What's the deal with US Open Attendance?

[Robert F]

Just watched Kerber vs. Wozniacki. A semi-final. The upper stands were empty and near the end of the match I saw more blue seats then people watching the game. Once it was over there was almost no one for the winner to shoot balls too. That's got to suck to have a terrific match and to have no one there to cheer you on.

Way too many open seats throughout the tournament. I understand in lower events with low ranked players during the week why the stadiums are empty, but seriously in a big venues like this every stadium should be full at least in week 2. My memory might be poor, but I though the US Opens of yesteryear were jammed packed.

Is this due to corporations buying out seats and then not necessarily using them?
Is TV a better venue to watch tennis?
Or is tennis dying in the US despite pretty good worldwide popularity?

 

[NuBas]

I always wondered why people from the top don't come down to fill in the seats. I have also wondered how many people in the audience actually follow tennis and how many are just there because its the place to be. Also maybe because today is the first day of NFL football and they aren't as excited about women's tennis.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Just watched Kerber vs. Wozniacki. A semi-final. The upper stands were empty and near the end of the match I saw more blue seats then people watching the game. Once it was over there was almost no one for the winner to shoot balls too. That's got to suck to have a terrific match and to have no one there to cheer you on.

Way too many open seats throughout the tournament. I understand in lower events with low ranked players during the week why the stadiums are empty, but seriously in a big venues like this every stadium should be full at least in week 2. My memory might be poor, but I though the US Opens of yesteryear were jammed packed.

Is this due to corporations buying out seats and then not necessarily using them?
Is TV a better venue to watch tennis?
Or is tennis dying in the US despite pretty good worldwide popularity?

Its WTA, it is late in the evening in NY and there is no american to watch.

Besides that, watching tennis live is preferable to wathing it on TV ...... but not from the upper deck of AA.

I doubt that corporations would buy seats there too.

 

[Elektra]

I always wondered why people from the top don't come down to fill in the seats. I have also wondered how many people in the audience actually follow tennis and how many are just there because its the place to be. Also maybe because today is the first day of NFL football and they aren't as excited about women's tennis.

The seats up front are usually reserved for corporate people. Most corporate people leave when it gets late unless an important star that holds corporate interest like Serena, Rafa, and Roger.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Its WTA,

This was for the fantastic DelPo/Wawrinka QF match

So you're of course, completely wrong about WTA and womens tennis. USO attendance has been very poor this year.

 

[Elektra]

This was for the fantastic DelPo/Wawrinka QF match

So you're of course, completely wrong about WTA and womens tennis. USO attendance has been very poor this year.

They said record attendance this year.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

They said record attendance this year.

Everyone must really hate the upper stands then.

 

[El Diablo]

always wondered why people from the top don't come down to fill in the seats

The issue is expense. The ushers will not let you and your friend drift down to the primo seats unless you slap a few twenties in their hands.

 

[DNShade]

Actually Tennis_Hands isn't completely wrong Aussie Darcy. And attendance hasn't been very poor this year - quite the opposite actually - record setting. It's just that as was said above - the lower seats are all generally corporate seats and they aren't usually tennis fans per se - so if it's not some major name then they aren't going to be there long. The WTA has even less stars so the attendance is even worse - and once Serena was out it seems everyone was gone. And no you can't just move down lower from the upper decks.

 

[El Diablo]

Everyone must really hate the upper stands then.

Yes, they do, since you have a better view of Uranus from there than of the tennis below. Attendance and revenue are up this year since they now sell reserved seats for the new "grandstand" court (the old grandstand did not require a specific ticket) in addition to specific tickets for Ashe and Armstrong.

 

[iopzzza]

The truth is , you will see it better at your home, infront of a good tv , rather than a seat at the upper side. Thats why the upper stand is empty

 

[MasturB]

Yeah if you watch YouTube videos of people sitting in upper deck on Ashe the players look so small you can't even hear the ball being hit.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Actually Tennis_Hands isn't completely wrong Aussie Darcy. And attendance hasn't been very poor this year - quite the opposite actually - record setting. It's just that as was said above - the lower seats are all generally corporate seats and they aren't usually tennis fans per se - so if it's not some major name then they aren't going to be there long. The WTA has even less stars so the attendance is even worse - and once Serena was out it seems everyone was gone. And no you can't just move down lower from the upper decks.

I gathered he was talking about the seats on the upper decks being empty.

The lower seats are a different matter altogether as you say.

 

[Elektra]

I think a lot of people are hip to the fact that you get more for your money by watching matches at Armstrong and Grandstand instead of Ashe. If you have a ticket for Ashe you can watch any match you on the grounds hence if you paid for day session or night session. Most of the best matches are at Armstrong and Grandstand then at Arthur Ashe.

