It’s the last week of August, which means tennis fans from New York City and around the world are hopping on the Queens-bound 7 train for one reason and one reason only: The U.S. Open tennis championship is back at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
From Aug. 26 through Sept. 8, attendees can enjoy all the perks of the Open, including one of my favorite parts: the credit card lounges.
I came back again this year to report on the American Express Centurion Lounge and its immersive two-story Fan Experience.
We toured the Amex offerings on the first day of the tournament. Here’s what it was like.
The Centurion Lounge
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The most exclusive offering for cardholders is the Centurion Lounge, which, like last year, is on the second level of Louis Armstrong Stadium. It’s open daily as follows:
- Aug. 28 to Sept. 4, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sept. 5-6, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sept. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The following cardmembers can access the Centurion Lounge:
The information for The Centurion Card from American Express and The Business Centurion Card from American Express has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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The lounge’s menu features crispy chicken with sweet chili dipping sauce; beef kebab with Israeli pickles, tahini, rice pilaf and chickpeas; sungold tomatoes and serrano chilis with labneh and basil; hummus with pita, tomatoes, schug and sesame dukkah; and crudite with green goddess dressing. For dessert, there are chocolate chip cookies and chocolate mousse with whipped cream and cherries.
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As always, the tournament’s signature Honey Deuce and a variety of wines and cocktails are available.
The food offerings are complimentary to all guests, and each cardmember receives a drink token (one for Platinum cardholders and two for Centurion members) upon entry. These are redeemable at the lounge.
Inside, the lounge feels and looks nearly identical to the 2023 Centurion Lounge, and the only noticeable difference is the immersive activation. Previously, lounge-goers could create a personalized leather passport cover based on their quiz results to determine their type of traveler; this year, you can create a travel pouch and send destination-themed postcards.
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Currently, all reservations on Resy are sold out, but you can add yourself to the waitlist by clicking “Notify” to receive an SMS text if a spot becomes available.
Platinum cardholders can reserve tables for up to two people, while Centurion cardholders can reserve tables for up to four people. Each reservation provides up to one hour of lounge access.
All guests must be at least 21 years old.
The American Express Fan Experience
Additional Amex experiences are housed under the Fan Experience umbrella, including a lower-level area accessible to any guest attending the tournament. Here are the operating hours:
- Aug. 28-30, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Aug. 31, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Sept. 1-4, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sept. 5-6, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sept. 7-8, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Highlights this year included a create-your-own tennis ball station, where you can embroider tennis balls with your initials; a Top Spin 2K25 station, where you can play by yourself or with a partner; and two tennis stations — glow-in-the-dark table tennis and a full-sized tennis court — where guests can hit a few balls.
The Card Member Lounge
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The Card Member Lounge is on the second floor of the Fan Experience and is accessible to all Amex cardholders.
The immersive activations were similar to last year’s lounge. The highlight was an expanded Ralph Lauren merchandise collection. Here, you can customize Ralph Lauren water bottles, hats, denim jackets, towels, tote bags, shirts and sweatshirts with four exclusive Amex designs.
Food and beverages are available for purchase at a small bar and a Honey Deuce stand. At different times each day, complimentary scoops of a limited-edition Van Leeuwen ice cream flavor called Match Point Mint Chip x Amex are available. Full-size La Roche-Posay sunscreen samples (one per guest) are also on offer.
Entrance is first come, first served, and cardholders can bring two guests.
Other Amex activations
Outside of the Fan Experience and the lounge, there is an Amex Shop in the South Plaza, accessible to any Amex cardholder. Here, you can purchase concessions, exclusive Ralph Lauren-branded U.S. Open merchandise and products from small businesses in New York City via a checkout-free shop.
Amex cardholders who spend $100 or more on eligible U.S. Open on-site purchases with an eligible Amex card can get $10 back. To take advantage of this offer, log into your account to check if the offer is available for your card. If it is, you can add it to your card.
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Additional Amex Offers are available for enrollment through the U.S. Open app and at Amex-branded locations across the grounds, including:
- Discounted bag check offering $5 off one checked bag by using your Amex card at the East and South gates
- Complimentary loaner radio (one per cardmember) for an ESPN broadcast of play-by-play coverage and highlights
- A one-time $15 credit when you spend $100 or more online at La Roche-Posay
- $2 back up to two times for a total of $4 when you spend $2 or more with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York City’s public transportation network) by tapping to pay
- A one-time $10 credit when you spend $50 in a single transaction at Eataly’s in-store New York City locations (excluding Eataly concessions at the U.S. Open)
Bottom line
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The American Express Fan Experience, the Card Member Lounge, the Centurion Lounge and the Amex Shop will be open throughout the duration of the U.S. Open.
Though you pay for access to the Centurion Lounge with your premium card’s annual fee, the lounge and its complimentary food and beverages — along with Wi-Fi, charging portals and air conditioning — likely make this once-yearly experience worth it for tennis fans. This is especially true given the price of food and drinks as well as the crowds on the stadium grounds.
Be sure to check out the Fan Experience before or after a necessary respite in the Centurion Lounge. Given the crowds on day one, I recommend visiting the Amex spaces ahead of the first session in the morning to get the most out of it.
When I think about my yearly trips to the U.S. Open with Amex, the custom Ralph Lauren merchandise and complimentary full-size La Roche-Posay sunscreen make me smile most.
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