Fans face online Andy Murray semi-final ticket rush

Anger as last batch of Wimbledon tickets available over the web but not to queuing fans - fears of tickets reappearing on black market. Scroll down for where to watch Murray in London

2 July 2009

THOUSANDS of Andy Murray fans are preparing for an almighty scramble at 8.30pm when 600 unsold tickets for the semi-finals will go on sale.

Murray hails 'ridiculous' Federer after quarter-final win

Wimbledon babes 2009

Ticketmaster Wimbledon sales

Wimbledon officials will release the final tranche of £92 tickets for tomorrow’s Centre Court matches, when Murray will battle Andy Roddick, on the Ticketmaster website tonight, meaning no one in the queue tonight will get a ticket for his match.

As Murraymania continues to intensify, the website is expecting to be swamped by fans, in effect creating a ticket lottery.

All England Club chiefs say that the sale increases access for fans, but the club has come under fire for not selling tickets to queuing fans for the final four days of the tournament, after local residents put pressure on them to keep queue lengths as short as possible.

Shaun West, a student 20, from east London, said: “I queued for Murray’s quarter-final. It’s unfair there are no Centre Court tickets for queuing fans for the semi.

“Wimbledon should put the Ticketmaster tickets on the gate so real fans watch Murray, not people who get lucky on the internet.”

Sarah James, 23, a marketing executive from Brighton, said: “Andy has so many fans and it’s crazy that those who queue can’t see him play now.

“The spare tickets should go to the queue. Whoever’s in charge at Wimbledon really needs to look at themselves about this.”

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"Whoever's in charge at Wimbledon really needs to look at themselves about this"

There are fears Ticketmaster’s sale means black-market prices will soar, with fans who have already bought SW19 tickets from the website reporting slack ID checks on the gate.

Prices on authorised site Viagogo for tomorrow’s semi-finals were nudging £3,500 this morning, while tickets for the final are for sale online at £20,000 each.

Ticketmaster have had 600 Centre Court tickets for each day’s play at the tournament.

Of Centre Court’s 15,000 tickets, 10,600 are sold through its annual winter ballot and 2,300 are debenture tickets sold to wealthy individuals at £27,750 for a five-year ticket. One thousand five-hundred tickets are corporate hospitality seats, costing around £1,000 per ticket, leaving 600 for on-the-day fans.

Wimbledon spokesman Johnny Perkins said: “Tickets for Centre Court are not available on the day in the last four days - but they are available on Ticketmaster.

“Murray will be on Centre Court on Friday, so fans who queue now are only queuing for Court One or ground tickets.

“Ticketmaster is another avenue to make tickets accessible to fans, and we try to offer a variety of means to give customers choice.

“If you want to queue, you can - but if you want to be on the online queue, you can do that as well.”

Not got a ticket for Centre Court? Never fear – tennis-mad Londoners can soothe their cravings by watching the match on one of three big screens being set up outside around the capital. Strawberries and cream not provided.

Cardinal Place, Victoria Street, London, SW1 (nearest Tube stations: Victoria, Westminster, St James’s Park) www.cardinalplace.co.uk

New Street Square, New Fetter Lane, London EC4 (nearest Tube stations: Chancery Lane, Holborn and City Thameslink) www.newstreetsquare.co.uk

Bankside Mix, Southwark Street London, SE1 (nearest Tube stations: Southwark, London Bridge and Waterloo) www.banksidemix.co.uk

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