NEW YORK—The 2022 US Open was the 142nd edition of the annual tennis tournament. Following nearly three weeks and hundreds of matches, Iga Swiatek from Poland—the No. 1 women’s seed—went home a US Open champion; and 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz took home his first Grand Slam singles title, walking away with $2.6 million in prize money and the No. 1 ranking in the world (he was previously No. 3).
Meanwhile, off the courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, event profs were celebrating the US Open with kickoff parties, hands-on activities for kids, on-site activations and lounges, and more.
On Aug. 23, Tennis Channel, alongside The Vampire Diaries stars Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, celebrated the start of the US Open by hosting an exclusive cocktail party at Hole in the Wall, located in NYC’s Murray Hill neighborhood.Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock for Tennis Channel
Some highlights? American Express, which has been a partner of the tennis tournament since 1994, debuted a few of its US Open fan experiences during Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, which welcomed more than 30,0000 children and their families to participate in tennis games and challenges. The annual event is a staple of the US Open Fan Week—which took place Aug. 23-28 this year—where the tennis center’s grounds are open and free to the public, designed to generate hype for the tournament ahead.
And IHG Hotels & Resorts returned for its fourth year of partnership with the USTA with a slew of tennis-centered to-dos. Aside from a suite specially curated with former US Open champion and world No. 1 player Andy Roddick (it boasted a tennis ball bed and racquet-lined wall decor), IHG also hosted a kickoff event and on-site fan experiences.
Fashion brand Rothy’s also joined forces with evian to take over cult magazine Racquet’s pop-up “Racquet House” in Rockefeller Center for a launch party to celebrate Rothy’s limited-edition, tennis-inspired capsule collection.
Keep scrolling to see more from inside the US Open’s hottest happenings.
American Express Fan Experience
Amex helmed Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, powered by Net Generation, with a US Open American Express Fan Experience on Aug. 27 that was free and open to the public. The event welcomed more than 30,000 tennis fans and Lindsay Ulrey, the vice president of global sports experiences and partnerships at Amex, explained that “the main feature of our space was ‘Glow Tennis’ where fans could partake in a tennis-inspired digital and physical hybrid game.” While there was also an arcade-style “Trick Shot” game, oversized Connect 4 board, and full-sized tennis court programmed by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), Ulrey noted that “Glow Tennis” “was one that kids—and us—were particularly excited by!”
The credit card company tapped Momentum Worldwide to conceptualize and execute the fan experiences during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, as well as all AmEx's other on-site experiences throughout the US Open.
The credit card company tapped Momentum Worldwide to conceptualize and execute the fan experiences during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, as well as all AmEx's other on-site experiences throughout the US Open.
Photo: Courtesy of American Express
American Express Card Member Lounge
Amex set up shop near the tennis center’s east gate with its annual Card Member Lounge, which is exclusively open to the brand’s card members and up to two of their guests. Ulrey noted that the biggest challenge in bringing the lounge back each year is “thinking about how we can help enhance the experience for tennis fans in new, innovative ways year over year,” adding that she, along with her team, “are constantly striving to find unique and engaging ways to provide epic experiences for our fans.”
Photo: Courtesy of American Express
The 2022 iteration of the American Express Card Member Lounge stood out for the professional sneaker cleaning service in partnership with Jason Markk in attendance, as well as skincare products courtesy of La Roche-Posay available for attendees to take home and learn about alongside an on-site specialist. Other standouts? A nod to the official drink of the US Open with the “first-ever Honey Deuce popsicles,” Ulrey said, plus a “create-your-own merch shop” in partnership with Ralph Lauren complete with “10 designs for guests to select and have printed on their selected merchandise, including four designs sold exclusively to card members,” she explained.
Photo: Courtesy of American Express
Amex offered platinum card members access to the Centurion Suite (pictured). After making a reservation via Resy, guests were treated to dishes curated by executive chefs Cedric Vongerichten, Michael Solomonov, and Ignacio Mattos, who helm kitchens in Centurion Lounges at LaGuardia Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport, respectively. And to accompany delicious bites, Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan was on hand to provide beverages.
