A Look Inside the Chase Lounge at the US Open

Several weeks ago, Chase announced a free lounge experience for Chase cardholders at the US Open. Upon entering some biographical details on their site, you could select a time to reserve your lounge experience at the Chase Lounge at the US Open.

I signed up for this, wanting to check it out, and boy was I impressed. Being a tennis fan myself, I always try to make it up to the US Open when possible, and having a place to relax for free is a welcome thing.

Once on-site at the Open, you’ll go through the entry gates and look to your left at the Chase Center. Outside is a representative at a podium who will check you in and issue a wristband. A different color wristband is given for the different sessions, so if you plan on staying all day, sign up for both sessions. Each entry also includes the admission of one guest.

Tip: If the lounge session is completely sold out, find someone in line that is a single entrant. You can be their guest and then be allowed in.

Lounge access is unlimited throughout your specific time, and you simply need to waive your wristband in front of the security guard at the door to be let in. Once inside, you’ll proceed upstairs to the lounge.

The lounge is an air-conditioned event space overlooking the grounds, and the exteriors of the Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadiums. As you walk in, there’s a photography booth to the left where you can take pictures with simulated backgrounds. Straight ahead you’ll find a representative handing out free Chase hats. They’ll mark your wristband to indicate that you got one, but its worth it to pick one up since they’re free.

Inside the lounge space itself is a coffee station as well as a long bar which features alcoholic beverages at night, non alcoholic beverages during the day and a selection of heavy appetizers at various times. In the morning they had fruit out for breakfast, and during the lunch and dinner hours they featured an array of sandwiches, warmed pretzels and chocolate “ho-ho” desserts. While it’s not a full meal, per-say, you can easily fill up here to avoid paying the exorbitant prices outside.

Scattered throughout the facility are tables, chairs, couches and comfortable seats all in arrangement around the big flat-screen televisions broadcasting the current matches live. In popping in here several times throughout the day, I found a lot of people simply relaxing in front of the screens since it beat the heat outside.

Servers collected trash and offered desserts on tennis rackets (an awesome idea!) throughout the day. The lounge did get crowded at peak hours, though I found the crowds were thinned out considerably during the evening session, so if you only have one to choose, I’d go for the later session to avoid the masses of people in line for free drinks.

My Take

I was honestly not expecting this good of a spread, considering the lounge space was completely free to cardholders. At most, I figured there’d be some snack mix and water, however with beer and wine in the evening, and sandwiches during the meal hours, it’s well-worth it if you can gain access. If you’ll be at the US Open anyways, make sure you reserve your spot here!