for The New York Times: The U.S. Open Is Busier Than Ever. Some Fans Are Not Happy About It. by José A. Alvarado Jr.

News

for The New York Times: The U.S. Open Is Busier Than Ever. Some Fans Are Not Happy About It.

josé a. alvarado jr.

Sep 26, 2024

Location: New York, New York

Summary

As interest in tennis increases, so do the crowds at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday afternoon, thousands of fans cheered on an All-American third-round match between Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton. But as the match stretched into its fourth hour, a throng of thousands more with tickets for the night matches swelled outside the stadium waiting to enter.

The crowd was one of many over the past week at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, where the U.S. Open has been busier than ever.

With an average of about 31,900 fans per night Monday through Friday, night-session attendance totals broke U.S. Open records. The previous best-attended night sessions were in 2023, according to tournament attendance data.

Combined day and night attendance on Monday through Friday last week averaged 75,012 fans per day, making those days the top five best-attended days ever at the tournament.

Photographed for The New York Times, with words By Jesus Jiménez

The U.S. Open Is Busier Than Ever. Some Fans Are Not Happy About It.
As interest in tennis increases, so do the crowds at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Nytimes.com

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José A. Alvarado Jr.

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