The U.S. Open is supposed to be the pinnacle of tennis, a two-week spectacle where the world's best players battle it out under the bright lights of Flushing Meadows. But for some fans this year, the experience has been marred by something far less glamorous: disgustingly dirty seats.
During Fan Week, which kicked off the 2026 tournament, attendees took to social media to vent their frustration. One fan, Dr. Trudy Seivwright, shared a photo of her seats in Section 329 of Arthur Ashe Stadium, describing them as so filthy that she and her companion had to scrub them down with multiple sanitizing wipes. The cost? Over $400 for the pair.
"Dear @usopen I know these are nosebleed Arthur Ashe seats (329) but they were not cheap. I think the 2 tickets together were a little over $400. The views were great. The seats were however so dirty that we had to clean both them down with about 3 sanitizing wipes each🤢. We also had to give the guy in front of us wipes too," she tweeted, along with a photo showing the grime.
The post quickly went viral, drawing responses from other fans who shared similar experiences. "Seconding this – I've been going all my life and never had this issue but did yesterday. not sure what has gone wrong," one user wrote. Another joked, "Views were great was sarcastic, right? Need binoculars for That high 300s."
The complaints aren't just about the seats themselves but also about the rising costs. With ticket prices climbing each year, fans expect a certain level of cleanliness and comfort. "Cannot believe the price is sky high for sky high seats. Enjoy!!!" one commenter added. Another chimed in, "Prices go up, conditions go down….global problem actually…."
This isn't the first time this year that empty or dirty seats have sparked controversy at major sporting events. Earlier, Wyndham Clark criticized empty seats at the U.S. Open golf tournament, and England's World Cup warm-up match saw 50,000 empty seats in Florida. The issue of fan experience at premium prices is a recurring theme across sports.
For the U.S. Open, the timing couldn't be worse. The tournament is set to begin its main draw on Monday, and with two weeks of high-stakes tennis ahead, organizers are hoping to shift the focus back to the action on the court. But for those who paid top dollar for a less-than-stellar view, the memory of scrubbing grime off their seats might linger longer than any rally.
As one fan succinctly put it, "Nope. Home viewing with my own food." It's a sentiment that echoes the frustration of many who feel that the U.S. Open's soaring prices aren't matched by the quality of the experience. Whether the tournament will address these complaints remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: fans expect better.
