Question for those who've been to the USO @ Arthur Ashe Std

[sadowsk2]

Hi... My wife and I are taking a one night trip to NYC in September, and it happens to be night of the Men's Quarterfinals... I'm willing to fork out the coin for court-side seating (yes, I know how damn expensive they are) as I view this as perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to go the USO. My question is, for those folks who frequent the USO, in particular matches later on in the tourney played in side AA Stadium, do they have ushers that check your ticket for the court side seats, or are they pretty liberal with allowing folks to move down from high up and fill in the court side seats... I'm not keen on spending the coin if they don't have ushers checking tickets and its more or less a free for all in moving down to the court side. I'm bringing my DSLR with 100-400mm lens and wanna get some great shots. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Again, the ONLY available day I can go is the night session for the mens quarters... wonder if they check the tickets for people looking to sit courtside.

Thanks!

[dozu]

I am just guessing based on limited experience.

I know during the first week, I had some cheap tickets, and got exchanged to court side so that the TV coverage can show a fuller looking stadium.

deep into the 2nd week you maybe out of luck (again, just guessing)

in any case, ushers do check.... it's not like you can just walk down to court side.

[sadowsk2]

Thanks- Thats what I figured... I just wanted to make sure before I drop an absurd amount of coin on some court side tickets... i just wanted to confirm its not easy to move forward and see folks that did it while I ended up paying a boat load of coin!

[DCaicedo]

I second what dozu said:
there's no way you're going to sqeak by and sit courtside without the usher checking your ticket- especially for 2nd week, quaterfinal action.
That place does get filled for quarters/semis

[rommil]

The ushers will check, especially for the reasons listed above, plus the seatholders are most likely to show up anyway, seeing theres no action going on outside AA. The night crowd will be more the local New York crowd, it will be louder and "drunkier" than the
day session.

Oh btw, the night session is usually cold, especially in the stadium. Sweater or a jacket would be highly recommended. Have fun there!!

[ollinger]

You can move down with ease -- as long as you've taken care of the usher first. In my experience, a twenty dollar bill, per person, is expected. Welcome to the Big Apple!!

[dennis10is]

Originally Posted by sadowsk2

Hi... My wife and I are taking a one night trip to NYC in September, and it happens to be night of the Men's Quarterfinals... I'm willing to fork out the coin for court-side seating (yes, I know how damn expensive they are) as I view this as perhaps a once in a lifetime opportunity to go the USO. My question is, for those folks who frequent the USO, in particular matches later on in the tourney played in side AA Stadium, do they have ushers that check your ticket for the court side seats, or are they pretty liberal with allowing folks to move down from high up and fill in the court side seats... I'm not keen on spending the coin if they don't have ushers checking tickets and its more or less a free for all in moving down to the court side. I'm bringing my DSLR with 100-400mm lens and wanna get some great shots. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Again, the ONLY available day I can go is the night session for the mens quarters... wonder if they check the tickets for people looking to sit courtside.

Thanks!

You can bribe the ushers and they'll let you sit down. It is an embarassment that these "volunteers" making huge amount of money taking bribes. These positions are highly desired by these crooks and I think you have to be connected to the USTA in order to secure being one of these "usher" positions on the main courts or the lower seats at Armstrong.

Anyways folks, this is how it works with the USTA, corruption everywhere. You would think that since this is a USTA event, that they will stop this sort of thing but they don't. So now you have an idea of the USTA true color.

Also, Canon 100-400 L lens is not allowed, it is too long a focal length but if you bribe enough people they'll let you in. I have that lens but can't bring it in but asked somebody who did, and they have no press credentials, but were Europeans on a tennis tour so I think the tour guide bribed the security people.

[sadowsk2]

Originally Posted by dennis10is

Also, Canon 100-400 L lens is not allowed, it is too long a focal length but if you bribe enough people they'll let you in. I have that lens but can't bring it in but asked somebody who did, and they have no press credentials, but were Europeans on a tennis tour so I think the tour guide bribed the security people.

Really? Most of the research I've read online indicates most folks have been successful at just walking in with the 100-400L... I've read that a few gate guards may give you grief but simply moving to another gate usually solves the problem... Additionally, reading the USTA's list of "banned things" indicates that photography items are NOT on the list of banned things... Only video cams...

[dennis10is]

Originally Posted by sadowsk2

Really? Most of the research I've read online indicates most folks have been successful at just walking in with the 100-400L... I've read that a few gate guards may give you grief but simply moving to another gate usually solves the problem... Additionally, reading the USTA's list of "banned things" indicates that photography items are NOT on the list of banned things... Only video cams...

Looks like this year they are don't have the "professional grade equipment" phrase. I've had to leave my Canon L lens outside in prior years. The "head" of security say that the lens can't be too long. They have no idea.

The year I had to leave my 70-200 outside, was the year I saw someone with a 100-400.

[sadowsk2]

I ended up buying Courtside seating, in section 55 row G... For those folks who venture to AA stadium, do you think I'll be able to grab some good shots assuming i get my 1D + 100-400L inside the stadium??? I have no idea how far (in yards/meters) that seating section is from the actual court...

[dennis10is]

The chair will block your view of the north side of the court but you are way close for the 100-400. If you have the 70-200 it may be a better choice, bring the 1.4x TC along. The AF will be faster with the 70-200 f2.8.

That side is better because the sun will not be shining on your face for most of the day. Bring a hat to provide shade on the back of your neck and you'll feel much cooler.