2023 Mubadala Citi DC Open
- Thread starter innoVAShaun
- Start date
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Anyone going? Tips and/or tricks?
It's back to being both ATP and WTA event.
It's back to being both ATP and WTA event.
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Registration for Citi Open Kids Day on July 29th is now open: https://playtennis.usta.com/ustamas...e-2013-4a82-bd71-504c990d671e?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
MyFearHand
Professional
I’ll be there on Thursday and likely for the finals as well!
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
My buddies said they had to buy stadium seats for access to qualifying weekend.
Their kids are registered for kid's day. Which is now listed as FULL.
Their kids are registered for kid's day. Which is now listed as FULL.
Hmmm...I'm not sure why they had to buy a stadium seat for qualifying. The grounds passes for the outer courts are $15. I would assume there are enough qualifying matches (men and women) to utilize all the available courts and the tournament would do that. Similar to the Open, I only bought a stadium seat if I wanted access to matches on the stadium court.
I live 3 miles from the tournament site and have attended it in 10 different years (2010 and every year since 2013; I've gone to at least two sessions every year since 2014). I bought a tournament pass this year for the first time since 2017.
Tips:
1) Bring a frozen bottle of water on hot days. The water will melt quickly, and that will help you NOT melt quickly.
2) Related to #1, there is very little shade anywhere at the Citi Open (excluding the side court seats on Court 1, the #4 court at the tournament). Wear light and/or loose-fitting clothing and a sun (wide brimmed) hat. Luckily, the number of air conditioned areas available to all or most ticket holders has expanded significantly in recent years.
3) Make sure you also bring an umbrella. It often rains during the tournament. (On very hot days it can also provide sun protection.)
4) Get the schedule of play and draw sheets at various tables around the complex. The tables that have them are normally right outside the stadium.
5) Get an earpiece radio. Assuming they are available (most years they are), they are in a large information booth on the west side of the stadium. (That location also has the sheets mentioned in #4 above.)
6) If you have a Citi credit card, you can use it to get discounts (I believe 15%) at some of the concession stands, including the main merchandise tent. There is also a small, air conditioned Citi Lounge with free snacks and drinks available only to Citi credit card holders. (IIRC, you can refill your water bottle there too.)
7) If possible, try to take the local transit buses (Metrobus S2 or S9, which operate along 16th Street NW adjacent to the facility) to travel to/from the tournament. Those buses operate on average every 10 minutes most of the day. Parking at the site is limited and expensive, and becomes even more limited when it rains due to wet grounds. (Most parking is in grassy areas.)
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innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Handicapped parking is the same lot that players get dropped off and where their lounge is. I catch them walking in and out using the same gate.
innoVAShaun
G.O.A.T.
Seatgeek has them for $15.
bobleenov1963
Hall of Fame
You're not including the $11 service fee
.Can you buy the ground pass onsite for $15 without the service fee?
bobleenov1963
Hall of Fame
What is the policy of bringing backpack to the event? In 2022, I was not allowed to bring my backpack into the event and had to leave my food and drink in the car. I came out to eat lunch and came back in after. I was allowed to bring only one bottle of water. Food and drink at the event were quite expensive
I'm traveling from out of town so a frozen bottle of water probably won't be an option. They do permit water containers up to 1L so I'm bringing my insulated water bottle. I'll plan on purchasing one drink and transferring it to that container. I'm coming from Atlanta so I'm preparing for heat in DC just like I would here. Same thing goes for clothing.
I saw rain in the forecast for both days of qualifying -- 50%. Hopefully, the chance of rain goes down as the weekend gets closer.
Great tip. The cost of buying memorabilia at tournaments has gotten outrageous. It's nice to be able to get a break via your credit card.
It has to be a clear bag with dimensions no larger than 12"x6"12". Clear backpacks that meet that spec will be allowed according to the tournament. Only one (1) liter sealed clear water bottle is allowed. You can also bring a 1L empty reusable water bottle as well. I'm hoping for some water fountains on the property.What is the policy of bringing backpack to the event? In 2022, I was not allowed to bring my backpack into the event and had to leave my food and drink in the car. I came out to eat lunch and came back in after. I was allowed to bring only one bottle of water. Food and drink at the event were quite expensive
There is a water fountain just south of the SW corner of the stadium between the stadium and Court 2 (the #5 court during the tournament). They will probably also have at least one water station set up outside the SE corner of the stadium in the area heading towards the practice courts and Court 1 (the #4 court during the tournament).
