WIMBLEDON ORGANISERS ENCOURAGE SPECTATORS NOT TO QUEUE OVERNIGHT FOR MIDDLE SATURDAY

In a move aimed at reducing the size of the overnight queue prompted by safety concerns, the All England Club is encouraging spectators heading for The Championships on middle Saturday (28 June) to arrive on the Saturday morning instead of the Friday night.

Organisers are keen to advise spectators that there are fewer Centre Court tickets on sale on the day than in previous years (500 instead of 2000) and those on sale will be not be discounted (£44).

In this respect, this year’s arrangements for the middle Saturday will be no different from those on the first nine days of the event.

The measure has been introduced after consultation with the Police and Local Authorities because the enormous practical problem of controlling such numbers, as well as ensuring their health and safety, has reached a critical stage.

Overcrowding in Wimbledon Park last year resulted in an incident which saw a temporary, but nonetheless serious, breach of the queue discipline.

Since its introduction in 1992, the popularity of the middle Saturday has grown to the extent that last year an estimated 9000 people – an increase of 6000 on other days - camped out overnight in Wimbledon Park and the surrounding areas.

Chris Gorringe, Chief Executive of the All England Club, said: "The Wimbledon queue has become a legendary part of the event itself and it is a tradition we dearly wish to retain. At the same time we have a serious responsibility for the safety of all those coming to The Championships.

"The huge popularity of middle Saturday has resulted in overnight queues of nearly unmanageable proportions and our concern was that safety could be compromised if the numbers queuing overnight kept rising. We are therefore trying to reduce the number on Friday night. Since there will be fewer Centre Court tickets on sale at the gates on middle Saturday, we are encouraging spectators not to travel to the Club on Friday night, but to come on Saturday morning instead."