Security lockups push back the first serve
Thirty minutes doesn’t sound like much—until 24,000 people are trying to squeeze through a second security gate that didn’t exist the day before. That’s what hit the men’s final at the US Open on Sunday, when Donald Trump’s arrival triggered enhanced screening at Arthur Ashe Stadium and pushed the start from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT. The matchup between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner had the buzz, but the bottleneck outside stole the pregame spotlight.
Fans who had already cleared the usual checks to enter the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center found another surprise: an additional checkpoint set up at the foot of Ashe’s steps. That’s where the lines stalled. People who’d arrived early watched the minutes tick by, shoulder to shoulder, as the crowd pressed toward a narrowed set of entry lanes.
Event staff tried to keep things moving, but a secondary screening adds time no matter how many personnel you throw at it. Magnetometers, bag inspections, and wanding simply slow the flow. A big-venue rule of thumb: every extra layer shrinks capacity by the minute, and on a championship day, minutes pile up fast.
As the wait lengthened, patience thinned. Several sections along the plaza erupted into boos. A chant—“Let us in! Let us in!”—broke out more than once. A video board message told fans the delay was due to security measures tied to the presidential visit, but many in line said that was the first clear sign the start time had changed and that they should expect a prolonged wait.
The U.S. Secret Service acknowledged the mess in a statement, noting that the enhanced security required for protecting a former president can slow entry and that the agency appreciated fans’ patience. The statement also thanked the tennis organizers and New York public safety partners for coordinating a complex operation—polite boilerplate that matches the reality: once a protectee enters the picture, the playbook changes.
How a presidential visit reshapes a sports arena
On a normal day, getting into Ashe is straightforward: security screening at the perimeter, then a short walk to your seat. A presidential visit adds layers. The secure perimeter expands. Movement around certain gates can freeze during motorcade arrival and departure. Credentials, staffing, and VIP flows are all adjusted, often on short notice. Even when everything runs by the book, the added steps create a bottleneck.
That’s exactly what played out. The extra checkpoint outside Ashe created a choke point at the worst possible moment—right before first serve, when most fans try to enter. Stadium operations typically rely on consistent, predictable throughput. Change the configuration late, and the math breaks, even with plenty of staff on hand.
Inside, the immediate effect was visible: when play began, many ticket holders were still stuck outside, trickling in through the first few games. For a final this hyped, that’s a gut punch for fans who planned their day to be in their seats for player walk-ons and warmups. It’s also frustrating for families, older spectators, and anyone who counted on a quick entry after already clearing the main gates.
If you’ve followed other big events with presidential attendance, this won’t shock you. Football games, World Series appearances, even college championships have seen similar slowdowns. The mix of high-profile guest, tight windows, and fixed entry points is a recipe for delays. It’s not a tennis problem—it’s a security problem that shows up anywhere a VIP meets a sellout crowd.
Communication is the one lever organizers can pull in real time. Fans in line said the first clear notice of the delay was that video board message. That’s late. Push alerts in the tournament app, more signage outside the outer gates, and frequent loudspeaker updates along the plaza could have set expectations and reduced friction. Even a simple prompt—“Expect secondary screening at Ashe; arrive 30 minutes earlier than usual”—goes a long way.
How do you keep this from happening again? There’s no perfect fix, but there are better play calls. Add more magnetometers at the secondary checkpoint and open them earlier than the posted gate time. Stagger the entry by encouraging specific seating sections to arrive in waves. Create “express” lanes for fans without bags. And most of all, give people earlier notice—before they jump on the subway or the LIRR—so the crush happens sooner, not right at first serve.
Fans can help themselves, too. If you know a high-profile guest is coming, assume a longer wait. Arrive earlier than you think you need to. Skip bags if you can. Use the less crowded gates to reach the plaza, then loop to Ashe. And once you hit the secondary checkpoint, have your phone and metal items out of your pockets to keep the line moving. None of this cancels the delay, but it trims minutes off your personal wait.
It’s a shame this kind of snag overshadowed a blockbuster final, even if only for half an hour. Alcaraz and Sinner deserved a full house from ball one. By the time most fans reached their seats, the tennis took over, as it usually does. Still, the pre-match chaos left a sour taste for people who paid championship prices and felt blindsided by a second screen a few steps from the door.
Big events in New York are a choreography of police, private security, city agencies, and tournament staff. Add the Secret Service, and the dance gets trickier. Sunday showed how fragile that choreography can be when a late-stage change collides with a sellout crowd. The lesson is clear: if you raise the bar on security, you have to raise the bar on communication and throughput at the same time.
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