Wimbledon Rain: A Roof On the Way
W I M B L E D O N, July 2 -- The rain fell heavily today, suspending virtually all matches for hours as the All England Tennis and Croquet Club announced that it has raised $83.7 million to place a retractable roof over Centre Court by 2009.
The announcement was made while dozens of the world's top tennis players sat inside in lounges and spectators squirmed under umbrellas waiting for a break in showers which began sweeping London early this morning.
By selling 2,300 subscriptions, priced at 23,150 British pounds each, ($42,144), the club promised each purchaser a reserved seat at Centre Court for five years, beginning in 2006.
If completed within five years, the retractable roof would be the third to grace major show courts at the four tournaments which make up the Grand Slam of tennis. Australia introduced the concept 15 years ago and currently operates two retractable roof stadiums in Melbourne for the Australian Open.
French Tennis Federation officials indicated last month that they will attempt to create a new roofed stadium on parkland near Roland Garros as part of a bid to attract the 2012 Olympic Games to Paris. The United States Tennis Association has signaled a similar intent but given no details. Rain caused serious disruptions of the 2003 U.S. Open.
The new Wimbledon roof will be fashioned from fabric which club officials described as a "translucent folding concertina." This will allow sunlight to reach the grass, officials said, and create a feeling of watching play in an open-air setting.
"The fabric to be used is a special waterproof structural material that is very strong and highly flexible," according to a club statement released last month.
The club said tournament officials will be able to close the new roof in less than 10 minutes. They pledged to resume play 10- 30 minutes after the closing process begins and plan to continue covering the court with tarpaulins while they operate the retractable roof.
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