Wimbledon remains one of the hottest tickets in sport, with over 500,000 fans expected through the gates during this year’s Championships. Yet even with the tournament officially sold out, fans and TV viewers continue to question the number of empty seats — particularly on show courts like Centre Court and Court number one.
00:00Wimbledon remains one of the hottest tickets in sport, with over 500,000 fans expected to pack through the gates at this year's championships.
00:10Yet even with the tournament officially sold out, fans and TV viewers continue to question the number of empty seats, particularly on show courts like Centre Court and Court 1.
00:21The gaps are especially jarring given the fierce demand.
00:26Thousands queued from early hours to secure ground passes at £30 a day.
00:31The limited 500 premium seats available on the day for Centre and Courts 1 and 2.
00:37The grounds pass grants access to all outside courts, the hill and the ticket resale kiosk.
00:44Yet inside even matches featuring stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper or Emma Adekanu have seen rows of vacant seats.
00:52Wimbledon has pointed to several factors.
00:55Corporate and hospitality areas such as the Royal Box are frequently under-occupied during the games, as guests make use of exclusive bars and restaurants.
01:04Others simply step out for refreshments or comfort breaks, which leads to temporary gaps, particularly earlier in matches or after set breaks.
01:12In 2022, a technical issue halted the resale of Centre Court tickets after early leavers departed.
01:20While resolved since, that episode underscored a recurring concern.
01:25Many in the queue are hardcore supporters standing for hours or even camping overnight in the hope of seeing world-class tennis.
01:32This year, attendances figures are down 11% compared to the same point in 2019, with 114,000 fans over the first three days, compared to 128,000 six years ago.
01:47Wimbledon's Operation Director has said extreme heat may be prompting more fans to seek shade elsewhere in the grounds.
01:55Ultimately, Wimbledon insists it's about offering a complete experience, not just full stands, but for many empty seats at a sold-out tournament remain difficult to reconcile,
02:06especially when thousands are still coming outside in the heat and hoping for the entry to the iconic venue.
Be the first to comment