The "hottest day of the year" in the U.K. hit Wimbledon yesterday, causing organizers to "reduce capacity in the grounds as a precautionary measure," according to Esther Addley of the GUARDIAN. Tournament officials "cut capacity by more than 5,000 to give the spectators a little more breathing room as temperatures nudged above" 86º Fahrenheit during the hottest part of the day. A Wimbledon spokesperson said that Monday’s play had been "watched by a total of 43,275 spectators," but the All England Club "had opted, initially at least, to restrict Tuesday’s gate to 38,000, reducing capacity in the ground by around an eighth." A St. John Ambulance spokesperson said that volunteers "had treated 123 people at the ground, mostly for heat-related conditions, and transported two to hospital." Today's temperatures "are expected to rise further" to 95ºF, "potentially breaking the tournament’s all-time record" of 94.3ºF in '76 ( GUARDIAN, 7/1 ).
GET IN LINE : USA TODAY's Nick McCarvel notes each day "about 1,500 stadium tickets for matches played on Centre Court and Nos. 1 and 2 Courts are allotted" to fans that wait in a public line called The Queue at Wimbledon. Those "willing to camp overnight, stay in line for hours and arrive on the grounds without a shower" from the evening before are "rewarded with a chance" to watch matches. Beyond the tickets "sold to the first queue-goers, thousands more are sold each day to fans who arrive in The Queue hours before the gate opens" at 10:30am local time. Wimbledon's grounds "hold 39,000 fans at capacity." Show-court tickets range from $61 to $186 and "most days" grounds passes are $39. Wimbledon Chief Honorary Steward Nick Pearce said that the tradition began because the AEC, "a private entity, wanted to make sure tennis fans had a chance at buying tickets on the day of matches with a shot at getting show-court seats" ( USA TODAY, 7/1 ).
