Shaded Seats at Arthur Ashe Stadium

Arthur Ashe Stadium is the world’s largest tennis venue and the main stage for the US Open. The final grand slam of the tennis season begins in August and runs into September. New York City can be brutally hot at this time of year, with plenty of heat and humidity expected during the tournament. Fortunately, tennis fans can use this article to identify the shaded seats Arthur Ashe Stadium and stay cool during the matches.

Where are the seats in the shade at Arthur Ashe Stadium?

Generally, shaded seats at Arthur Ashe Stadium are located:

• Baseline, South Side: Shaded the entire day
• Sideline, West Side: Shaded on the upper levels early in the day, and shaded on all levels after 2:00 PM
• Promenade Level, Back Rows: Uppermost seats are under the non-retractable portion of the roof, providing consistent shade

In 2016, a retractable roof was added to Arthur Ashe Stadium. However, this addition did not transform the venue into a climate-controlled stadium like those used in MLB and NFL. The roof’s primary function is more akin to an umbrella to allow play to continue during rain. If rain is not in the forecast, expect the roof to be open with the sun shining through.

Arthur Ashe Stadium Orientation to the Sun

Arthur Ashe Stadium is oriented northwest to southeast. By noon, the sun is high over the south stands. Throughout the afternoon, it dips behind the west side of the stadium, setting near the northwest corner. This orientation makes the south and west sides of the stadium the “shade sides” and the north and east sides of the stadium the “sunny sides.”

The graphic below shows the approximate hour-by-hour position of the sun throughout the day during the US Open.

Click or tap to see a seating chart for the next session at Arthur Ashe Stadium

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Early Afternoon Arthur Ashe Stadium Matches

When fans arrive for the first match of the day at 11:30 AM, approximately half of the seats at Arthur Ashe Stadium will be in the sun, while the other half will be in the shade. As the afternoon progresses, the percentage of shaded seats increases. To avoid the sun for the entire day, fans should aim for seats in sections 126-136, 101-103, 329-340, or 301-303. For courtside seating, sections 1-7 and 60-67 offer the best bet for shade. It’s important to note that sections 47-58, located on the west side, will be sunny during the day’s first match but will gradually receive shade as the afternoon progresses. By around 2:00 PM, all rows in sections 47-58 are fully shaded.

Sections on the north and east sides of the stadium are likely to receive sun for several hours, and in some cases, for the entire afternoon. Seats in sections 108-122 are sun-soaked, and courtside sections 14-24 face direct sunlight. A few minutes before 3:00 PM, the shade line will cross the court and reach the Photographer’s Pit. By 3:05 PM, the shade reaches the first row of sections 14-24 and then gradually moves upward over the next couple of hours, covering rows closest to the court first.

For fans who don’t mind higher seating, many of the 300-level promenade sections are shaded because they are directly under the non-retractable part of the roof. However, the first few rows in these sections, particularly on the north and east sides, are exposed to the sun. While promenade seats offer decent protection from the sun, Arthur Ashe Stadium is a cavernous venue and these sections are located far from the court, which means there’s a tradeoff between enjoying shade and having a close-up view of the match.

Around 2:00 PM, when the court is still sunlit, fans can find shade on the south (right) and west sides of the stadium, as well as in most upper-level promenade sections directly under the roof.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Late Afternoon Arthur Ashe Stadium Matches

Later in the day, there are more shaded seating options. For day session matches that run into the early evening, sections 1-47, 101-122, and 301-325 offer sun protection. Avoid sections 13-28, 108-115, and 310-317, as they receive the most sunlight for the longest time. Also, be cautious with seats in the southeast corner, like sections 104-107 and 305-309, as some seats may be in the path of the setting sun.

Night session matches start as early as 7:00 PM, about a half hour before sunset. Fans in sections 105-113 and 305-313 may get one last blast of sun before it is fully blocked by the stadium. Realistically, fans with night session tickets shouldn’t stress too much about the sun as it won’t be more than one set before the tennis switches to play “under the lights.”

Later in the day, after the shade line has crossed the court, sections in the mid and upper levels on the east side of the stadium are sunny, while seats everywhere else are in the shade.
Photo by Cynthia Lum/Icon Sportswire

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Use the individual session links or click or tap here to see the upcoming US Open sessions at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

US Open Ticketing Guide

The US Open is an event with a complex array of ticketing options and tickets are always in high demand. Our Essential Shade Seekers’ Seating Guide to the US Open helps you navigate the stadiums and and understand the ticketing options, with a specific focus on finding shaded seats.