Empty seats at Wimbledon amid tickets chaos

Large numbers of people leaving the courts at once mean staff cannot scan everyone’s ticket to enter the resale queue - Heathcliff O'Malley

Wimbledon spectators have complained about missing out on the best action as the tennis tournament’s digital tickets system descended into chaos.

Fans have been using SW19’s electronic resale system, introduced last year, to obtain tickets for the biggest matches at Centre Court, Court 1 and Court 2.

However, fans have claimed they have been forced to watch the top clashes on the big screen from Murray Mound while seats at those matches are empty.

Bosses are relying on tennis fans to scan their tickets as they leave the grounds, allowing those in the digital queue to purchase them at a discounted rate.

However, workers admitted they could not scan everyone’s tickets because of the large numbers of people leaving at once. The current system also does not account for those who leave their seats but stay on the premises to use the other facilities within the grounds.

This means that the system thinks the empty seats are still occupied, with spectators therefore missing out on the chance to watch in person.

Fans are now calling for better monitoring of those who have left the premier courts.

Fans claims they have had to watch the top clashes on the big screen from Murray Mound while seats at those matches are empty - Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP

One member of staff told The Telegraph: “We do our best, we have signs and shout at people, but we can’t get everyone.”

The ticket resale system operated virtually for the first time at last year’s championships to prevent a physical queue for cheaper tickets ranging from £10 to £15.

Having queued from 5.30am and got into the grounds just before midday, Tamara Maggs was 4,400th in line for Centre Court tickets.

But she and her friend had only reached 2,200th in the queue when they decided to leave the grounds at around 8pm.

Watching the tennis on the big screen and noting the empty seats, the 27-year-old said: “People don’t scan out when they leave. There needs to be a better way of enforcing it.

“There should be a better mechanism when people are leaving the court and just staying in the grounds so their tickets are being scanned out.”

The tech sales worker recounted the days of paper tickets when departing fans would hand over used tickets to those waiting in a much more informal manner.

Matthew Kelling, 35, said: “It’s unfortunate. You have got the best players in the world playing and not full stadiums when there would be interest in watching.

“We did notice there were a lot of empty seats in courts that require tickets.”

Some fans have criticised the digital resale system as ‘slow and inefficient’ - Hannah Peters/Getty Images

For the first time this year, a resale kiosk was placed in “Queue Village” so fans who have already completed the famous queue into the grounds can then enter the digital resale queue to purchase returned tickets for a discounted price.

Hopeful spectators then spend the rest of the day refreshing the Wimbledon app to see the progress they have made.

However, Rachel Beards, a 59-year-old teacher, and her son Will, who queued from 5.30am were critical of the system after trying for Centre Court tickets.

When play had finished on the main court they were left essentially “queuing for nothing”.

Ms Beards tried to get tickets for the remaining play on Court 1 but was told she could only join the digital queue.

The pair criticised the “slow and inefficient system”, with Ms Beards adding: “I didn’t like that we had to choose which court we wanted before we had even got into the grounds.

“I’d rather see what’s going on later and queue for returns, like previously. The queue for us was over once play on Centre Court was finished.

“I did go and speak to them but there was no room for any change.”

Pete Dickerson, 70, raised concerns about older people coping with the digitalised system.

“I’m 70 and I’m tech-savvy but there are a lot of people here who can’t operate a smartphone here,” the grandfather-of-one said.

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An All England Club spokesman said: “There has been very significant demand from guests for our virtual ticket resale offer, with all of the proceeds benefitting the Wimbledon Foundation.

“Virtual Ticket Resale relies on guests with Centre, No 1 and No 2 tickets having their ticket scanned when they leave the Grounds in order for us to offer that ticket to another guest.

“We do appreciate that our guests come to enjoy a whole day out at Wimbledon and everything we have to offer around the Grounds, and therefore, there is not an expectation that guests with Show Court tickets will sit in their seats all day.”

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