Here's how stars like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Ben Stiller and more VIPs are treated at the U.S. Open. (Illustration: Jiaqi Wang for Yahoo News)There's Ben Stiller, front row for the Taylor Fritz-Novak Djokovic match, watching every point with intent. Beside him, Owen Wilson. A few seats down? Elizabeth Banks. And that's just a sampling from one night session at the U.S. Open, America's biggest and loudest professional tennis tournament. Some of the biggest names haven't even touched down in Queens, N.Y., yet - but as the tournament stakes get higher, so does the celebrity wattage.
Even non-tennis fans can get swept up in the other sport happening outside of the courts: celebrity watching. Behind the velvet ropes and perfectly chilled champagne, there's one person making sure the stars are seated at the right match, the caviar-topped chicken nuggets are boxed up and the Honey Deuces are flowing.
Enter Amanda Wight, who leads the program. While her team does "a little outreach" to secure high-profile names to watch tennis' biggest talents duke it out on the court, this year from Aug. 18 to Sept. 7, she says her inbox is filled up with asks - and her phone doesn't stop buzzing.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"Mostly the requests come directly to us - through friends of the Open, agents or even players who have celebrity friends, either other athletes or entertainers," Wight tells Yahoo.
The star power might look effortless, but it's the result of thoughtful planning and behind-the-scenes coordination. In fact, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has a role specifically carved out to manage VIP engagement and celebrity experience. Plenty of stars want tickets, but not everyone gets one. In recent years, the guest list has become far more intentional.
Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller at the U.S. Open. (XNY/STAR MAX/IPx via Associated Press)The invite listWhile the USTA team plans year-round, the real surge of requests comes in the summer."Once it hits the start of August, then it's [fielding] hundreds and hundreds of requests," Wight says.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThese celebrities aren't buying their own passes; the very important - and the very, very important - aren't paying. "The majority of them are invited guests," she says. "We have very few celebrities who are actually purchasing tickets."John Mulaney and Olivia Munn arrive in style through a private entrance at the U.S. Open. (John Nacion/Getty Images)While Wight and her team have a set number for celebrity ticket allocation, they say it is "finite." Once they review the requests, it becomes a careful game of curation - weighing star power, cultural relevance and timing to determine who gets in, where they sit and how to make the most of their appearance. Especially for the two biggest days of the tournament."We know everyone wants to attend the women's and men's finals," Wight says, which will be taking place on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, respectively. "We really focus on the highest-profile names - from entertainment and sports, to fashion and tech - and we prioritize those who align with what the U.S. Open represents on a global stage. ... We try to keep it at the highest level that we can."Those people sit at the top of the invite hierarchy. And the bigger the name, the later their attendance tends to get confirmed.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn 2024, that included Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, who decided to attend the men's final just 36 hours before the event. They joined Patrick and Brittany Mahomes in the ESPN suite - setting off a flurry of calls, approvals and security walk-throughs. "We try to keep it under wraps, but still plan shots of their arrival and seating," Wight says. "We know where everyone is seated so that broadcasters and photographers can capture them."Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes attend the 2024 men's singles final match at the U.S. Open. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)The Open experience, celebrity styleFor those invited or approved with one of the USTA's allotted tickets, the experience begins long before the first serve. Transportation is often arranged - from black cars picking up talent around Manhattan to more high-touch service for guests arriving by private jet or helicopter."We'll do pickups at LaGuardia's private terminal," Wight says.
Once on-site at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, VVIPs are typically placed in either the President's Suite or the Emirates Suite, two of the most exclusive hospitality spaces in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The President's Suite is a two-story, invite-only space with its own private entrance, top-shelf open bar and private ballroom for intimate dinners. Regular guests include Anna Wintour, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alec Baldwin and Vera Wang.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"[It] can be most aligned to the Royal Box [at Wimbledon]. Obviously, we have a little bit more wigg