Going to Wimbledon

flogen

I'm marginally interested in Tennis (I pay attention to Wimbledon, mainly!) and my girlfriend is a big fan, so I got thinking today about going to a future championship.

I know it'd be expensive, so it would be the kind of "big surprise present" thing you'd do for a big birthday or occasion, but I figure I'd do some ground work anyway and start saving for her 30th (in 7 years!)

I've found some links to hospitality packages, which would involve a meal, some champagne and probably premium seats and accommodation and they're unsurprisingly pricey.

On the other hand, there's always the camping out thing... not really keen on doing that mainly because of the uncertainty - no point in bringing someone on a trip to something they may not be able to get into etc.

So is there a middle-ground? While I'm sure they're not cheap, is it possible to get decent tickets "remotely" ahead of the championship and then I could arrange the accommodation myself and do without all the faffy posh stuff?

Or is it a case of paying huge amounts for the premium seats or sleeping rough for the public ones, with no middle ground available?

Axni

There is a ticket ballot every year. This takes two forms; a public ballot and a ballot for members of the LTA. You stand a reasonble chance with the LTA ballot but you have to pay to join the LTA. I think in 6 years our family has got tickets twice. Obviously there is no guarantee and tickets are non transferable. Applications for 2008 public ballot are available from 1st August 07 and must be submitted by 15th December. You should find out whether you have been sucessful in early 2008. All the information is on http://aeltc.wimbledon.org/en_GB/about/tickets/tickets2008.html

This year they are also experimenting with selling tickets on ticketmaster at 8.30 pm the night before play.

Otherwise befriend a line judge. They have good access to tickets.

ilovemooch

I was over at Wimbledon last week from tuesday - friday and we just queued early (before 6) every morning for tickets. Got into court 1 two days and just took grounds passes the other days although we were offered better courts. When you say you want to go, are you totally set on getting into centre court or would you settle for a grounds pass or court 1 or 2? Getting a grounds pass on the day is easy enough. If you started queuing around 8 or maybe a bit earlier you should get in and there are fantastic matches on courts like 3, 13 or 18. I mean Ana Ivanovic was out on 18 and Tommy Haas, Nicolas Mahut, Richard Gasquet, Marat Safin. I know big players play on 13 too. Hingis played on it. As people leave centre court and court 1 they can drop their tickets back and you can buy them after 3 o clock for about £5 which is well worth it on a good evening. A lot of people go to wimbledon after 5pm and get those resale tickets into centre court or court 1.
I think the hospitality packages are totally overpriced.

Maybe you should try for tickets for the French Open instead. I got tickets this year to the men's semis and the women's final. Ok, the seats were in the top section miles back but we could see pretty well. To get them you apply on the website after october I think and find out in April if you've got them. Its also cheaper than wimbledon. We paid about 60 a ticket for the women's final. In Wimbledon if you managed to get tickets to the final I think it would be more than 100.

MisterAnarchy

Some great info there IloveMooch.
French Open and Wimbledon are on my events to go to shortlist.
Slowly making my way thru it .:D

ilovemooch

I'm slowly making my way through the grand slams. Two down, two to go. Although the other two are a lot further away!

flogen

ilovemooch wrote:

I was over at Wimbledon last week from tuesday - friday and we just queued early (before 6) every morning for tickets. Got into court 1 two days and just took grounds passes the other days although we were offered better courts. When you say you want to go, are you totally set on getting into centre court or would you settle for a grounds pass or court 1 or 2? Getting a grounds pass on the day is easy enough. If you started queuing around 8 or maybe a bit earlier you should get in and there are fantastic matches on courts like 3, 13 or 18. I mean Ana Ivanovic was out on 18 and Tommy Haas, Nicolas Mahut, Richard Gasquet, Marat Safin. I know big players play on 13 too. Hingis played on it. As people leave centre court and court 1 they can drop their tickets back and you can buy them after 3 o clock for about £5 which is well worth it on a good evening. A lot of people go to wimbledon after 5pm and get those resale tickets into centre court or court 1.
I think the hospitality packages are totally overpriced.

Maybe you should try for tickets for the French Open instead. I got tickets this year to the men's semis and the women's final. Ok, the seats were in the top section miles back but we could see pretty well. To get them you apply on the website after october I think and find out in April if you've got them. Its also cheaper than wimbledon. We paid about 60 a ticket for the women's final. In Wimbledon if you managed to get tickets to the final I think it would be more than 100.

Thanks for that - will keep an eye out for the draw on the site too.

Not dead set on getting centre-only tickets, but if I went I would like to catch a few of the bigger names and bigger matches - don't want to be stuck watching doubles and junior tour only! (although I've no probably catching a few of them!)