Wimbledon roof

RJA · Hall of fame

RE: Wimbledon roof

thegingerlightbulb · Lower Club Player

RJA wrote:

Night matches at Wimbledon would somehow seem wrong as it goes go against the whole atmosphere of the tournament.

Besides to do it regular you wold need some flexibility from the council on the 11PM situation. Can you imagine if after nearly four hours play in a thrilling match a player makes a decisive breakthrough to lead 4-2 in the fifth only for the match to be suspended allowing the other player a chance to regroup and come back the following day. If this happens because of rain or bad light it can't be helped but in a situation where there was no Tennis related reason it would be extremely unfair.

Well I definately agree with that. In order for it to work they would have to be flexable about the 11pm finish. Remember also it isnt just about the live audience, watching a night match on TV can be thrilling as well (though the live atmosphere is crucial to that) Sports events going on late into the night can be done, think about boxing for example (and before anyone points out the time difference in America, fights in the UK have started after midnight in order to appease the US audience)

As for the point about it going against the traditions of Wimbledon, well doenst that sum up the problems with British tennis? The stuffy rules such as all white clothes and bowing to royalty (I know its finally gone) turn talented middle and working class youngsters away from the game in my opinion

Armchair · County player

thegingerlightbulb wrote:

Well I definately agree with that. In order for it to work they would have to be flexable about the 11pm finish. Remember also it isnt just about the live audience, watching a night match on TV can be thrilling as well (though the live atmosphere is crucial to that) Sports events going on late into the night can be done, think about boxing for example (and before anyone points out the time difference in America, fights in the UK have started after midnight in order to appease the US audience)

Wimbledon has managed to expand capacity in a largely residential area because they don't push things too far. And obviously it brings money and employent into the area at varying levels throught the year.

If you don't set a fixed finish time of 11.00 what time would you set ?

The spectators and staff won't be clear of Wimby untill at least midnight as it stands, and I really don't see the AELTC persuading anyone that a later or open ended finish is on the cards.

All venues have restricitions on finish times, licensing , provision of public transport etc., Wimbledon is no different.

indiana · Tennis legend

I still don't get how a night indoor tennis match is going to have a particularly better atmosphere either for these there or watching on TV. If it did, it would clearly be really the indoor / enclosed element rather than the night element. Obviously more folk could watch on TV, which is one advantage.

However, given as I earlier said, it seems the change in the climatic atmosphere under the roof results in a slower game, I don't like how that could fundamentally change how a match might go, clearly benefitting some more than others.

thegingerlightbulb makes a good point about traditions and I am not one for disagreeing with something just because it's never been done like this before. Regards the roof, it is certainly a fair discussion to have re can we make make more / better use of it.

However, if you introduce a change you want it to be for the better and I don't agree that night matches at Wimbledon would be for the better.

For the moment I would continue as now, just having day scheduled matches on Centre Court with the roof closing for rain or to alllow completion of such a scheduled match.

One thing maybe worth considering is rather than the staple two men's and one women's match, having a further women's match. You could start play on Centre Court at noon rather than 1 pm and you have the safety valve of being able to close the roof if matches go long.

-- Edited by indiana on Sunday 11th of July 2010 11:52:24 AM

Armchair · County player

I'm all for more tennis of any description !

I just don't see trying to convert an outdoor grass court tournament played
in natural light into an indoor arena event as viable. Particularly when it's both things on the same day in the same place.

In many ways the vagaries of rain delayed matches have produced some of the
more interesting outcomes over the years.

I totally agree that 'tradition' has a down side, hopefully the Masters at the O2 will
show a different face of tennis and widen the appeal. Though personally I LOATHE the O2 as a venue for anything at all.

It's fantastic that tennis is a sport where we can have three and five set matches, round
robin and knockout tournaments, indoor and outdoor courts etc etc., There's such variety it's a shame that Wimbledon is the only tournament many people have heard of.