pamela

Has anyone on the board gone to Wimbledon? What was your experience? Did you take a tour for your tickets? Thanks

elaine

I went years ago, it was a wonderful experience, but I had an "in" for the tickets. Since then every year I send in my bid for the ticket lottery, and every year nothing happens. If I were dying to go again, a tour with tickets included sounds like a good idea. <BR>There was also a system, where you can wait in line outside the gates and people who are not staying all day can turn their tickets over to people waiting in the line, but I don't know if that is still the case.

Bridget

Hi Pamela, <BR>Last year my boyfriend and I went to London and went to WImbledon as a day trip. (It was a dream of his to see Agassi play there.) So we entered the lottery (the address can be found at www.wimbledon.org), which is the only way you can buy tickets before the matches, unless you know someone. You send a SASE and if they select you, you have the opportunity to buy those tickets. We didn't get selected, so we waited in line. Since we didn't get selected in the lottery, and the further into the tournament means the harder it is to get tickets, we decided to go on the first Tuesday of playing. We started waiting in line around 7am and we were one of the last people to get tickets for Court #1. The trick is that you have to pay in CASH in line, and if you want tickets to Center Court, you can go and wait in another line to see if tickets were turned in so you can "upgrade" but we decided that what we got were good enough, and that we'd rather see some good matches rather than wait in line for tickets that might not happen. So we spent the whole day there, walking around the different open courts (you are allowed in any of the open courts, plus the court that you bought the ticket for, which in our case was Court #1). I hope that helps! Please feel free to write here or to my e mail address... <BR>Enjoy your trip! <BR>Bridget =)

julie

Pamela, <BR> <BR>You can also order tickets from Grand Slam Tennis Tours, Inc. 1-800-289-3333 <BR>They have various tours offered. Back in '92 we entered the lottery for tickets, as did our friends, and we were not that lucky. They did let us know around March or so, that we were not picked. I inquired from a company in New York and the tickets were very spendy (several hundred dollars). We chanced our luck and stood in line for tickets. It turned out to be a wonderful experience being entertained by the Brits. Back in '92, our tickets for center court were only $16 each. Best of luck.

Beth Anderson

Hi, <BR> <BR>I went in 1993 and just queued up and got regular tickets. true, I was not in center court or anything - but I got right in, no probs - and it was pretty cool just being there. (the "lesser players" are outside - center court of whatever it was called is for the biggies...)

Ivan

Yes, Elaine, the queuing for return tickets to centre court and No. 1 is still in practice. Last year I got in the centre court and No.1 court a few times by queuing for return tickets and saw some great late matches. This year I have a pair of tickets for Ladies semi-finals but will still do the queuing for first weeks' late matches. <BR> <BR>You can buy the ground ticket on the day and wonder around the outside courts and watch whatever match takes your fancy. Ground tickets are good for first week and the first two days of second week of the championship; the juniors and vets matches are played on the outside courts on the remaining days of second week. I have seen many great matches and big names,the likes of Williams sisters, Kournikova, Davenport & co playing doubles on the outside courts. <BR> <BR>I have been going to the Championship for 20 years (for the past 10 years I am lucky enough to secured tickets for show courts through my tennis clubs) and enjoy just being there.

Gordon R

Just a short follow-up to the good points already made. Buying a re-sold ticket for Centre or Number 1 court is a great way to see some first class tennis cheaply. BUT, you've got virtually NO chance of obtaining a re-sold ticket on any afternoon/evening when a British player is on the show courts.

Sandra

I went years ago (1980's) and went with a tour. They provided the tickets, the transportation there and back and two meals and tea times on the grounds, as well as accomodations. I had a great time. We even had a group dinner at Madame Tussaud's in the great hall. Doing a tour beats standing in line, hoping you'll get a ticket. It also beats the lottery.

Ivan

Or if you have £20,000 or more to spare, you can purchase the debentures issued by All England Club, in turn you'll get centre court tickets for five years.