Wimbledon Tickets by Lottery? (for 2008)
 

We are big tennis fans, and told our teenage daughter we would consider going next year, if we can get tickets. There is very little information on the process of obtining tickets on the official website. As I understand it, we write after August 1, to request a ballot, and then return that postmarked by December 15. Then we wait. Apparently there is no way to request a specific day. And there is no information as to when one finds out about the tickets, if successful. So we don't even know when we would be able to book flights and hotels.

Do I have this correct? Any clue as to when we might find out the results? Does anyone have any advice, encouragement, or suggestions to offer? (Other than "don't go---it's crowded and expensive."). If it were my choice, I'd go to the Australian Open instead, but that takes place during school so it's not possible.

Anyone?

hi, enzian,

yep, i see what you mean. Clearly instructions written for people who already know the answer.

although it doesn't say so, i would anticipate that the computerised drawer will take place shortly after 15th Dec. and you will then be notified via your international reply coupon whether you have been successful. if so, you will get a pair of tickets for centre or no.1 court for sometime in the two weeks.

so if you were determined to do this and wanted to book airline tickets, you would have to book flights to cover the entire two weeks. you could then adjust your plans once you received notification about your seats [or not!]

otherwise, cross your fingers!

regards, ann

I believe, and others will correct me if I'm wtong, that I have read here that it is possible to get tickets the morning of, by showing up at the gates. I would guess not Centre Court, and I would guess not for finals/semis..but worth researching

I started entering the lottery three years ago and never failed to be drawn; including mens final (first year - Roddick v Federer)and womens final last year and Centre Court this year second round. You usually learn by March of the same year whether you are lucky enough which should give plenty of timefor arranging flights/hotels. Im not sure how it works for overseas guests - I assume you can enter just like UK residents.

Thanks to both. Michael_Paris, as I understand it, some 500 tickets for the main courts, plus 6000 grounds passes, are held for sale each day. People begin queueing for those tickets before dawn (for the grounds passes) and the night before, for the reserved seats. So it's not a simple matter of just showing up at the gate. I'm afraid my willingness to take her to this event does not include standing in lines for hours and hours each day.

annhig, I hadn't thought of just going ahead and booking the flights to cover the whole 2-week period. That would work, since we would make it a 2-week trip in any case.

But to be honest, now looking at the expense and conplications involved---plummeting dollar, hassles at Heathrow, etc.,---I'm beginning to get cold feet about the whole idea.

hi, Michael,

yes you can just show up. there are usually some tickets for the show courts on sale on the day, but fans quwuw all night for them!

you can also get a ground entry, then buy a ticket for an outer court. these can be good as they may feature current or future stars, especially in the first week or if, like this year, early matches get rained off.

or you can head to henman hill and soak up the atmosphere.

regards, ann