NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The U.S. Open kicked off Monday in Queens, with officials anticipating a record 1 million spectators and police establishing an array of security measures amid a “different threat environment” and concerns of protests.
The two-week grand slam tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is among the most safeguarded events in the city each year as tennis fans from across the world descend on Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
This year officials are expecting a record number of people: more than 1 million spectators over three weeks of events, including last week’s US Open Fan Week.
“The eye of the world will be on Queens for the next two weeks, but the NYPD has been planning for this event for a lot longer,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said at Monday's briefing.
To keep the event safe, the NYPD has brought in its aviation, harbor, counterterrorism, canine, transit and other specialty units.
The enhanced security is “seen and unseen” and includes increased patrols around the complex, physical barriers, screening checkpoints, heavy weapons teams, drone deployment, and explosive and radiation detection.
Rebecca Weiner, the deputy commissioner of the NYPD’s counterterrorism bureau, said the department is mindful of world events, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Mideast.
“There are no specific or credible threats to the U.S. Open, however we’re in a different threat environment than we were last year at this time,” Weiner said. “We are very tuned in to what’s happening around the world with an eye on how that could impact the U.S. Open.”
Weiner said police are taking into account the protests that have been held citywide for more than 10 months, particularly over the Israel-Hamas war.
“We are not going to tolerate disruption or any illegal activity related to protests around this facility,” she said.
Many items are not prohibited beyond the gates of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, including backpacks, bottles and computers. See a full list of items at USOpen.org.
Officials also encouraged people to take mass transit, as heavy vehicle traffic is expected around the event for the next two weeks.
Daniel Zausner, the chief operating officer of United States Tennis Association, said 210,000 fans attended Fan Week.
“Coupled with the two weeks of the main draw, beginning today, we will see more than 1 million fans for the first time ever,” Zausner said.
Last year, more than 950,000 fans attended the events, which was also a record.