5sets
Hall of Fame
I’m going to go Tues, maybe Weds & Thurs depending on how hot it is and whether or not I’d rather play tennis than watch tennis that day lol
So far the tournament isn't really showing me its best side. I went for the first day of qualifying and needless to say they didn't/don't have their act together.
1. I caught a rideshare (Uber) to the tournament. The directions on the tournament site says you need to navigate to 4850 Colorado Ave NW. That address takes you to a parking lot for those who drove their own vehicles so my rideshare driver was directed to the NEXT driveway over for my drop-off. Not really a big deal...except that happened with every rideshare drop-off apparently. The rideshare pickup situation was even worse given that the 4850 address was that same parking lot where you couldn't be dropped off so drivers couldn't find their riders and would often cancel the pickups. I re-assigned my pickup address to 4821 Colorado Ave NW (which isn't even on the same side of the street) and my driver was able to find me thankfully. ***Strike One***
2. Walking from the rideshare drop-off takes you to the south side of the gate of the venue. Well..I was told that that gate was only for "player" access and I had to go to another gate over to the left of that one. When I got to that side of the area, I was told by another security person that there was no other gate and I would need to walk the outside of the entire venue (through the ankle wet, uneven grass) to the north side gate to enter. ***Strike Two***
3. Once I was inside the venue, I roamed a bit looking for a posted match schedule and court assignments. NONE to be found. I spoke with one of the tournament volunteers and she said that "we're still working on printing them". Keep in mind that people have been on the grounds since 9am. This is 9:45am and the first set of qualifying matches is about to start. I then wandered over to the grandstand court and asked one of the security officials if he knew who was going to be playing on that court. His answer was "You can get a schedule of play over there." He was pointing to the same booth/woman who I'd just spoken with who said they were still waiting on the match schedules to be printed. I politely told him that she doesn't have anything. He just shrugged his shoulders and went silent. Thankfully, while I was walking away, I overheard another of the volunteer commenting about no match information being available onsite but that he'd found the match schedules on the ATP WTA Live app. ***Strike Three***
Also, it was expected, but the price on EVERYTHING is astronomical!! A small scoop of gelato cost me $15 U.S.
I'll be back for the second day of qualifying today simply because I like some of the match-ups but I doubt I'll attend any of the main draw matches if the logistics aren't better sorted today.
1. I caught a rideshare (Uber) to the tournament. The directions on the tournament site says you need to navigate to 4850 Colorado Ave NW. That address takes you to a parking lot for those who drove their own vehicles so my rideshare driver was directed to the NEXT driveway over for my drop-off. Not really a big deal...except that happened with every rideshare drop-off apparently. The rideshare pickup situation was even worse given that the 4850 address was that same parking lot where you couldn't be dropped off so drivers couldn't find their riders and would often cancel the pickups. I re-assigned my pickup address to 4821 Colorado Ave NW (which isn't even on the same side of the street) and my driver was able to find me thankfully. ***Strike One***
2. Walking from the rideshare drop-off takes you to the south side of the gate of the venue. Well..I was told that that gate was only for "player" access and I had to go to another gate over to the left of that one. When I got to that side of the area, I was told by another security person that there was no other gate and I would need to walk the outside of the entire venue (through the ankle wet, uneven grass) to the north side gate to enter. ***Strike Two***
3. Once I was inside the venue, I roamed a bit looking for a posted match schedule and court assignments. NONE to be found. I spoke with one of the tournament volunteers and she said that "we're still working on printing them". Keep in mind that people have been on the grounds since 9am. This is 9:45am and the first set of qualifying matches is about to start. I then wandered over to the grandstand court and asked one of the security officials if he knew who was going to be playing on that court. His answer was "You can get a schedule of play over there." He was pointing to the same booth/woman who I'd just spoken with who said they were still waiting on the match schedules to be printed. I politely told him that she doesn't have anything. He just shrugged his shoulders and went silent. Thankfully, while I was walking away, I overheard another of the volunteer commenting about no match information being available onsite but that he'd found the match schedules on the ATP WTA Live app. ***Strike Three***
Also, it was expected, but the price on EVERYTHING is astronomical!! A small scoop of gelato cost me $15 U.S.
I'll be back for the second day of qualifying today simply because I like some of the match-ups but I doubt I'll attend any of the main draw matches if the logistics aren't better sorted today.
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5sets
Hall of Fame
Dang. They’ve had a free shuttle bus in past years from Geico in Friendship Heights directly to the ticket sales gate. Anybody know if that’s still available. If I have to Uber and all that I may as well stay home and watch it in air conditioning.
