The success of the English national team at the World Cup in Russia has put the organisers of Wimbledon under increasing pressure. Critics fear an empty centre court for the men’s final, as the World Cup final will take place at the same time.
Mary Pope, chairwoman of England’s largest tennis fan association, spoke of a real “dilemma”, as those responsible at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club were “too stubborn in tradition”. Last Saturday, two-thirds of the Center Court’s quarter-final match between the English and Swedes was left empty. The Royal Box even remained completely free.
Countless spectators queued up – but not as usual to get one of the last ground tickets in the queue, but to get a ticket for re-entry. Hundreds left the facility to watch the match in a nearby pub before returning to tennis later on.
Despite the reservations, the organizers are sticking to the originally planned start time of the men’s final at 3 p.m. Central European time. Mick Desmond, Director of Communications and Media in Wimbledon, said: “Our finale always starts at 2 pm (local time, note) and therefore we start at 2 pm”. Two hours later, the World Cup final will take place in Moscow.
Desmond also confirmed that he would not broadcast the World Cup final at the facility. Fans who watch football on their mobile phones are kindly accompanied to the exit, as this affects other spectators and the players too much.
In the UK, the broadcast of the World Cup final will also be postponed to BBC 2 for the first time, as football is on BBC 1. Broadcasting is expecting the lowest ratings in decades.
However, fan chairman Pope warned against a postponement: “Many people arrive with train tickets that have already been booked. “You pay a hell of a lot of money for a ticket, and then you don’t want to arrive an hour late.”