USO 2018 who is going and any advice for first timers.

[JerryD]

We are considering a trip to New York this year and I thought if I could tie it in with the USO it would be amazing.

I have never been to either New York or the USO, I've never been to the states at all. KevD has but not me.

Anyway just looking to see how and when people have got tickets. Who has been and any hints or tips. Ideas on pricing etc. Recommended hotels etc

Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys

[WimbledonWestie]

Angie has been so I'm sure she'll have plenty tips- she's in Oz just now tho.

[JerryD]

I thought she had. Thanks WW. I know it's early to be thinking about it but we are just planning our year lol. Rather than one big holiday for our 15 year anniversary we decided on a couple of shorter ones.

[supergran]

We are considering a trip to New York this year and I thought if I could tie it in with the USO it would be amazing.

I have never been to either New York or the USO, I've never been to the states at all. KevD has but not me.

Anyway just looking to see how and when people have got tickets. Who has been and any hints or tips. Ideas on pricing etc. Recommended hotels etc

Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys

I bought ground passes when they became available. Just log in to USTA and keep up with information. Easy to book ground passes. I also collected them there, simple. When we found out where Andy was playing just went and bought tickets for Ashe. Better chances of this in the first week but are available in the second. We stayed at the Wellington in Manhattan but there are plenty of budget hotels, apartments etc available. From Manhattan it's the No 7 train to the tennis centre. When I see you Ill try and remember more. About prices tickets are surprisingly cheap fir ground though can't remember at the moment. Ashe is reasonable if you're happy to sit high up. We weren't so did pay a lot for excellent courtside seats.

[JerryD]

Thanks SG. I think we would be looking to spend more and sit lower down. Don't need amazing seats but sooner not up in the skies. It will be for my birthday and our anniversary so wouldn't mind paying extra. I didn't realise you could get groundies and then buy tickets for Ashe there. I read a lot of reviews and advice online in which people had got the tickets on the net in advance.

Not sure how many none tennis days we'd have in NY still trying to work it all out.

[WimbledonWestie]

I think Angie stayed in a hotel in Queens, I remember it had a lovely rooftop bar with views of Manhattan skyline. Like SG she found it pretty easy to get tickets.

[Caro]

I have also been to USO although it was years and years ago! We bought tickets in advance and just collected them at a kiosk on the day, The best thing about USO was that the "ground passes" get you into any court except Ashe. I am assuming that still applies. And the seating on all the courts is first come first served (except Ashe). I was expecting a mad rush to get seats but not at all, it was really easy to get in to any of the courts and nowhere was particularly crowded unlike Wimby (it may have changed of course). We had tickets for Ashe which were not that much more expensive than groundies but are the ones up in the gods. As SG says the courtside ones are quite a lot more.

[angiebabez]

Jerry D will message ya with some tips once im home. Caro with groundies u cant sit anywhere on the other 2 show courts now...the bottom tier are all for reserved. But its a pretty decent view even from higher tier. On ashe personally i would pay a little bit more and get loge seating (especially if andy is playing) which is up from courtside but not up in the high tier....for me that was just too far away. The players were like ants on the court.

[JerryD]

Had a look and I do think that loge is what we will go for on Ashe. I’ve been checking out tips and research. I forgot that the plan was for there to be a roof on Armstrong for this year. I think we are going to reserve seats on Armstrong and Ashe. I was planning to get a grounds pass for another day but it seems that it’s about the same to get a promenade seat in Ashe and that does offer rain cover so will probably do that instead of grounds.

I have found this website very helpful ... http://www.roadto45tennis.com/a-serious-tennis-fans-tips-for-the-us-open-tickets-more/

Tickets go on sale at 2pm here tomorrow

[JerryD]

Angie when You had the loge seats were you near the front of that block? I think courtside will be out of my price range on Ashe with everything else we want from the trip

[JerryD]

Quick note - security rules say no back packs. They were making people store them outside. Also confiscating aerosols. Just for anyone coming. Plastic bottles are fine and there are water fountains around to fill them