For two weeks late in summer, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens transforms into the epicenter of the tennis world. With the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon in the books, the world’s top players are gearing up for the US Open — the final Grand Slam of the year.
The tournament begins on Aug. 24 with qualifying matches and ends on Sept. 7 with the men’s and women’s finals. This year, prize money has reached a record $90 million, with each singles champion winning $5 million.
Fans are encouraged to bring water bottles to the event, but glass containers are not allowed on the grounds (except inside the main stadiums). To avoid overcrowded concession stands, fans can bring their own food and drinks to eat in the park or buy items from local vendors. The Grandstand food court near Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong Stadiums offers a range of cuisine, including American classics like hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as pizza from San Matteo and Greek favorites from King Souvlaki.
The onsite hotel, the connected Kimpton Theta New York – Times Square, has a rooftop bar that streams matches throughout the two-week tournament and serves up Honey Deuce cocktails in official U.S. Open cups. The hotel is also offering a Grand Slam Getaway package through finals weekend, Sept. 6-7, which includes a bottle of Grey Goose Honey Deuce per stay and table tennis access.