Plan Your Visit
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
We are proud to once again host our Commencement ceremonies at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, one of the world's largest public tennis facilities and home to the US Open since 1978. Pace will be hosting ceremonies in both Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Louis Armstrong Stadium. Both stadiums are covered to accommodate inclement weather.
Helpful Links
Directions
The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is easily accessible by public transit or car. Visit the Tennis Center website for more information.
Mass Transit
Subway
The 7 train provides service from Grand Central Terminal to Mets-Willets Point Station, including connections for all Metro-North Trains from Westchester and Connecticut. Service is also available from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Getting to the entrance of USTA from the train station takes approximately 7 minutes, crossing the Flushing Meadows Pedestrian Bridge
Long Island Rail Road
LIRR provides easy service to Mets-Willets Point Station from Woodside, and convenient connections from Penn Station for New Jersey Transit customers. For guests with disabilities, get off the LIRR train at 61st Street-Woodside Station and transfer to the 7 train. Take the 7 train to Mets-Willets Point Station.Getting to the entrance of USTA from the train station takes approximately 7 minutes, crossing the Flushing Meadows Pedestrian Bridge
The MTA website provides complete schedules and information about the most convenient ways to get to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Parking
Event parking is at Citi Field Lot F, located next to the Tennis Center. The current parking fee (subject to change) is $40 per car, credit only. Prepay for parking now.
Pace Shuttle
Shuttle transportation will be provided from each campus (NYC, Pleasantville, and White Plains) to graduates, faculty, and staff, who registered for a seat. Those who have registered should have received an email with the shuttle schedule and instructions. Late registrants will receive an email within 24 hours of registering.
Accessibility Resources
Pace University and the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center are committed to providing access for everyone attending Commencement. Information about accessibility initiatives and resources is below. Graduates and guests should expect to travel two to three miles around the Tennis Center grounds on Commencement day. If you or any of your guests need accommodations, please submit an accessibility resources request to give us the opportunity to assist you in having the best possible day celebrating the Class of 2023.
Mobility Shuttle
For those who need mobility assistance, including elderly guests, guests with disabilities, and families with small children, there will be a Mobility Shuttle running from the Citi Field parking lot to the Tennis Center’s East Gate entrance. No advanced registration is required, but service will be limited. To prevent long shuttle lines, we encourage those who can walk to do so. Citi Field parking Lot F will be used for parking. The mobility shuttle pick-up spot will be located in Lot E.
ADA Parking
Limited ADA/accessible/handicapped parking spots are available and will be granted first come, first served to those who have a ticket to attend Commencement.
To request parking:
- Submit an accessibility resources request by midnight on Thursday, May 4, 2023
- Provide a copy of the requestor’s permanent, state-issued handicapped parking placard
- Provide a copy of the valid driver’s license for the person who will be driving the vehicle on Monday, May 15, 2023
- Graduates and guests granted a parking pass will receive confirmation and instructions about where to pick up the pass in-person the week before Commencement.
We recommend arriving one and a half to two hours before the start of your first ceremony to ensure you are seated for the event. Graduates and guests using ADA parking will enter the USTA Campus through the West Gate.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Zone
Limited Drop-off and Pick-up passes will be granted first come, first served to those who have a ticket to attend Commencement and submit an accessibility resources request by midnight on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Drop-off and pick-up times will be scheduled and staggered. There will be time slots available for both the morning and afternoon ceremonies. We recommend utilizing this service if you are unable to secure a parking pass.
Graduates and guests granted a Drop-off and Pick-up pass will receive confirmation and instructions about where to pick up the pass in-person in the week before Commencement.
Drivers who are dropping off members of their party must park in the Citi Field parking lot. We recommend dropping off members of a party one and a half to two hours prior to the start of the ceremony, to ensure all, including the driver, are seated before the beginning of the ceremony.
Wheelchair Guidance
If a member of your party needs or prefers access to a wheelchair or other mobility devices for the duration of the day, we recommend bringing your own personal device. For those who do not own their own personal mobility device, we recommend renting a device for the day, as navigating the USTA Campus requires quite a bit of travel.
Wheelchair Escorts
A limited number of wheelchair escorts will be available to provide assistance from waiting areas at both the East and West Gate Tennis Center entrances. The escorts will bring guests to the ADA seating areas in the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums. Escorts will help guests get from point to point, but they cannot permit guests to remain in the wheelchair for the day or throughout the ceremony. Please complete the accessibility resources request to indicate your interest in using this service in advance.
To ensure your party can make the most of your day, we recommend arriving about two hours prior to the start of the ceremony, as we anticipate the wait for escorts will get longer as we near the ceremony start times.
Pick-up after the ceremonies will be available on the Loge Level of Arthur Ashe (Level 4) and the Lower Level of Louis Armstrong (Level 2). There will be limited seating available near these pick-up locations, and escorts will take guests to any of the following locations: Arthur Ashe, Louis Armstrong, East Gate, West Gate. If a guest needs access to a wheelchair escort other than at the locations indicated, Guest Services at both stadiums is available throughout the ceremonies and can call for an escort.
Accessible Seating
Accessible seating is provided at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium. You must submit the accessibility resources request to request accessible seating.
The seating will be set up on the Loge Level of Arthur Ashe Stadium (Level 4) and the Lower Level of Louis Armstrong Stadium (Level 2). To ensure we have enough seating for all who need access to it, please limit the number of guests in your party who sit with the individual requesting accessible seating to one other person. Additional party members can sit in the reserved rows directly below the Accessible Seating area.
Transportation
Information about accessible public transit will be made available soon. In the meantime, please visit our Plan Your Visit: Directions webpage to learn about your transportation options.
Bags, Food, and Photography
Review USTA Billie Jean King's National Tennis Center security policies and prohibited items information for details on the venue’s policies on bags and outside food. (Note: There will not be bag storage facilities at the venue or outside of the entrances.)
Photos and video are permitted and there will be several celebratory backdrops set up throughout the USTA campus.
Food will be available for purchase on the USTA South Plaza from 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m..