Celebs at Wimbledon

[AlexaAmbidextra]

Apparently they are there by invitation. I wonder just how many of them are actually interested in tennis as opposed to attending just to be seen or simply because it’s a freebie?

I can’t really see how it benefits Wimbledon as presumably real tennis fans go or watch on tv because they enjoy the tennis. I can’t imagine anyone would bother to watch just to see the celebs.

Privilege goes to privilege it would seem. ☹️

Tom Hiddleston was watching the epic final yesterday but also one of the small % of the crowd still there for tje ladies doubles which was also a great match. I've noticed venus williams watching allof serenas matches as she looks bored af most of the time!
A grounds ticket for £25 is nothing like having a premium seat in centre court!!
I feel similar when celebs (who are not regular runners) get places at the marathon when i know lots of dedicated runners that have had years of losing out in the ballot.

Having said this there are also a lot of corporate tickets (as with many concerts/sports events) and modt of them are for business networking etc, they are probably in the champagne bar most of the time rather than watching tennis

I was lucky enough to go this year (tickets won through the ballot) and actually you can take food in, you don't have to buy food, we didn't. They are many many free refill water stations around as well. So if you buy a grounds pass for £25 it can actually be very reasonable. This is what we would have done if I hadn't been fortunate enough to win tickets.

I agree with you OP. I think if celebrities want to watch Wimbledon, they should have to queue for tickets like everyone else. Being a well paid actor or offspring/relative of someone famous, shouldn't entitle you to special treatment.

I was thinking similar lines about Glastonbury the other week; how many of the so-called celebs there (like the Beckhams) with probably zero interest in the music had sat there for hours on the phone trying to score a ticket and then rocked up with a two man to pitch among 100,000 of the great unwashed in the Pylon ground? Not to mention having to queue for the long drops . Probably nada. All there for free and on lavish hospitality.

Unfortunately it’s the way of the world. It seems that money attracts money. Or privilege anyway. And yes op it’s shit but I still wouldn’t trade my life for that of a celeb.

Celebs raise the profile of the event.
I hardly think Wimbledon is a tiny satellite tennis tournament that could do with a bit of exposure. And if there were no celebs there papers could report on ....i dunno....maybe the actual tennis!! Same for glastonbury.

It's not just celebs, though. My parents once got free corporate Centre Court tickets - they weren't really interested in tennis at all - my DF only ever seriously into cricket - but went along anyway and enjoyed it.

We live not a million miles away, and have sometimes gone in the late afternoon/evening for very little £. I particularly remember getting into Centre Court for the mixed doubles final - often the best fun match to watch - for peanuts - there were plenty of empty seats.

Dds and friends would sometimes bunk off school early, and stand outside in their school uniforms - people leaving in the afternoon would take pity and pass on their tickets! Not sure whether this is still possible though.

@weebarra and @Frith2013 I actually live in Scotland! But everywhere is 'somewhere you have to get to' FGS. I think saying 'Wimbledon is elitist because it's in Wimbledon and that's a place you have to get to' is a bit daft. All events are 'somewhere' and if you don't happen to live next door to that place (or on the tube map) then you need to travel - that doesn't make the event elitist.