Wimbledon Drew 548,000 Fans, Setting Attendance Record as Queue Tradition Pulls New Audiences
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 5
Wimbledon Drew 548,000 Fans, Setting Attendance Record as Queue Tradition Pulls New Audiences
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 5
Summary
More than 548,000 people attended Wimbledon last year, the highest crowd total in the tournament’s history as tennis draws fresh fans alongside long-time regulars.
New interest has been fueled partly by a younger generation of stars, while Wimbledon’s public queue still offers relatively affordable access to coveted court tickets.
Geoff Hughes, 66, has camped for the full two weeks for 20 straight years, saying the queue’s atmosphere, friendships and rituals are as central as the tennis itself.
Other regulars described the campsite as “Glastonbury for tennis fans,” with some returning since the 1970s and 1990s despite rain, hail and sleepless nights.
Those stories help explain why Wimbledon’s mix of history, grass-court prestige and distinctive British traditions continues to widen its appeal.