Wimbledon Information- Getting Tickets etc

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Without doubt Wimbledon is the largest & most well known tennis event in the world. The smell of grass, Pims & Lemonade, the all white clobber & standing room make it a magical atmosphere.

There are not many people who can say that they did not watch a little bit of Wimbledon when they were growing up, so getting out to the tournament is something you must do if you are living in London.

Getting there

If you are catching the tube Southfields station (District Line) is the closest. Just get off & follow the crowd, it is about a 15 minute walk to the courts or you can catch a bus or taxi if you are feeling a little dusty.

Tickets

Traditionally this fortnights tennis is one of the hardest tickets to get to any sporting event in the world. We are always here in large numbers and while The Fanatics do not run tours here's a few tips on getting tickets.

The reality of Wimbledon is that tickets are almost impossible to get before it starts. Every year the tickets are the subject of a ballot that closes in December the previous year, but your chances are pretty slim.

So you have four choices:

1. Buy them off a scalper at Southfields Tube Station

2. Buy them through a large US based travel company, expect to pay up to 20 times the price per day

3. Line up on the morning of the day you would like to do.

4. Line up in the early afternoon for tickets that become available from 5pm. While there is no night session, the tennis can often go to 9:30 at night in London’s summer twilight & the bars inside are usually cranking at this time.

We suggest the third & fourth option because there is always an opportunity to line up with a load of other Aussies on the morning or evening of every days play.

The first Friday of the tournament is always a great night to sleep out & will guarantee you a great nights partying as well.

As taken from the official website:

Queueing: The sale of tickets on the day will be from Gate 3 in Church Road where queues will be organised. Although the tickets only go on sale shortly before the Grounds open at 10.30 am, most people who obtain tickets in this way for Centre or No 1 Court will have begun queueing the night before.

The Grounds open each day at 10.30 am. Please note that demand for tickets to Wimbledon is such that there can be no guarantee of admission. The Grounds are closed when their capacity is reached and there are frequently long queues to obtain any available tickets.

Approximately 500 tickets each for Centre and No.1 Court reserved seats are available daily, EXCEPT for the last four days on Centre Court which are presold.

Approximately 500 No.2 Court seat tickets are available each day only for as many days as a full programme of matches can be maintained.

On the Middle Saturday, approximately 2000 Centre Court tickets will be sold on the day at a greatly reduced price (£30 - reduced by £12).

Also reduced for the day are No. 1 Court (£25 - reduced by £13), No. 2 Court tickets (£20 - reduced by £6) and ground tickets (£7 until 5.00pm - reduced by £5: after 5.00pm - reduced by £3).

Approximately 6000 ground tickets are available each day. The actual number sold each day will depend on factors such as the number of people already in the grounds, the number of courts in play and the weather.

Ground tickets entitle use of the No.2 Court standing enclosure and unreserved seating and standing round Courts 3-19.

Space in Left Luggage is limited therefore large items cannot be allowed into the Grounds; facilities for these items will be provided outside the Grounds.

Ground Opening and Matches

The Grounds are open from 10.30 am daily until one hour after close of play. Play is scheduled to start at 12.00 midday on Courts 2-19 for at least the first eight days.

On Centre and No 1 Courts play will start at 2.00 pm except on the middle Saturday and the second Monday, Wednesday and Friday when play will start at 1.00 pm.

When to go

You should try & get to the first week of the tournament. This is when you have the greatest chance of seeing the top players on the outside courts.

You only need a ground pass to see the worlds leading players on the outside courts. You will be amazed how close you can get.

You cannot line up for tickets to the semi-final or final but if an Aussie makes it there is an amazing atmosphere on the hill inside the ground. They usually charge about a fiver to get in.

What do tickets cost?

2002 Prices were:



Getting into Centre Court

If you are in the first few hundred people who line up each evening you will get a Show Court ticket for the next day.

If your not your best chances are to wait until the evening & people are leaving their seats 7 ask them when they are leaving each of the show courts.

Kicking on after the Tennis

Every evening there is always a huge group of Aussie players, workers & party people at the Dog & Fox pub in Wimbledon Village. It's definitely worth the trip up the hill.

Please use the tennis forums to contact other people who will be making the trip, it is much easier with a group of Aussies sleeping out.