Ashe stadium gurantees that you will see top stars in the early rounds.

 

[Elektra]

Everyone must really hate the upper stands then.

Keep in mind that Stan and DelPo were playing until 1 in the morning.

 

[Tshooter]

...USO attendance has been very poor this year.

Another keyboard expert.

I'm just over 170 hrs on-site through Day 17. It's been as crowded as ever, maybe more so.

 

[Tshooter]

... Attendance and revenue are up this year since they now sell reserved seats for the new "grandstand" court...

I suspect they also dumped additional groundies.

 

[FreeBird]

This was for the fantastic DelPo/Wawrinka QF match

So you're of course, completely wrong about WTA and womens tennis. USO attendance has been very poor this year.

It was 1 AM midnight in Delpo Wawrinka. What do you expect at that time?

 

[Robert F]

So if the grounds are crowded why are the stadiums empty?

Sounds like the US Open has set up a plan that empties out the stadium namely Ashe.
The affordable seats aren't worth sitting in. Might as well go see tennis up close in the other stadiums or watch the big players practice. Or stay home and see it on HD.
The good seats are sold to corporations who might use the tickets for building up business relations but since they aren't necessarily tennis fans they may or may not show.

Sad they can't ditch the upper deck and let the common man get a seat on court.

In regards to 1AM in the morning, this is a big tennis event. I've stayed up late watching hockey go into overtime, those stadiums are never empty. Playoff baseball games that go into extra innings don't empty out. Heck some people stay up late watching Euro football. I can see the stadium being less full, but empty is a shame.

 

[spirit95]

I always wondered why people from the top don't come down to fill in the seats. I have also wondered how many people in the audience actually follow tennis and how many are just there because its the place to be. Also maybe because today is the first day of NFL football and they aren't as excited about women's tennis.

In the USO and Wimbledon this is often the case. Tennis has no respect in either country.

 

[Inanimate_object]

They said record attendance this year.

That's coming almost entirely from grounds admissions sales. They don't get access to Arthur Ashe.

 

[Inanimate_object]

I always wondered why people from the top don't come down to fill in the seats. I have also wondered how many people in the audience actually follow tennis and how many are just there because its the place to be. Also maybe because today is the first day of NFL football and they aren't as excited about women's tennis.

The staff don't let you move down. They literally chain the entrances unless you show them you belong in this section. It's up to the director to decide whether or not to let audiences move down (I'm sure a few sneak through). I was at Wawrinka-Del Potro in the Loge Reserve it was pretty empty. Really sticky outside, people had to catch the LIRR back home for work the next day. Still no one from the upper levels was allowed to move down as far as I could tell.

 

[Al Czervik]

Ashe is totally ridiculous in the upper deck and basically never going to fill up unless you have a blockbuster like Nadal/Federer or a Serena night match.

 

[SprinkServe]

Referring to the statement "I have also wondered how many people in the audience actually follow tennis and how many are just there because its the place to be..."

In the USO and Wimbledon this is often the case. Tennis has no respect in either country.

I can't speak for the USO, but regarding Wimbledon this is utter nonsense. I've attended multiple times and almost everyone I've spoken with has known as much, if not more, about tennis as I do (and I'm someone who plays, organises tournaments, and lurks on tennis forums year round, so I do "respect" the game).

Even if it were true that "tennis has no respect" in Britain, so what? It may not be the number one sport in the country, but the majority who attend its oldest, most famous, and best tournament certainly love the sport.

Anyway, where is it written that those attending should be "real fans," should be able to quote stats from some obscure Davis Cup match a decade ago (which wouldn't be unusual here), just to prove their respect? People like to go where the action is, whether they know what's happening or not. It's exciting, it's fun. And often, that is how a new fan, a new player, and newfound "respect for the sport," is born.

 

[Robert F]

A better crowd tonight in the men's semis. Good battle between Stan and Kei.
Actually a lot of people in the upper deck.
Put a lot of blue seats open on the lower and court level. Wish I could take those seats. Dang that eval corporate greed.

Would be nice that after the 2nd set, empty seats could be filled from above.

 

[Tshooter]

I went to the tippy top at the beginning on the incorrect idea there would be a breeze up there. I found it absolutely miserable and sticky. I left to lay down on the fake grass outside the stadium with a Honey Duece (Vodka, Chambord, Lemondade and Ice) !

After they closed the roof I went to my courtside seat way down below. Attendance was spotty but at least I had plenty of room.

 

[Tshooter]

...Dang that eval corporate greed.

Would be nice that after the 2nd set, empty seats could be filled from above.

Not happening because those seats are sold and people may be milling around only to return. The only time they allow it is usually after midnight when they know most of those empty seats ticket holders have left. They should digitally insert people into the seats so it looks better on TV.

