US Open begins in Queens amid tight security, with 80,000 visitors expected daily

FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK, Queens (WABC) — The 144th US Open swings into Queens on Monday, bringing with it the sport’s top players and fans from all over the world.

That means security in and around Flushing Meadows Corona Park will be tight.

On average, the tournament draws upwards of 80,000 spectators per day for two weeks straight as onlookers hope to catch a glimpse of the best players in the world.

At the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, the NYPD’s top goal is the safety of players, high-profile stars and spectators at the large-scale event.

Nearly 1 million people are expected to the visit the US Open grounds. While new assessments warn that large events “remain targets for attacks by violent extremists and malicious actors,” the NYPD said there are no specific or credible threats.

“We’re in a different threat environment than we were last year at this time. And so when we are collectively thinking through all of the measures that we’re putting in place around this US Open, we are mindful of what’s happening around the world,” said NYPD deputy commissioner of counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner.

“We recognize that this is an environment where there’s a lot of protest activity there. Has been for the last 10 and a months around (the) city.”

In past years, there’s been an increase in police presence both on and off the grounds.

Attendees might notice screening checkpoints at points of entry, as well as aviation, harbor, canine, transit and other specialized units.

This is all done so the match play can go on without a hitch, under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium and the surrounding courts.

The focal point is Arthur Ashe Stadium but suspects could use “a broad range of tactics-including elevated position gunfire, vehicle ramming, edged weapons, and improvised explosive/incendiary devices (IED/IID), etc.- at a congested chokepoint areas, such as the Flushing Meadows pedestrian bridge between the Mets-Willets Point train station and the East Gate entrance of the USTA Tennis Center, requiring elevated situational awareness,” according to the threat assessment document obtained by ABC News.

Commuting to the US Open

While the US Open will see tons of action, the MTA is encouraging New Yorkers that the best way to get here — fast and safe — is by transit, and to leave their cars at home.

“We got buses to get here galore. LIRR comes right here. We have access-a-ride for people with mobility issues. We’re having more people choose to go that way because the service is so great. All of those options are way, way better than sitting in traffic on the Grand Central Parkway, or on the Van Wyck or whatever those crazy congested roads are and then paying $20-$40 to park,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber said.

Drones will hover over elevated subway lines. Police will also deploy dogs, explosive-detection equipment and the bomb squad during the event.

Ahead of the events Monday, NYPD Police Commissioner Edward Caban and other NYPD leaders were holding a briefing Monday to discuss security protocols.

“We cannot overstate how important it is for the people to be engaged, invested and aware. So if you are here at the US Open and you see anything that does not look right or does not feel right, call 911. tell a police officer right away,” Caban said.

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