Shaded Seats at US Open Grandstand

Grandstand, the third-largest venue at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, hosts early US Open tournament matches. Unlike the nearby Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, Grandstand lacks a retractable roof to shield from the sun. Instead, it features a small canopy that provides shade for some sections, leaving many others directly in the sun’s path. This article, along with the seating chart, can help you find shaded seats at Grandstand.

Where are the seats in the shade at Grandstand?

As a general rule, shaded seats at Grandstand are located:

• Sideline, West Side: General admission upper-level seats receive shade first
• Sideline, West Side: Reserved lower-level seats receive shade later in the day

US Open matches at Grandstand begin at 11:00 am, and the sun doesn’t set in New York City until around 7:30 pm. That’s eight and a half hours of tennis action under the sun.

Grandstand is uniquely asymmetrical, with more seating on the west sideline compared to the east. This design increases the number of seats shaded by the canopy. However, the reality is that most seats at Grandstand will be in the sun, especially early in the day. It’s essential to prepare for this (bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, etc.).

Tennis fans have two ticket options for Grandstand: reserved seating, which is courtside, and general admission bleacher-style seating in the upper level. Reserved seating offers proximity to the action and theoretically nicer chairs, but in practice, fans may find the bleacher sections preferable for easier access to shade.

Grandstand Orientation to the Sun

Grandstand is oriented in a northwest to southeast direction. By noon, the sun is high over the south stands, moving along the west side of the stadium throughout the afternoon, setting near the northwest corner.

The graphic below shows the approximate sun location on September 1st.

Click or tap here to see the upcoming sessions at Grandstand.

Where to Buy Tickets

Ticketmaster is the official ticketing site for the US Open and also serves as the official resale site. It is usually the best place to start your search for available seats. However, if you’re looking to purchase tickets in August or September, consider checking both StubHub and SeatGeek as well. People who bought during the presale and changed their mind or can’t attend may list on these resale sites.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at the First Grandstand Match of the Day

The morning match at Grandstand starts at 11:00 am. Fans seeking shade in the general admission section should arrive early, as shaded seats will be limited. The best spots to avoid morning sun are under the press booth or in the southwest corner under the canopy. All reserved seats will be sunny for the morning match.

Seats in the Sun and Shade at Afternoon Grandstand Matches

After the first match, shaded seats will gradually increase on the west sideline. Initially, only seats under the canopy will be shaded, expanding down rows as the day progresses. It won’t be until mid-afternoon that reserved seats begin to receive some shade.

For reserved seating, consider sections 15-20. Despite experiencing the sun initially, these sections will eventually become shaded. East sideline sections 4-9 will be sun-soaked for most of the afternoon, receiving shade only as sunset approaches.

At 2:00 pm the canopy on the west sideline provides shade to those sitting in the general admission section below. Reserved seats on both sides are still in the sun. Seats on the east sideline won’t receive shade until nearly sunset.

Ready to get your US Open tickets?

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