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Wimbledon 2019: Abolishing queuing systems would destroy great tradition, says chief executive

'People seem to love it,' he says

Joanna Whitehead
Monday 08 July 2019 17:56 BST
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Queues on the first day of the 2019 Wimbledon tournament
Queues on the first day of the 2019 Wimbledon tournament

Abolishing the Wimbledon queuing system would destroy one of the great traditions of the championship, according to its chief executive.

Richard Lewis, head of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the customary queues that have come to characterise the tournament for many fans would not be changing anytime soon.

The desire to secure tickets to one of the world’s most popular tennis competitions means fans now regularly camp out in Wimbledon Park overnight and queue for hours in an effort to bag tickets to the tournament.

When queried on whether an improved technological solution could be adapted to reduce the queues, Lewis replied: “It’s a great question because I walked round there yesterday and the atmosphere was amazing.

”People were really enjoying themselves. It’s just one of the great traditions of the queue and you hear stories of people who, on Saturday night, didn’t bother to go home and people seem to love it,” he said.

“It’s an example where technology could change things if you wanted to but you’d think very carefully [before] you did away with it.

Lewis said that the queues seem to be a "popular" part of the tournament for fans and that most people describe them as a "wonderful experience".

Lewis spoke from his personal experience as a 13-year-old punter who queued overnight to secure a ticket to the final between Tony Roche and Rod Laver in 1968.

”There’s a lot of people working here, myself included, who once queued up overnight. I wouldn’t do away with it,“ he said.

Tennis fans prepared to wait in line are issued with the official Wimbledon Guide to Queuing, which states that the queue “is as much a part of the Wimbledon experience as the tennis itself.”

Tight restrictions apply to time spent away from the queue, with “temporary absences” of up to 30 minutes allowed to use the toilet or purchase food.

The playing of loud music, barbecues, smoking, fires and the “excessive consumption” of alcohol are all prohibited.

Lucy Jones, 29, from north London queued from 8am today in order to gain access to the hallowed sporting ground.

”I really liked the queue,” she said.

“It’s a nice day and you don’t actually have to stand or move, so it was just the same as sitting in the park.“

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