Stan got another one of his migraines I guess because he kept pointing at his head, again. But he gutted through it for the win.

PS, corporations are people too my friend ! (-- M. Romney)

 

[skip1969]

I went to the tippy top at the beginning on the incorrect idea there would be a breeze up there. I found it absolutely miserable and sticky. I left to lay down on the fake grass outside the stadium with a Honey Duece (Vodka, Chambord, Lemondade and Ice) !

After they closed the roof I went to my courtside seat way down below. Attendance was spotty but at least I had plenty of room.

dang, tshooter . . . you reallt like those honey deuces, don't you?

i still wanna know why they got fake grass there. weren't they blathering on about how the new grandstand was leed certified? i thought part of the whole "green" ethos was to create more "green" spaces . . . not artificial turf spaces.

 

[Sander001]

This was for the fantastic DelPo/Wawrinka QF match

So you're of course, completely wrong about WTA and womens tennis. USO attendance has been very poor this year.

The sport is growing, as evidenced by a record setting day earlier in the tournament. And because it's growing, it wouldn't make sense to build a stadium which would already be at max capacity today. They're aiming for the future so even those upper decks will be completely full in 3years.

 

[West Coast Ace]

Another keyboard expert.

I'm just over 170 hrs on-site through Day 17. It's been as crowded as ever, maybe more so.

He's useless. And an America hater.

The late rounds are just too expensive when Fed, Nadal are gone. I'm sure a lot of tickets are sloshing around in the 'secondary market'. I received an email from one of the tour operators on Monday offering last minute SF/F packages - never got it before. That tournament director in IW wasn't wrong - just used really bad phrasing. The game is going to take a hit when those 2 are gone.

And of course, Apple releasing a new iPhone, sucking up a lot of money....

 

[Inanimate_object]

The sport is growing, as evidenced by a record setting day earlier in the tournament. And because it's growing, it wouldn't make sense to build a stadium which would already be at max capacity today. They're aiming for the future so even those upper decks will be completely full in 3years.

Those record setting numbers are coming from GA. They do not get admission to Arthur Ashe. Frankly, it's too big to support 100% reserved seating especially in a no-time limit sport in the hot and sticky New York summer.

 

[Tennisanity]

Simple. No Federer, no tennis.

 

[Tshooter]

He's useless. And an America hater.

The late rounds are just too expensive when Fed, Nadal are gone. I'm sure a lot of tickets are sloshing around in the 'secondary market'. I received an email from one of the tour operators on Monday offering last minute SF/F packages - never got it before. That tournament director in IW wasn't wrong - just used really bad phrasing. The game is going to take a hit when those 2 are gone.

And of course, Apple releasing a new iPhone, sucking up a lot of money....

I haven't been involved in the secondary market this year let alone scalping up a last minute ticket in the shea lot but my sense from many factors (including the status of the scalping market in the tunnel between 4/5/6 and 7 trains) as well as observation of boardwalk activity is the market was soft this year with plenty of tickets.

What will happen when Fed and Williams are gone will be interesting.

 

[Tshooter]

Those record setting numbers are coming from GA. They do not get admission to Arthur Ashe. Frankly, it's too big to support 100% reserved seating especially in a no-time limit sport in the hot and sticky New York summer.

I'm not sure I agree with that. There is little difference in cost between Ashe and GA and almost everyone I spoke to went for Ashe "in case it rains."

 

[Tshooter]

dang, tshooter . . . you reallt like those honey deuces, don't you?

i still wanna know why they got fake grass there. weren't they blathering on about how the new grandstand was leed certified? i thought part of the whole "green" ethos was to create more "green" spaces . . . not artificial turf spaces.

I don't even want to know what I spent on those HD drinks.

I ignore all USTA blather including the absurd blather at the Armstrong death ceremony on Thursday in which the tool sent on court to "entertain" us while James Blake was playing doubles was trying to convince us that building a giant new stadium (with a darn roof !) was better than what we already have (Armstrong/GS). He neglected the part whereby every seat in the new stadium no doubt will require a separate admission and we'll all be paying more for less tennis and sitting further away.

 

[skip1969]

i suppose the obvious fact is that ashe is too bloody big in the first place. and unless you have huge stars, you can't fill that venue. I'm sure they are setting record attendance, but ashe looks half or 3/4 full every time they show it on tv. so, they may be raking in the money anyway (from all those corporate seats that are empty half the time) but it makes the event itself look weak on tv.

 

[Tshooter]

Actually Tennis_Hands isn't completely wrong Aussie Darcy. And attendance hasn't been very poor this year - quite the opposite actually - record setting. It's just that as was said above - the lower seats are all generally corporate seats and they aren't usually tennis fans per se - so if it's not some major name then they aren't going to be there long. The WTA has even less stars so the attendance is even worse - and once Serena was out it seems everyone was gone. And no you can't just move down lower from the upper decks.

