The prestigious Court No 1 at Wimbledon Tennis Championships did not reach its full seating capacity during the second week of the tournament, resulting in noticeable sections of empty seats during the opening match of the day. It is not uncommon for courts to take some time to fill up, especially around lunchtime. However, even after several opportunities for fans to enter during the change of ends, rows of unoccupied green seats were still visible during the game between Alex de Minaur and Arthur Fils, with De Minaur’s partner, Katie Boulter, the British No 1, in attendance.
Despite the slow rate of filled seats, it is worth noting that Wimbledon Court No 1 can accommodate an impressive 12,345 spectators, coming in just behind Centre Court’s capacity of 14,979. Ticket prices for day eight at Wimbledon ranged from £125 for the back six rows to £150 for the rest of the court, making it easy to spot the empty seats.
The chief executive of Wimbledon attributed the lower attendance to the weather, explaining that it may have discouraged some fans from attending the tournament this year. Historically, empty seats have been associated with hospitality guests choosing to skip the tennis in favor of the food and drink on offer, moving in and out of the action during matches. This has understandably led to frustration among dedicated tennis fans who were unable to secure tickets.
The lack of filled seats was also evident during Emma Raducanu’s fourth-round defeat, with one observer questioning how there could be empty seats on Centre Court for the game featuring the last British player, considering how difficult it is to obtain tickets to such prestigious matches.
Wimbledon has seen attendance figures exceed pre-pandemic levels in recent years, with 532,651 visitors for the 2023 Championships, representing an increase of around 17,500 compared to 2022. In 2019, a total of 500,397 individuals attended Wimbledon.
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club issued a statement clarifying that both Centre Court and No 1 Court were completely sold out, adding that it is entirely reasonable to expect that guests may not be seated throughout the entire day. This explanation might help to shed light on why the seats remained empty during certain matches.
In conclusion, the noticeable empty seats at Wimbledon’s show courts may have raised questions, but the tournament has seen robust attendance figures in recent years, indicating the enduring popularity of this iconic sporting event.