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Have you ever gone to Wimbledon?
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My dad grew up in Wimbledon and said when he was a kid him and his friends would wait around outside and people would give them their day tickets as they were leaving so they could go in. They didn't get them into centre court but it still sounds like a fun day out for them  . I bet you can't do that anymore  . |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Yeah I went many moons ago. It was OK. If somebody gave me tickets again I'd go but wouldn't pay. "
You seem meh on the idea. Was it a substandard experience? Or just too expensive? |
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By *lofeldMan
over a year ago
Redhill |
Have been a couple of times, both times in great weather, loved it though dont look at your bank balance after if you are the nervous type and enjoy a drink.
And I must say, the percentage of attractive looking people wandering around is high.  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Have been a couple of times, both times in great weather, loved it though dont look at your bank balance after if you are the nervous type and enjoy a drink.
And I must say, the percentage of attractive looking people wandering around is high. "
How did you even get tickets? I got the impression they were near impossible to get. |
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By *lofeldMan
over a year ago
Redhill |
"Have been a couple of times, both times in great weather, loved it though dont look at your bank balance after if you are the nervous type and enjoy a drink.
And I must say, the percentage of attractive looking people wandering around is high.
How did you even get tickets? I got the impression they were near impossible to get."
I had a mate who was a member of one of the local clubs and got them through him. The other option you have is to start queuing from silly o'clock and try and get them on the door.
A guy I used to work with's daughter was one of the ball girls a few years back. I'm not sure what that has to do with the price of fish, but it just sort of came out...  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Have been a couple of times, both times in great weather, loved it though dont look at your bank balance after if you are the nervous type and enjoy a drink.
And I must say, the percentage of attractive looking people wandering around is high.
How did you even get tickets? I got the impression they were near impossible to get.
I had a mate who was a member of one of the local clubs and got them through him. The other option you have is to start queuing from silly o'clock and try and get them on the door.
A guy I used to work with's daughter was one of the ball girls a few years back. I'm not sure what that has to do with the price of fish, but it just sort of came out... "
Yeah, that's what I suspected. I got the impression you need some sort of contact to get in. Otherwise you'd have to be pretty damn lucky via the lottery system or the endless queue. |
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By *ubal1Man
over a year ago
Newry Down |
My naive youthful ambition was to be a ballboy on Centre Court for at least one of the women's games; until I discovered that I didn't have the right plummy accent, nor did I attend the right Public School, such as Eton, Harrow or Winchester, nor did I belong to the right tennis club!
Wimbledon is similar to Ascot, the Henley regatta, etc., in that these elitist events are mainly populated by the upper crust of English society, and a cohort of wannabes.
My Irish accent would not fit in as a ballboy, and as a spectator I could not afford the cost of a ticket. |
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By *lofeldMan
over a year ago
Redhill |
"My naive youthful ambition was to be a ballboy on Centre Court for at least one of the women's games; until I discovered that I didn't have the right plummy accent, nor did I attend the right Public School, such as Eton, Harrow or Winchester, nor did I belong to the right tennis club!
Wimbledon is similar to Ascot, the Henley regatta, etc., in that these elitist events are mainly populated by the upper crust of English society, and a cohort of wannabes.
My Irish accent would not fit in as a ballboy, and as a spectator I could not afford the cost of a ticket."
I agree with your general point about tennis being snobby, it is. But they take kids from local schools, not Eton. |
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"Yeah I went many moons ago. It was OK. If somebody gave me tickets again I'd go but wouldn't pay.
You seem meh on the idea. Was it a substandard experience? Or just too expensive?"
Very expensive, lots of folks there for the experience and to be seen... Which is fine. Just not something that excites me. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Yes I went on Wednesday, which was my 5th time "
I'm guessing you like it then haha.
How'd you get tickets so often? Was it via friends or a tennis club? Or did you get really lucky with the lottery system or queuing? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Yes I went on Wednesday, which was my 5th time
I'm guessing you like it then haha.
