Bob in Spain wrote:

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I have a couple of questions.

1) Are there still tickets available and if so how much

2) Can anyone recommend some (very) cheap accommodation close by.

I am looking at the possibility of flying over for 4 days to watch. Any assistance/advice would be very welcome.

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Hi Bob - further to Steven's post, and to save you some time trawling through the AMFF thread, here's some information that might help.

There are trains direct from Birmingham airport to Coventry train station. I don't think there are left luggage facilities at the Ricoh so if you travel over on Friday you'd need to dump your bags at a hotel and then get across to the Arena (unless you pay a lot of money to stay AT the De Vere Ricoh.) so you'd probably miss the first hour of play that day.

You'd be welcome to travel with us each day from the Hilton Hotel area; there's a small charge to help defray the cost already paid for parking (by the drivers) and a bit towards their petrol but it's a fraction of what you'd pay for taxis.  However, you'd need to be staying within walking distance of the Hilton Hotel - and there's only 2 other hotels nearby. 

Your best bet is to use the booking.com website and ask for hotels near Ricoh, Coventry which will bring up all hotels and show their distance away.  Here's a mini-guide with prices based on Friday/Saturday night hotel booking.   I've not included any of the city centre hotels but there seem to be a few on booking.com

The Hilton itself has bunged up it's prices dramatically probably because they are almost full and are quoting £113 per night.

The Premier Inn (about 7/8 minute walk from the Hilton) is currently charging £61 per room per night w/out breakfast but the rooms are good, there's tea/coffee in room and there's 2 or 3 places for cheapie breakfast on the doorstep and a Tesco to stock up on lunchtime fodder.

The only other nearby hotel is a Premier Classe which is charging £29 per room per night.  It is very very basic and doesn't have good reviews but if all you want is a bed it'd maybe suffice.  You need to specify that you want 'en-suite'!!! It's a brisk 15/20 minute walk to us lot at the Hilton so you could hitch a lift. It has the cheapest rooms available in the Coventry area.  

Otherwise you could opt to stay closer, and within walking distance, to the Ricoh.  There's a Novotel (£55/night, incl breakfast) which is a good 20minute walk to the Ricoh.  And finally, erm, if you're a footie fan there are still rooms at the Ricoh De Vere (£159 for 2 nights w/o breakfast) and a view onto the football pitch. 

If you decide to come let me know and I can email you a pack of information that I've put together for the AMFF mob based on a recce I did up there early in February. 

And you are cordially invited to join us for as many drinking sessions as you can cope with!!! (the 'offer' applies to any other BT.netters who are going - yohoho!).

-- Edited by daisy on Wednesday 27th of March 2013 08:23:19 PM

Madeline wrote:

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Indeed we would! And as no doubt the tv companies are ignoring the tie, I doubt we'll know much about it except from the people who are going.

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It's probably not going to be on TV but it is going to be live streamed on the LTA site with Bouncy-free commentary. More fun to be there though, for those who can.

An open question to those in the know. I just checked the entry list for next week's St Brieuc Challenger which Ed had originally intended to compete in. As things stand he hasn't yet withdrawn, he's 13th alt for the MD, so guaranteed to be in qualifying, and in all likelihood to be seeded in qualifying once last minute withdrawals and WCs are factored in. In a way its a shame that he will be missing out on France when he's in great form, to act as a cheerleader/hitting partner in Coventry.

I assume its simply a case that his withdrawal is pending.

But, given there are 2 "5th players" rather than 1, is there a scenario where Ed could be allowed to start St Brieuc with Kyle holding the fort with the 4 playing picks, and then join the team if and when he loses? Even if this is doable, is it against the ITF/ATP rules? Do all teams have to nominate/declare 2 back-ups, or is it up to each country how they manage it?

Bob:

The tickets (in front of me) say that there is a 2 pm start on Friday (doors open at 12, ceremony probably at 1.30, but usually underwhelming and safe to miss!) and a 1 pm start on the other 2 days.

Hence it's likely to finish long before your flight on Sunday unless the 5th rubber is live (which seems rather unlikely), in wehich case it might get cut a bit finer.

korriban:

No, the teams don't have to declare any back-ups and there is nothing official about them from a DC point of view. Indeed, they can't even replace any of the four nominated players with substitutes after the draw on the Thursday. They can only substitute for individual matches from within the named four.

It would be mad to stop Ed having a go at St Brieuc qualifying (and getting as far as he can in the main draw if he makes it) if he wants to do that and there's certainly nothing in the ITF/ATP rules to stop him playing a Challenger just because he's a DC hitting partner. The sensible thing would be to let him play St Brieuc if he wants to and then come and join the team when he goes out.

I think it is ridiculous it is not on television . It is a major tennis event in Uk but typical BBC only interested in we are in World Group  or facing play offs to it