I need to interject that many courtside seat goers are also huge fans. Even the ultra-****** Trump with his corp. suite is a pretty big tennis fan. Before his absurd run for POTUS when he came out he didn't just stay at Ashe he would go over if a good match was on Armstrong. Incidentally, he's only guy that always got booed when they put his mug on the big Ashe screen (even long before his POTUS run brand building exercise).

 

[Tshooter]

i suppose the obvious fact is that ashe is too bloody big in the first place. and unless you have huge stars, you can't fill that venue. I'm sure they are setting record attendance, but ashe looks half or 3/4 full every time they show it on tv. so, they may be raking in the money anyway (from all those corporate seats that are empty half the time) but it makes the event itself look weak on tv.

Historically Ashe often sells out second week Mens's Night QF if there is a good matchup and Men's Semis and sometimes finals. As well as Labor Day weekend. I don't know the deal this year.

 

[skip1969]

I don't even want to know what I spent on those HD drinks.

I ignore all USTA blather including the absurd blather at the Armstrong death ceremony on Thursday in which the tool sent on court to "entertain" us while James Blake was playing doubles was trying to convince us that building a giant new stadium (with a darn roof !) was better than what we already have (Armstrong/GS). He neglected the part whereby every seat in the new stadium no doubt will require a separate admission and we'll all be paying more for less tennis and sitting further away.

yeah, who knows how that fiasco is gonna play out. plus, have any of you seen the design of the new armstrong? i think it looks totally lame. then again, i think the new grandstand looks totally lame (from tv).

 

[Inanimate_object]

I'm not sure I agree with that. There is little difference in cost between Ashe and GA and almost everyone I spoke to went for Ashe "in case it rains."

That's not true - Ashe is considerably more expensive both on primary and resale markets. I tell everyone considering attending the Open to get GA tickets. To get Arthur Ashe seats in a close price range Labor Day onwards, you are in the Upper Promenade and those seats require binoculars.

 

[DNShade]

I need to interject that many courtside seat goers are also huge fans. Even the ultra-****** Trump with his corp. suite is a pretty big tennis fan. Before his absurd run for POTUS when he came out he didn't just stay at Ashe he would go over if a good match was on Armstrong. Incidentally, he's only guy that always got booed when they put his mug on the big Ashe screen (even long before his POTUS run brand building exercise).

That is true also. Lots of big tennis fans at the USO of course. But you have to admit there is a big group of seats that are corporate that are given to clients and people as gifts and perks that aren't always the biggest fans - especially if there aren't big names on court. Just par for the course for major events these days I'm afraid.

 

[spirit95]

People like to go where the action is, whether they know what's happening or not.

So... Exactly what I was just saying?

 

[haqq777]

I have a couple of colleagues who actually went to the USO and they also mentioned that there were tons of empty seats in both the mens and women QF. A lot of disinterested fans too, I was told. Not as 'electric' as one would expect.

 

[Tshooter]

...admit there is a big group of seats that are corporate...

It's all Corp.

 

[Gemini]

I got invited to the Open this weekend for the women's final, but they were upper deck seats so I politely declined. The air is really thin up there...LOL! It's just not great viewing. And as someone said, if it isn't a prime player contesting the match the folks hanging out that high up are generally there just to be at the Open. They're not always interested in the tennis. You get better viewing from the tv screen rather than those seats.

 

[BGod]

$25 for women's final today. Unbelievable.

I think the USO more than any other Slam is driven by the big names. Federer & Nadal had a LOT more pull and of course Serena for the women.

Maybe it's because of 3 Masters tournaments?

 

[Tshooter]

$25 for women's final today. ...

On secondary market or do you mean the grounds admission which doesn't get you into the women's final.

 

[Inanimate_object]

$25 for women's final today. Unbelievable.

I think the USO more than any other Slam is driven by the big names. Federer & Nadal had a LOT more pull and of course Serena for the women.

Maybe it's because of 3 Masters tournaments?

That's not for the final. Those are GA tickets. They don't get to see anything but the juniors, and maybe a few doubles/mixed doubles matches on the satelite courts.

 

[sportsfan1]

This was for the fantastic DelPo/Wawrinka QF match

So you're of course, completely wrong about WTA and womens tennis. USO attendance has been very poor this year.

What time is this shot from? That match started quite late around 10:30 p.m and ended at 1:22 a.m. The scoreboard shows the match into the final 4th set which took 39 minutes, I am guessing the pic must be from about 12:45 a.m. Not sure how representative that is of attendance.

 

[Newballs]

They said record attendance this year.

America says a lot of things...