I believe there is a free shuttle but I didn't investigate where it picks up and drops off simply because I'm staying in Georgetown for work. Just easier to rideshare from where I'm staying.
And day two of qualifying was MUCH better. They FINALLY had some decent signage and volunteers out on Colorado Avenue to point drivers to the rideshare area. They also solved the south entrance issue so the general public did not have to trek through the grass to the north side of the park to enter. Still no match schedule sheets that I saw but I didn't try to hard this time because of the ATP WTA Live app.
stefmeister
Rookie
Yes, I took the free shuttle from Rock Creek Park to Friendship Heights on Sunday.
5sets
Hall of Fame
Ohhh snap! It’s on like Donkey Kong again this year! Am going Wednesday. Thanks for the confirmation.
There definitely have been a few changes so far at this year's tournament relative to previous years, most of them negative IMO.
*Limited availability of printed schedule sheets and no availability of draw sheets: having them available was a minor but very beneficial positive in past years.
*No free refreshments or snacks in the Citi Lounge: the lounge is a little bigger, which is a positive, but the lack of free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks more than offsets that.
*No Emirates restaurant/lounge (or free Emirates seat cushions): they also didn't have it last year, but I still miss it (it was located where the Citi Lounge is this year).
*No earpiece radios: helpful for hearing commentary and following matches on stadium court and sometimes John Harris Grandstand/Grandstand 1.
*North baseline seats on John Harris Grandstand/Grandstand 1: probably the biggest, positive change this year, the new north baseline seats on the second largest court are an excellent addition (saw part of Albot/Giron and all of Kasatkina/Mertens in those seats on Monday night).
*Limited availability of printed schedule sheets and no availability of draw sheets: having them available was a minor but very beneficial positive in past years.
*No free refreshments or snacks in the Citi Lounge: the lounge is a little bigger, which is a positive, but the lack of free non-alcoholic drinks and snacks more than offsets that.
*No Emirates restaurant/lounge (or free Emirates seat cushions): they also didn't have it last year, but I still miss it (it was located where the Citi Lounge is this year).
*No earpiece radios: helpful for hearing commentary and following matches on stadium court and sometimes John Harris Grandstand/Grandstand 1.
*North baseline seats on John Harris Grandstand/Grandstand 1: probably the biggest, positive change this year, the new north baseline seats on the second largest court are an excellent addition (saw part of Albot/Giron and all of Kasatkina/Mertens in those seats on Monday night).
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bobleenov1963
Hall of Fame
I noticed on Saturday that they now have ball "men and women" in addition to ball boys and girls.
Yes. This has been a thing at the majority of WTA/ATP tournaments that I've been to over the last 6 or 7 years. Adults, even some that I would guess were upwards of their 50s, are acting a ball persons.
5sets
Hall of Fame
Well I went today and it was a cluster to say the least. I don’t know if has to do with the Arab name change or what but for starters the shuttle bus was running late. In years a past I park by Geico and jump on one or a dozen shuttles well before noon when the box office opens so I can grab a grounds pass. Well this year (at least today) the first shuttle didn’t depart Geico until 1230 so we got there a little before 1 and guess what they were sold out. I mean sold out. No stadium seats. No ground passes, no enchiladas. Thankfully my cell had some battery life so I could jump on stubhub and get a ticket for resale. I paid exponentially more than years past, but it’s well worth it. I was already there so I may as well. Saw my boys JJ wolf, Frances Tiafoe , Felix Auger Allisame, Gael Monfils, Chris Eubanks, Dan Evans, and Alexander Bublik up close and personal. I’ll catch the next days at home.
5sets
Hall of Fame
The ATP and WTA are equal opportunitiy employers. No one figured a fifty year old man or woman would want to fetch balls in 85*F heat lol. I have seen them for awhile now too. Actually recognize a lot of the same faces from year to year as they are easy to distinguish from their 16 year old colleagues.
Connor35
Semi-Pro
I attended 2021 and amidst the ball kids there was one 60yo lady.
Bill Lobsalot
Hall of Fame
Kramer is again fetching balls this year at USO.
5sets
Hall of Fame
Yes those North Baseline seats on Harris were heavenly. I wasn’t sure if they were marked as they seem so bougie but the usher encouraged me to walk in and I got a front row seat behind Watanuki and Auger Alliasime. Definitely nice to have a chair back as opposed to a bleacher seat.
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