How'd you get tickets so often? Was it via friends or a tennis club? Or did you get really lucky with the lottery system or queuing?"
All through the ballot. Myself and a couple of family members enter it every year and at least one of us is usually lucky enough to get tickets. This year was my first year on centre court.
Yes I do love it. I live fairly close to it too so it's not a bad journey in.
M |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Yes I went on Wednesday, which was my 5th time
I'm guessing you like it then haha.
How'd you get tickets so often? Was it via friends or a tennis club? Or did you get really lucky with the lottery system or queuing?
All through the ballot. Myself and a couple of family members enter it every year and at least one of us is usually lucky enough to get tickets. This year was my first year on centre court.
Yes I do love it. I live fairly close to it too so it's not a bad journey in.
M "
I'm amazed. I thought the ballot would be a real longshot. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Yes I went on Wednesday, which was my 5th time
I'm guessing you like it then haha.
How'd you get tickets so often? Was it via friends or a tennis club? Or did you get really lucky with the lottery system or queuing?
All through the ballot. Myself and a couple of family members enter it every year and at least one of us is usually lucky enough to get tickets. This year was my first year on centre court.
Yes I do love it. I live fairly close to it too so it's not a bad journey in.
M
I'm amazed. I thought the ballot would be a real longshot."
We've always been pretty lucky with it |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"Yes I went on Wednesday, which was my 5th time
I'm guessing you like it then haha.
How'd you get tickets so often? Was it via friends or a tennis club? Or did you get really lucky with the lottery system or queuing?
All through the ballot. Myself and a couple of family members enter it every year and at least one of us is usually lucky enough to get tickets. This year was my first year on centre court.
Yes I do love it. I live fairly close to it too so it's not a bad journey in.
M
I'm amazed. I thought the ballot would be a real longshot.
We've always been pretty lucky with it"
Certainly seems like it  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"They used to sell debentures which entitled you to a ticket, many moons ago though
God knows how much that must cost.
About £2000 in the 80's I think "
Ouch. If they still exist, the prices now will be stratoshperic. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"They used to sell debentures which entitled you to a ticket, many moons ago though
God knows how much that must cost.
About £2000 in the 80's I think
Ouch. If they still exist, the prices now will be stratoshperic."
Between 80k and 120k now for centre court |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"They used to sell debentures which entitled you to a ticket, many moons ago though
God knows how much that must cost.
About £2000 in the 80's I think
Ouch. If they still exist, the prices now will be stratoshperic.
Between 80k and 120k now for centre court "
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By *B69Woman
over a year ago
Wiltshire |
I’ve been a few times, love it,
They have a system that when you leave you can hand in your tickets and they resell them on the day for about £20, I always give mine in and hope someone else gets to enjoy it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I did security on Centre Court for the 2014 tournament, fantastic 2 week job that was.
Managed to wangle a couple of front row seats for a couple I knew who had come up for the final that year too |
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I used to sell hospitality debenture tickets. I still know a few people in the industry and can get (almost) any match ticket - for the right price obvs.
I'm usually at Henley myself, although I haven't been since the pandemic.
C |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Men’s final - last year. Excellent day out
did you get lucky after applying via that lottery system? Or did you queue for ages?"
They were all sold online last year.. had about 20 browsers open - just got lucky |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Been a few times, turned down Women’s Final tickets a few years back as had another event to go to, that was a bit of a pain tbf but done Centre Court a few times including Mens Semi Finals but never made a Finals day sadly ..
It’s a good day out, particularly in week one when everywhere is really busy whereas the deeper in week 2 you go the less there is other than on the show courts. |
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I was born in south Wimbledon (Nelson Hospital - no longer there, turned to flats) and went to school just down the Ridgeway from Wimbledon Village. So, yes, as a kid i went to wimbledon almost everyday !
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