Wimbledon is experiencing its highest attendance on record this year, driven in part by a surge in the use of rental electric bikes around the tournament site. On the opening day, crowds gathered early at the All England Club, with approximately 10,000 tennis fans queued by 8:30 a.m. The volume of visitors forced organizers to advise those without tickets to avoid traveling to the venue.

Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, described the queue as “really busy” and noted that it was effectively at capacity by mid-morning. She reflected on how concerns after the COVID-19 pandemic about declining attendance were contradicted by the growing popularity of onsite queuing. Bolton attributed this increase to the widespread use of Lime Bikes and Forrest Bikes, which have made it easier for fans to access the site and join the ticket queues.

A steward at the event remarked that nearly all Lime Bikes in the South West London area had been brought to the Wimbledon vicinity, enhancing the influx of spectators. The availability of these rental e-bikes appears to be a contributing factor to the steady stream of visitors arriving daily.

Bolton emphasized that the long queues are driven by fans hoping to secure Centre Court tickets for the day, a tradition the club remains committed to preserving. She highlighted that many attendees are willing to camp overnight in order to gain access to matches without prior ticket reservations.

This year’s Wimbledon tournament continues to draw strong public interest, with tournament officials managing unprecedented demand alongside efforts to maintain a safe and enjoyable experience for all attendees.