Live Experience · Court Access
Miami Open
Court Access Team Volunteer · Miami · 2026.03
My assignment changed each day, taking me to different courts and positions around Hard Rock Stadium. Depending on where I was stationed, I checked who could enter an area or helped manage fan traffic around the outer courts. I had to keep access under control without disrupting play, while helping fans get where they needed to go.
Getting familiar with the whole venue was one of the first things I worked on. The courts were spread out, and knowing my assigned position only covered part of what people would ask me. I learned where to find restrooms, the fan shop, lost and found, and even the nearest water refill station. I also spent time getting comfortable with the tournament app.
Fans saw a volunteer uniform and came over for help. They had no reason to know the boundaries of my role. I tried to anticipate their questions by thinking through the visit from their side: finding a court, checking what was happening, or needing water between matches. I wanted to give them a clear answer rather than another place to go and ask.
Rain, delayed matches, and changing schedules added another layer. Knowing the grounds and the information available in the app gave me a better starting point when plans or assignments changed. There was plenty I couldn’t control, but I could stay prepared and make myself useful.
I also loved meeting the people who chose to spend their time there. Some volunteers had come from Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Others had been returning for decades. Around us were fans who had traveled from all over the world to watch their favorite players.
I understood the pull of being there. I was working, but I was also someone who loved sports, surrounded by people who felt the same way.