Photo: Courtesy of American Express
‘Armory Off-Site’ at the US Open
The Armory Show, which brings leading international contemporary and modern art galleries to New York each year, partnered with the USTA to present large-scale sculptures on-site throughout the entirety of the US Open. Titled Armory Off-Site, the collection featured five unique works, including Jose Dávila’s piece, Untitled (pictured), which the artist said, according to The Armory Show’s website, “investigates the notion of balance and estrangement, … challenging the viewer to question how we understand the concept of the ‘natural’ or the ‘modern’ today.”
Photo: Courtesy of The Armory Show
Myles Nurse’s NOW I WON (pictured), which he created in 2022 using sprayed steel, was also on display.
Photo: Courtesy of The Armory Show
IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Kickoff Party
On Aug. 24, IHG Hotels & Resorts tapped event production company BMF to put on a US Open kickoff party fit for a champion. Cue an invite-only soiree that welcomed 1,095 guests to SECOND, a 9,000-square-foot event space at Kimpton Eventi in Midtown Manhattan. Staff dressed in posh tennis-wear ushered guests into the venue, where they were greeted by a branded step and repeat, fittingly outfitted with grass and white tennis balls.
Photo: Beyond the Light
“Once in the space, guests were sent on a journey of experiences between two sections of the venue—from a custom tennis-and-floral photo moment, to a rosè bar and a table tennis court with custom bleachers,” explained Lauren Huber, an executive producer at BMF.
Huber noted that a highlight of the evening was when American tennis stars Andy Roddick and Amanda Anisimova went head to head in a live table tennis match, which was also livestreamed thanks to Sound Investment.
Huber noted that a highlight of the evening was when American tennis stars Andy Roddick and Amanda Anisimova went head to head in a live table tennis match, which was also livestreamed thanks to Sound Investment.
Photo: Beyond the Light
The rosè bar boasted an over-the-top floral display filled with blush blooms courtesy of Tin Can Studios. Here, bartenders served up sparkling rosè and rosè wine. Another on-site bar boasted a custom cocktail menu curated in collaboration with IHG Hotels & Resorts and the venue team at Laurent Tourondel, including a sponsored option featuring Bodyarmor Lyte.
To accompany, food stations and passed bites nodded to NYC street food.
To accompany, food stations and passed bites nodded to NYC street food.
Photo: Beyond the Light
To level up the guest experience, Huber said BMF tapped New York Embroidery Studio to embroider guests’ initials on sweatbands throughout the night. And “making the night even more unforgettable, DJ Mia Moretti introduced a surprise performance by Joe Jonas and DNCE, all of which was livestreamed to the jumbotron in the adjacent courtyard,” Huber added.
Photo: Beyond the Light
Another corner of the event space boasted a hanging floral display dripping with colorful blooms and strings of tennis balls. Here, guests could snap a photo and message it to themselves. They were then encouraged to post the pic to their social media using the hashtag #ExperienceIHG. Graphics were done by Roll Out Industries.
Photo: Beyond the Light
The event space boasted rentals courtesy of Patina and Taylor Creative, while AV was helmed by 7 Red Production, and Kadan Productions handled scenic.
Photo: Beyond the Light
Equinox X Blade’s 'Play Like A Pro' Package
Equinox Hotel partnered with private charter company Blade and nodded to the highly anticipated US Open with the debut of the “Play Like A Pro” package in early August. The offering welcomes guests to travel between the luxury Midtown Manhattan hotel and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on a VIP Blade helicopter. Starting at $4,195 plus tax, the Play Like A Pro package also includes exclusive transportation from the Equinox Hotel’s Blade-branded helipad to LaGuardia Airport—all while sipping on cocktails and snacking on elevated, healthy canapés.
