tasting hotdog $6 or £4) But there is a lot to choose from;

Aces
Vaulted ceilings, vibrant colours and a casual but elegant wine bar combine with the superlative seafood offerings of renowned chef Ed Brown of The Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center to make Aces the ultimate stadium dining experience. You can also enjoy Aces' flavorful and sumptuous cuisine in your suite with the Aces Platinum Package Series. Aces is open throughout the day and evening, and the menu includes;
Plateau Royale - The Ultimate Seafood Platter
Sea Grill Lump Crab Cakes
Black Angus Filet Mignon with Buttermilk Onions

Champions Bar & Grill
A contemporary setting with classic leather and wood accents, Champions Bar & Grill is a modern take on the traditional clubhouse atmosphere. The Grill offers premium steaks, hearty chops, fresh seafood and salads and is open throughout the day and evening. The menu includes;
Hand-selected Angus Beef - Boneless New York Sirloin, T-Bone Steak andPorterhouse for Two
Coldwater Hard Shell Lobster
Grilled Yellow Fin Tuna Steak with Pineapple and Mango Salsa

US Open Club
The US Open Club is located on the ground floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Club is available to all Subscription Series ticket holders for the duration of the tournament for a nominal entrance fee, and is included for Silver Loge Box seat holders. Specialty Items:
Grand Buffet with Prime Rib of Beef
Rotisserie Chicken with Yukon Gold Potatoes
Peppered BBQ Brisket of Beef Sandwich with Fries

Patio Café
This is the one place we stopped at as it does look very attractive, and one of the few places in the shade! Specialty Items: Spicy Thai Chicken Wings with Pineapple
10 oz. Steakhouse Cheeseburger with French Fries
Roasted Salmon Fillet with Pineapple Salsa
Bittersweet Chocolate Layer Cake
Or enjoy the different cocktails!

Food Village
Enjoy regional cuisine and specialty items at the US Open Food Village:
 Bakery Café
 Barilla's Pasta, Pizza & Salad Kitchen
 Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Shop
 Drop Shot Cocktails
 Franks and Fries
 Fresca Mexicana
 Fulton Seafood Exchange
 Glatt Kosher Stand
 Grilled Hamburgers
 Indian Cuisine
 Java Court
 Mediterranean
 NY Deli
 Savory & Sweet Crepes
 Sushi Court

*** Tickets ***

To Purchase Tickets visit the US site Ticketmaster.com, or call Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX when in American, or visit any Ticketmaster Outlet. You can also visit the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Box Office on the day. By purchasing through ticketmaster you can book well in advance and guarantee your seat, and once the schedule is announced, you can pick and choose who you want to see! We opted for the cheap seats at the very top of the Arthur Ashe stadium booking 1 month in advance through ticketmaster. Tickets were collection upon arrival, there was no queue, however the entrance is a long walk (around 15 minutes from the metro). You must take your passport, credit card and have the reservation number or they will not allow entrance. As you can see below there are a number of options to suit all budgets (£1 = $1.81)

2006 Individual Ticket Prices
Arthur Ashe Stadium Promenade

Upper Promenade Lower Promenade
Day Evening Day Evening
Mon 8/28 $48 $22 $58 $38
Tues 8/29 $48 $22 $58 $38
Wed 8/30 $48 $22 $58 $38
Thurs 8/31 $54 $34 $64 $44
Fri 9/1 $56 $36 $64 $44
Sat 9/2 $56 $36 $64 $44
Sun 9/3 $56 $36 $64 $44
Mon 9/4 $56 $34 $64 $44
Tues 9/5 $46 $49 $64 $70
Wed 9/6 $46 $59 $64 $78
Thurs 9/7 $46 $59 $64 $78
Fri 9/8 $75 N/A $95 N/A
Sat 9/9 $79 $79 $98 $98
Sun 9/10 $79 N/A $98 N/A


All seats (unless otherwise specified) are reserved for Arthur Ashe Stadium with general admission to Louis Armstrong, Grandstand and field courts based on availability.

2006 Individual Ticket Prices
Louis Armstrong Stadium

Courtside Loge
Mon - Wed 8/28 – 8/30 $115 $82
Thurs- Tues 8/31 – 9/5 $130 $95
Reserved tickets for Louis Armstrong Stadium are only sold for the first nine (9) day sessions. A reserved ticket guarantees you a seat in Louis Armstrong Stadium and allows admission to Grandstand and field courts based on availability. A reserved Louis Armstrong ticket does not allow entrance into Arthur Ashe Stadium.

2006 Individual Ticket Prices
Grounds Admissions

Day
Mon – Wed 8/28 - 8/30 $44
Thurs – Mon 8/31 - 9/4 $48

All Day matches begin at 11:00 AM & Evening matches begin at 7:00 PM EXCEPT the Sunday, September 10th match, which begins at 12:00 NOON


*** Security ***

Following the recent terrorist threats, safety is taken very seriously at US Open. My friend was not allowed to take his rucksack in with him because it was too large, and was forced to pay to leave it behind at the entrance. We had to scramble around for carrier bags so he could take his belongings in! Our bags were also searched upon entry. Here is what not to take;
1. There will be a limit of one bag per person admitted onto the grounds.
2. All bags are subject to search, must be a single compartment and not be larger than 12"Wx12"Hx16"L.
3. There will be no bag storage on the grounds. For a nominal charge, there is a bag check facility outside the grounds.
4. Prohibited items:
 sealed packages of any kind;
 briefcases;
 knapsacks/backpacks (of any kind or size);
 hard coolers or like containers;
 glass bottles or cans;
 aerosol cans or noisemaking devices;
 alcoholic beverages;
 commercial video cameras or recording devices;
 computers or laptops;
 food (except in limited quantities, or for medical, dietary or infant purposes);
 weapons (regardless of permit);
 pets (unless a service animal);
 banners or signs;
 laser pointing devices;
 tennis racquets;
 bicycles; scooters of any type; in-line skates; roller skates; skateboards;


*** Prize money ***

As I mentioned previously, it is the largest prize in a grand slam event. This year’s prize money is as follows;


Singles (Men & Women)
Base Prize Money
Potential Payout with Bonus Prize Money

Winners $ 1,200,000 $ 2,200,000
Runners-Up 600,000 1,100,000

I may go pro with those payouts!

*** Conclusion***

We had a fantastic day! The tickets are reasonably priced considering how much tennis you can actually see, the grounds were amazing and there is much more to offer than tennis. The only downside was the expensive food and drink, and lack of shade around the courts. I’m so glad I took factor 30 as I would have frazzled! The evening matches are certainly a good idea! All in all if you are in New York in September, go, watch a tennis match, you will not be disappointed!

Summary: A great place to watch some of the best tennis stars in the world