Tennis Atlantic

USTA Continues to Bring @USOpen Tennis To The Community: Did Someone Say FREE ICE CREAM?

NEW YORK, August 11, 2026 – The USTA today announced the immersive, fan-friendly and FREE activations – headlined by the new, US Open Experience at Hudson Yards and the first-ever traveling US Open Free Ice Cream Truck – that will bring the energy, excitement and unmistakable atmosphere of the 2026 US Open to fans across New York City. Paired with the US Open’s new, competition YouTube series Rally the Boroughs, the 2026 US Open is set to activate and champion its 2026 theme, “Celebrating our New York Story,” with unique experiences and content beyond the tournament grounds in the lead-up to and throughout the 2026 US Open.

“We’re bringing the authentic, ‘spectacular’ experience of the US Open directly to fans across the five boroughs and to everyone watching at home,” said Nicole Kankam, Managing Director of Pro Tennis Marketing & Entertainment, USTA. “‘Celebrating our New York Story’ is about honoring the deep-rooted connection between the US Open, the city we call home and, most importantly, the fans. Each of these activations will deliver first-time and long-time fans the energy, the excitement and spirit of the US Open in so many new and exciting ways, all with New York City as the unmistakable backdrop.”

Advantage Arena gaming zone at the US Open Experience

US Open Experience at Hudson Yards

Sunday, August 30 – Saturday, September 5; Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily

The US Open Experience is a FREE, weeklong public activation designed to give fans the opportunity to experience the energy of the US Open against the backdrop of one of New York City’s most iconic public spaces, Hudson Yards. The event – running the first week of the US Open Singles Main Draw – will see Hudson Yards’ Main Plaza surrounding the Vessel transformed into a must-attend fan destination, where fans of all ages can do everything from play Red Ball tennis on two 40-foot sport courts, play tennis-themed video games in titles like Fortnite and Roblox, experience what it’s like to walk out of the player tunnel into Arthur Ashe Stadium, sip on the iconic Grey Goose® Honey Deuce® cocktail, shop official merch, vibe to DJ sets all week long and watch ESPN’s coverage of the US Open on the big screen.

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., the US Open Experience at Hudson Yards offers a diverse range of entertainment for fans of all ages, including:

• Open Red-Ball Tennis Courts, where visitors can pick up a racquet and experience the benefits of playing the world’s healthiest sport, including through specially curated programming, offered throughout the week on two, 40-foot-by-20-foot sport courts, with equipment provided by Wilson.
• Advantage Arena, the US Open’s premier gaming destination, where fans of all ages can put themselves at the ultimate intersection of world-class tennis and interactive digital gaming. Fans can step directly into the action with exclusive, tennis-themed gameplay across Roblox, Fortnite, Tennis Clash, and TIEBREAK – Grand Slam Edition.
• Player Tunnel and Champions’ Photo Experience, recreating the iconic entrance players make before walking out to thousands of fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, and then the ultimate opportunity for fans to strike a pose as if they’ve just been crowned US Open champion.
• Live US Open Theme Art Creation, featuring 2026 US Open theme artist Eugenia Mello, who will paint a creative rendition of the theme art during the first two days of the event.
• Official US Open Merchandise Store, featuring a curated selection of authentic tournament merchandise typically only available on-site at the US Open. Special collectible match-used US Open tennis balls will be given away for FREE to a select number of the first fans who purchase merchandise each day.
• The Honey Deuce® Experience, where Dickinson’s Farm Stand at Hudson Yards will serve the iconic Grey Goose® Honey Deuce®, the US Open’s signature cocktail.
• Interactive Partner Experiences from official US Open partners, including product sampling of Heineken 0.0, La Roche-Posay sunscreen and Lavazza coffee, fitness activation with Peloton and Polo Ralph Lauren’s anamorphic tennis-ball sculpture, a suspended installation of 2,000 tennis balls creating the iconic emblem of the brand.
• Sunset Sessions, featuring a marquee lineup of official US Open DJs, spinning live each evening from 5-8 p.m.

2026 US Open Free Ice Cream Truck
Monday, August 17 – Friday, August 21

Ahead of the start of US Open Fan Week, the US Open’s first-ever roving ice cream truck will give away FREE ice cream and other US Open surprises as it brings the excitement of the US Open and sweet treats to the heartbeat of tennis in New York City – the public courts.

The ice cream truck will visit public park tennis courts in each of the five boroughs August 17-21 and serve up chocolate and vanilla soft-serve, ice pops and other surprises. The full schedule is below:

US Open Free Ice Cream Truck Schedule

Monday, August 17
NYJTL Cary Leeds Center
Crotona Park, Bronx
12-4 p.m.

Tuesday, August 18
Riverside Park Tennis Courts
Upper West Side, Manhattan
1-6 p.m.

Wednesday, August 19
McCarren Park Tennis Courts
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
1-6 p.m.

Thursday, August 20
Silver Lake Tennis Courts
Silver Lake Park, Staten Island
1-6 p.m.

Friday, August 21
Astoria Park Tennis Courts
Astoria, Queens
3-6 p.m.

Rally the Boroughs contestants (L to R) Charlie and Sophie, Brian and Juan, Sean and Ashley. 

Rally the Boroughs: The US Open’s New, Competition YouTube Series
First episode launches August 15 on the US Open YouTube Channel

*Click to View Official Trailer*

Rally the Boroughs is a high-octane, five-episode competition series launching on the US Open’s YouTube channel that transforms New York City into a massive tennis-themed playground. The show follows three teams of tennis enthusiasts as they race across all five New York boroughs to solve clues, conquer unique challenges at iconic landmarks, and even run into a few tennis and local icons along the way.

From navigating the subway to testing their skills at legendary courts, the teams will battle through a collision of grit and strategy for a chance to win an ultimate US Open prize package, including tickets to the 2026 US Open Singles Finals. The series premieres on August 15, with new episodes dropping each Saturday, through September 12.

The 2026 US Open begins August 23, and runs through Sunday, September 13. For more information, visit usopen.org.

—USTA