Photo: Courtesy of Equinox
IHG Hotels & Resorts Lounge
BMF designed and produced five on-site activations on the tennis center grounds—beginning during qualifiers on Aug. 23 and running through the finals on Sept. 11—including an IHG Hotels & Resorts-branded lounge. The experience was open to the public and each day, welcomed thousands of guests into “a mini spa experience with licensed therapists on-site offering complimentary hand and shoulder massages,” Huber explained. To set the mood, decor consisted of wood furnishings and walls, plus lots of lush greenery.
Here, guests were also “able to sign up for IHG One Rewards to receive bonus points” toward their membership, she said, while “existing members were thanked with a Game. Set. Match. cocktail at the Kimpton Lemon Bar.”
Here, guests were also “able to sign up for IHG One Rewards to receive bonus points” toward their membership, she said, while “existing members were thanked with a Game. Set. Match. cocktail at the Kimpton Lemon Bar.”
Photo: Courtesy of BMF
Kimpton Lemon Bar
BMF also “created a lemon grove lounge as an oasis in the midst of the stadium,” Huber said. Dubbed the Kimpton Lemon Bar, the space featured photo ops, lounges, and custom tennis accessories, as well as a flat screen built into the bar that allowed guests to enjoy a beverage without missing out on the action at the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums.
Photo: Courtesy of BMF
Racquet House
On Aug. 26, Rothy’s and evian took over “Racquet House”—an activation by cult magazine and lifestyle brand Racquet that was situated atop Rockefeller Plaza—for a private launch party to celebrate the release of Rothy’s tennis-inspired capsule collection that’s rooted in sustainability.
The space itself was photo worthy for its pink court–a nod to evian’s brand color.
The space itself was photo worthy for its pink court–a nod to evian’s brand color.
Photo: Dave Benthal and Deonte Lee/BFA.com
British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu was in attendance. The 19-year-old walked away with the US Open trophy in 2021, but was defeated in the first round this year.
Photo: Dave Benthal and Deonte Lee / BFA.com
Rothy’s limited-edition collection was made from recycled evian bottles, and pieces were on display at the event. The first-of-its-kind collection features footwear, bags, and accessories inspired by the game of tennis. It’s available on Rothys.com and IRL in Rothy’s New York City store locations.
Photo: Dave Benthal and Deonte Lee / BFA.com
Guests could elevate their shoe or bag game with this on-site, custom bead station.
Photo: Dave Benthal and Deonte Lee / BFA.com
The guest list was star-studded and welcomed Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka, model Johannes Huebl, and Emma Ratajkowski, who’s pictured posing in front of a branded, tennis-ball-covered step and repeat.
Photo: Dave Benthal and Deonte Lee / BFA.com
On Aug. 27, sports equipment company Yonex occupied Racquet House and 32 New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) players from the Intensive Training Program (ITP) were invited for a day of on-court drills and off-court activities.
Photo: Courtesy of NYJTL
Tennis Channel’s Kickoff Event
On Aug. 23, Tennis Channel, alongside The Vampire Diaries stars Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, celebrated the start of the US Open by hosting an exclusive cocktail party at Hole in the Wall, located in NYC’s Murray Hill neighborhood.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock for Tennis Channel
In 2020, Somerhalder and Wesley launched Brother’s Bond Bourbon. Cocktails at the event were curated to feature the stars’ four-grain, high-rye bourbon. On the menu? The Brother’s Fashioned with amaro, simple syrup, and bitters; the Brother’s Blood with sweet vermouth and lemon juice; and the Hotel Tropical with pineapple juice, lime juice, and apricot brandy.
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock for Tennis Channel
chargeFUZE
For the second time, chargeFUZE attended the US Open and partnered with Chase to power the 142nd iteration of the tournament. The mobile charging company provided multiple 100-unit kiosks where fans could scan a QR code to receive a phone charging bank, free of charge. Once their battery was restored, they could return the power source to any on-site station.
Photo: Courtesy of chargeFUZE
