YES GO IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
and you know i'm serious when i'm using caps.
here's the deal: if you go the first week, get a grounds pass. you'll miss the "big" players on ashe and armstrong courts, but you can go into any other court. often the "not so big" players (who are still big names) will play on the outer courts and you can catch them close up.
BETTER TIP: get a grounds pass for the first week and watch the doubles schedule. they NEVER put doubles on the big courts in the first week, and you can see some really big names that way. i have gotten front-row seats to see martina play twice that way.
if you want to go into Ashe stadium it can be expensive. if you get nosebleed seats you can still see some action, but it's not the same. it's better to get a cheap ticket that will get you into armstrong stadium, which is smaller and you can see better.
if you do end up in the nosebleeds during a night session and lots of people in the lower areas have left, they will often offer a "come on down" and let everyone from the upper sections into the lower sections. i was ready for that last time i went (2 years ago) and so we score courtside seats for the last match of the evening that way.
as for taking cameras -- you CAN take them, but you CANNOT take a backpack. so bring a camera and one lens. you'll probably want a zoom, but remember that you will have to carry it around all day. last time i was there i had to beg to get in (i made nicey nice with one of the guys who let me in), but there were a number of people being turned away. don't even try to bring any kind of bag if you can help it.
if you're staying in manhattan, take the LIRR to get to the tennis center. it's way faster (and nicer) than the subway.
and if you see Summer Sanders (former swimmer, now a sports commentator), tell her she owes me $8.50!! we were sitting on the ground eating our lunch and she and a camera guy came running through to catch a player and she stepped on my cheeseburger.
hmmm. i think that's most of my advice. HAVE FUN! i was going to go this year but am traveling elsewhere instead. maybe i'll go again next year. :) |
