Wimbledon's accessible seating reaches new lows!

Alex_Alumni

You might  think this is a bad thing from reading the title of this post, but rather excitingly, for those of you who are tennis fans, Wimbledon 2023 will be more accessible than ever!

As a long-time fan of the sport, and being lucky enough to visit almost every year since 2009, it's always been a bit of a shame to me that the biggest stage- Centre Court- has wheelchair seats which aren't fit for purpose. They are right up at the top on level 5, with the view partially blocked by the roof: 



[Image: Alex's photo of Wimbledon's Centre Court, the roof is obstructing a full view of the scoreboard].

This year it looks like things are different, as brand new wheelchair seating has been added, and it's much lower down, in the heart of the action!

With 100 days to go until The Championships, Wimbledon have shared that they've been working with Access Able to ensure visitors with access needs can find out all they need to know before they arrive. 

To view accessibility information for The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, visit AccessAble.co.uk here.

The new seating, which also features seats for a companion, is now found in Gangway 209, with an excellent view of the Royal Box for celebrity spotting, as well as Gangway 109, and Gangway 101.

I'm curious to know, if you've attended a sporting event, what's your experience of accessibility like?

durhamjaide2001

That's good my mum is a fan but I'm not to keen. 

Alex_Alumni

Each to their own @durhamjaide2001 Have you ever been to an event in a big stadium, or do you prefer something more low key? 

66Mustang

I think everyone has equal right to access the best views so I think it is good that they are making space for wheelchairs at the front.

However just wondering how something I have come across will be dealt with...

A relative uses a wheelchair and is a football fanatic. The wheelchair seating at their club is right at the front and there is a constant problem with completely able-bodies people sitting in wheelchairs just to get the best seats. This is a problem as 1) it is cheating the system and 2) is denying true wheelchair users a space. Is this something that has been considered with tennis?

durhamjaide2001

Alex_Scope said:

Each to their own @durhamjaide2001 Have you ever been to an event in a big stadium, or do you prefer something more low key? 

I think I have been to a consert before. 

Alex_Alumni

A relative uses a wheelchair and is a football fanatic. The wheelchair seating at their club is right at the front and there is a constant problem with completely able-bodies people sitting in wheelchairs just to get the best seats. This is a problem as 1) it is cheating the system and 2) is denying true wheelchair users a space. Is this something that has been considered with tennis?

Hi @66Mustang sorry it's taken me so long to reply, but you've raised a really interesting question here! I'm sorry to hear about the potential abuse of accessible seating that appears to be happening within football. 

From my own personal experience of going to Wimbledon I can't say this has been an issue. Obviously it goes without saying that not every disability is visible, and it's important to bear that in mind.

In recent years, I've been called by Wimbledon's ticket office to confirm that I am a wheelchair user in the lead up to the championships, but I've never needed to send 'proof' of my disability.

There's plenty of debate as to whether or not it's really ethical to ask for proof of a disability or health condition, but perhaps that's another discussion!

Poppy_

I haven’t been to Wimbledon but I did go to Royal Ascot a few years ago and it was, from memory, a good level of accessible. There was a separate viewing area for wheelchairs, etc, away from the crowds and it had a decent view over the parade ring. The Queen Anne enclosure also had a separate viewing area, which also provided a good view over the racing. The accessible toilets were decent and regularly cleaned. There was some hills that made it difficult, around the outside of the course, near the band stand. All the food and drink places were accessible as they could be, being mostly non permanent structures, apart from the ones inside. If anything, travel to and from Royal Ascot was more of an issue than Royal Ascot itself and it did surprise me. 

Alex_Alumni

It's sadly quite common for inaccessible travel to be a big factor in whether or not disabled people can even get to certain venues or destinations! 

Thanks for sharing your experience of Royal Ascot @Poppy_, I've never been, but it sounds like you had a good time there  

bogsa

Hi. I can across this topic while making my research for this 2024 tickets. I’ve become disabled 2 year ago and since that I wasn’t able to attend venue. However I found out I might be able to do so as disabled person might have access to easily accessible seats but I can’t see any information how to but those tickets. I’ve always either been part of public ballot or queuing for hours. Can you please advise anything?