Wimbledon has reached its second week, and tickets to the famed tennis Grand Slam are once again the most in demand.
However, once the matches begin, fans are often disappointed by the amount of vacant seats in the grandstand, despite the fact that the Championships are always sold out.
Last year, the All England Club received complaints about unfilled seats on the exhibition courts, notably Centre Court, especially after hundreds of spectators waited for hours simply to enter the premises.
So, why are there always so many vacant seats, and can you still acquire tickets?
Let’s find out.
Why are there empty seats at Wimbledon?
Many of the empty seats have been around the Royal Box, which is usually reserved for corporate attendees or members of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
Gaps have also been linked to corporate hospitality, with some visitors spending more time in the club’s famous bars and restaurants than watching the tennis.
Anyone with a full-price ticket has access to the same seat all day, so after a long match it’s common for many people to leave for a comfort break and food, which can lead to empty seats at the start of the next match.
Are there tickets to Wimbledon still available?
While all the Public Ballot tickets have been allocated, it’s still possible to queue on the day.
Thousands of Ground Passes are up for grabs each day, priced at £30 (reduced prices from day nine onwards), plus 500 ‘premium seats’ on Centre Court, Court No 1 and Court No 2.
All outer courts, such as No. 3 Court, Court 12, and Court 18, as well as The Hill, where activity from the Center and No. 1 Courts is presented on a large screen, are accessible with the Grounds Passes. Joining the line as early as possible may increase your chances of getting in; if you’re hoping for a show court ticket, you may need to wait for many hours. The cutoff time is 9 a.m. A ticket with a number will be supplied to you so you can visit the portaloos as needed.