Tennis: Wimbledon organizers confident of welcoming more capacity

Organizers of the Wimbledon Championships are confident that they will be able to host more fans than the current allowance of 25% of capacity at this year’s grass court Grand Slam following the latest easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Britain moved to stage three of its roadmap for lifting lockdown restrictions from Monday with Prime Minister Boris Johnson aiming to lift all restrictions and re-open the economy on June 21.

The Wimbledon will start a week after on June 28 and organizers All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) said last month that they were planning for a 25% capacity.

“Further to the Stage 3 relaxation of restrictions and early positive indications from the Event Research Program, we are confident that we will be able to increase our ticketing capacities for The Championships this year beyond the minimum 25% position we set out last month,” the AELTC said in a statement on Wednesday.

Tennis – Wimbledon General Views – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain – June 28, 2020 General view at the All England Lawn Tennis Club REUTERS/Toby Melville

“This confidence is based in particular on the reintroduction of the rule of six indoors in restaurant settings from 17 May, and early indications that Stage 4 guidance could include similar relaxations of the guidance for sports stadia.”

Wimbledon was the only Grand Slam cancelled last year due to the pandemic and it was the first time since World War II that the grass court major was not held.

Organizers have put in place a Minimized Risk Environment to satisfy health protocols, meaning players will be limited to a maximum of three in their entourage and will have to stay in designated hotels, rather than plush private near the venue.

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The AELTC said they were staying flexible and delaying ticket sales till the middle of next month to have more clarity on the emergence of the fast-spreading B.1.617.2 variant of the virus which could derail the lifting of restrictions.

“For this reason, we are continuing to leave confirming our ticketing capacities until as late as possible, with all tickets to be made available via an online sale, which we anticipate commencing in mid-June,” the organizers said.

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Berhampore, India; editing by Christian Radnedge)