Week 25 - ATP 500 - cinch Championships - The Queen's Club, London, Great Britain (grass)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

RE: Week 25 - ATP 500 - cinch Championships - The Queen's Club, London, Great Britain (grass)

Madadman · Top national player

Unfortunately it will be too late this year for it to change but hopefully some pressure this year will make a difference for next year. Its just poor planning and laziness. A tournament doesnt start on the Monday a tournament starts when qualifying starts. If they cant manage that then they shouldnt host it!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Madadman wrote:
Unfortunately it will be too late this year for it to change but hopefully some pressure this year will make a difference for next year. Its just poor planning and laziness. A tournament doesnt start on the Monday a tournament starts when qualifying starts. If they cant manage that then they shouldnt host it!

Dont get Jaggy started

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Seriously, when they are apparently bidding against Halle for a grass masters upgrade, youd think they would do everything to impress.

My instinct is Halle is more likely - better set up, crowd experience and generally better fields in recent years.

Mind you, I dont want a masters 1000 crammed between French and Wimbledon , it wont serve anyone I feel.

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

JonH comes home wrote:
Madadman wrote:
Unfortunately it will be too late this year for it to change but hopefully some pressure this year will make a difference for next year. Its just poor planning and laziness. A tournament doesnt start on the Monday a tournament starts when qualifying starts. If they cant manage that then they shouldnt host it!
Dont get Jaggy started

No comment

indiana · Tennis legend

Disgrace!!! How not to consider the public and sell the game. And no doubt the players wouldn't mind some spectators at ATP 500 qualifying.

Thanks CD for eliciting the apparent reasons which as has been said were clearly avoidable.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Madadman wrote:
Going back to the lack of qualifying being open to the public. Queens have said it is down to the LTA. Starting to get a bit of traction on Twitter even Liam commenting.

Hi the cinch Champs is fully owned and operated by the @the_LTA with Queens being the host venue. The LTA has advised that there will be no public access for Qualifying Weekend this year. All up to date info can be found below!
twitter.com/thequeensclub/status/1666439723361918977
I've had a reply from the LTA (as well as quite a high-up guy at Cinch )
The LTA claim that it is shut for the qualifiers because they are getting the stands ready right up to the last minute and so it would be a health and safety problem having the public around when the stands are being constructed. And, also, that the number of bank holidays contributed to this problem.
I replied - politely - that it was very good of them to get back with a reason but:
(a) This is not an adequate reason: if you can get the stands ready for Monday, then you can also get them ready for Saturday. It's two days. Those two days will make a difference in your starting date but but this is only a problem if you prioritise something else over getting the stands ready for Saturday i.e. you prioritise something else over being open for members of the public.
(b) the number of bank holidays was known at the start of the year, it's hardly a surprise

Did the Cinch chap say anything else or additional of interest - or was it a joint fob off?!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

No, the Cinch guy was fine; he said he'd personally been onto LTA to find out why and had asked someone more senior to get back to me (I'd started off at the low level of both and been moved up

). I think, to be fair to him, he didn't know. I'm hoping, as Madadman said above, they'll all think about it a bit more for next year....

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
No, the Cinch guy was fine; he said he'd personally been onto LTA to find out why and had asked someone more senior to get back to me (I'd started off at the low level of both and been moved up ). I think, to be fair to him, he didn't know. I'm hoping, as Madadman said above, they'll all think about it a bit more for next year....

good stuff, thanks!

Lambda · Futures level

Did CD prompt the LTA putting out this statement?

Transforming the Queen's Club into an award-winning Tournament venue is complex with a very tight build schedule of temporary event infrastructure. The time we have on site is limited and this means build and fit-out work is being completed over the qualifying weekend. It will not be safe to have the public walking around the site with access to the outside courts where qualifying takes place. This is solely based on health and safety concerns as the final areas of this compact venue are prepared to welcome spectators.

But you can go watch a charity event on centre

https://www.lta.org.uk/news/lta-tennis-foundation-charity-exhibition-announced-at-cinch-championships/

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Lambda wrote:
Did CD prompt the LTA putting out this statement?

Transforming the Queen's Club into an award-winning Tournament venue is complex with a very tight build schedule of temporary event infrastructure. The time we have on site is limited and this means build and fit-out work is being completed over the qualifying weekend. It will not be safe to have the public walking around the site with access to the outside courts where qualifying takes place. This is solely based on health and safety concerns as the final areas of this compact venue are prepared to welcome spectators.

But you can go watch a charity event on centre

https://www.lta.org.uk/news/lta-tennis-foundation-charity-exhibition-announced-at-cinch-championships/

biggrin

That is pretty much exactly the letter they sent me a week or so back !

Which is good, as in, it's good to at least have (maybe) 'forced' them to put out a statement

Wasn't so hard, now, was it, LTA?

However, as said, it's still an unsatisfactory answer. Why don't you just pretend the main draw starts on Saturday, LTA? Just pretend. Wouldn't be difficult. After all, as Indy says, the event includes qualification, it's all part of the same thing. All depends what you prioritise - and it seems Joe Public is not high on the list....

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 9th of June 2023 06:59:28 PM

Christine · Intermediate Club Player

Coup Droit wrote:
Lambda wrote:
Did CD prompt the LTA putting out this statement?

Transforming the Queen's Club into an award-winning Tournament venue is complex with a very tight build schedule of temporary event infrastructure. The time we have on site is limited and this means build and fit-out work is being completed over the qualifying weekend. It will not be safe to have the public walking around the site with access to the outside courts where qualifying takes place. This is solely based on health and safety concerns as the final areas of this compact venue are prepared to welcome spectators.

But you can go watch a charity event on centre

https://www.lta.org.uk/news/lta-tennis-foundation-charity-exhibition-announced-at-cinch-championships/

That is pretty much exactly the letter they sent me a week or so back !
Which is good, as in, it's good to at least have (maybe) 'forced' them to put out a statement
Wasn't so hard, now, was it, LTA?
However, as said, it's still an unsatisfactory answer. Why don't you just pretend the main draw starts on Saturday, LTA? Just pretend. Wouldn't be difficult. After all, as Indy says, the event includes qualification, it's all part of the same thing. All depends what you prioritise - and it seems Joe Public is not high on the list....

-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 9th of June 2023 06:59:28 PM

And how much are they being paid to hold the charity event? disbelief

Jan · Hall of fame

I've only been to Queen's qualifying once, but it was a brilliant day. I really hope they can get this sorted for next year. Well done to those who've been asking the questions!

emmsie69 · ATP level

Can't they use the same site as Wimbledon for qualifying.

Nix · Futures qualifying

It's a pathetic excuse. If Surbiton can have people in for qualifying, with far less money to spend, then so can Queens. If it costs a bit more to have the stands up for a couple more days, surely they could charge a bit of money for entrance plus all the refreshments sold would offset additional costs. Lots of people could afford a tenner but not manage the cost of a full price ticket. Just sounds like poor organisation plus not caring for the ordinary tennis going public. Far more emphasis on the corporate crowd.