Where we stand.
Three things, one of them done.
DoneTicket transfer accepted
PendingSave the 3 tickets to Apple Wallet
PendingAgree on a meeting point with Mark
The day, hour by hour.
Two blocks matter more than the rest.
Friday
night Everything that can be done ahead comes out of the morning. Charge three phones to 100% + power bank.The ticket is digital: dead phone = no entry. Pack the bag. Save the 3 tickets to Apple Wallet.
night Everything that can be done ahead comes out of the morning. Charge three phones to 100% + power bank.The ticket is digital: dead phone = no entry. Pack the bag. Save the 3 tickets to Apple Wallet.
09:00
NowWake up.
09:15
NowQuick breakfast. Sunscreen on at home.
09:30
NowLeave the house.Thirty minutes between waking up and leaving — no room for a snooze.
10:00
NowArrive. Gates already open, shorter security line.
10:15
12:30 NowGolden blockOutside courts. Best block of the day with a kid: fewer people, shade available, players passing close.
12:30 NowGolden blockOutside courts. Best block of the day with a kid: fewer people, shade available, players passing close.
12:30
NowLunch.
13:30
15:30 NowWatch zonePeak sun and peak crowd. Alternate court and shade, rehydrate. If Lala fades, it's here.
15:30 NowWatch zonePeak sun and peak crowd. Alternate court and shade, rehydrate. If Lala fades, it's here.
15:30
NowNatural window to leave.
17:00
NowPlanned exit + eat with Mark.Estimated, not agreed. See Open.
What goes in the bag.
Official tournament policy.
The two most likely mistakes
Aerosol is banned. Sunscreen has to be cream.
The bottle has to be CLEAR plastic.
Allowed
0 / 10
Bag packed
Not allowed
AEROSOL sunscreen
Metal, glass or non-clear bottles
Cans · glass drinks · alcohol
Tennis rackets
Selfie sticks, tripods, monopods
Video cameras
Whistles, horns, noisemakers
Laser pointers, drones
Unauthorized promo material
At the gate: bag inspected + walk through a detector.
Every question, already answered.
What time do we leave?
09:30. Arriving around 10:00, with the gates already open. We wake up at 09:00 — Lala is in charge of waking Dad up.
Weren't we supposed to leave earlier?
The original plan was 09:10. It changed because Eduardo went to bed late on Friday. 09:30 is still safe: there is no start time to miss, qualifying runs all day. The cost is a parking spot a bit farther out and about 15 minutes less of the best block of the day.
Why not leave even later?
The parking spot is the bottleneck, not the gate. Leaving after 10:30 the walk to the entrance grows and the day starts falling into the 13:30 heat peak.
How much will it cost?
Tickets zero, a gift from Ashley. Parking $7. Food inside is the real spend: either bring it from home, or count on $60–80 for the three of you. Plus toll if you take the 407.
What if it rains?
40% chance of showers during the day. It's not a forecast, it's a possibility. Umbrellas are allowed. A thin rain jacket in the bag solves it. Outdoor tennis stops in the rain — there may be a wait.
Can we bring food?
Yes. Food and water get in, small cooler too. Only the bottle has a rule: clear plastic.
Where do we sit?
Section GA14, row GA4, seats 18, 19 and 20. General admission — the strength of the day is the outside courts, with qualifying matches up close. Centre court access is not confirmed.
Will Lala last the whole day?
Seven hours in the sun at 28°C is a lot for nine years old. The realistic plan: full morning, lunch, reassess at 15:30. Leaving earlier ruins nothing — the best of the day has already passed.
What if she gets tired or overheats?
There's a water refill station on site. Shade and water before anything else. If she asks to leave, we leave.
How do we get in? Where's the ticket?
On Catarina's phone, National Bank Open app, her account. Already accepted. Still need to save it in the app and add it to Apple Wallet.
Are there bathrooms? A change of clothes?
A 12,500-seat stadium, full facilities. One change of clothes for Lala is cheap insurance.
Is Mark coming with us or meeting us there?
Not agreed yet. He sent the briefing and said gates at 10:00, but didn't set a meeting point.
Will there be a famous player?
August 1st is qualifying; the main draw starts on the 2nd. Big names probably won't play. In exchange, the outside courts are accessible and the mood is a family party — which is what the day is meant to be.
This part is yours, Lala.
- Open courts where you can stand a few metres from the players.
- August 1st is qualifying day: whoever wins gets into the big tournament. Every match is somebody's spot on the line.
- Sobeys Stadium seats 12,500 and there are 11 smaller courts around it. You can walk from one to another all day.
- Bring the clear bottle: there's a station to fill up water for free.
My bag
0 / 5
Five things that are yours. Tick them when they're in the bag.
Bag ready
My missions
0 / 5
Five things to do there. Tick them during the day.
All missions done
The stop button
If you get tired or the sun gets heavy, say so. We sit in the shade or we go home. You don't have to put up with anything. This isn't a mission — it counts any time, as many times as you need.
Getting there.
Address, roads, parking, tickets, money.
Address
1 Shoreham Dr, North York, ON M3N 3A5
Sobeys Stadium · capacity 12,500 + 11 smaller courts in the complex.
By car
Hwy 407 E — toll29 min · 43.1 km
ON-401 E — no toll35 min · 38.3 km
401 + Hwy 400 N34 min · 45.0 km
Parking
Per day$7
Spots around York~7,000
On-site parking is a privilege for those who bought a pair in centre court level 100. Our tickets are GA, so we may land in a farther lot. Arriving early is what keeps us close.
By TTC
Pioneer Village Station, Line 1 toward Vaughan+ 8 min walk
Buses106 · 108 · 960
The “TTC Free Ride Home” no longer exists as of 2026.
Tickets
Section · rowGA14 / GA4
Seats18 · 19 · 20
Ticketmaster accountCatarina's
Transferaccepted 31 Jul, 20:01
Still to do: save in the National Bank Open app and add to Apple Wallet. General admission — centre court access is NOT confirmed.
Money
Tickets gift from Ashley$0
Parking$7
Food if bought inside$60–80
Toll only via the 407variable
If it goes wrong.
Five things, five answers.
Heavy rain
Outdoor play stops. Umbrellas are allowed. Wait under cover or go home.
Lala overheats
Shade + water station before anything. If she asks to leave, we leave.
Phone died
Power bank. If it's gone for good, the ticket is in Catarina's account — support can reissue.
Parking full
~7,000 spots around York. Plan B is Pioneer Village by TTC.
Someone gets lost
Meeting point agreed BEFORE going in. Set it on arrival.
Still open.
Unknown. Not filled in with guesses.
Whether the GA ticket gives centre court access. We find out at the gate.
Meeting point with Mark, and whether we go together or meet there.
Who drives.
Where we eat afterwards. Mark only said “somewhere to eat”.
Real departure time. The 17:00 in the plan is an estimate, not agreed.