LONDON | Wimbledon Centre Court | 15,000 | Complete

[Didoluva]

That sounds unlikely to happen. It has always rained in London during the Championships... what makes you believe it will suddendly stop?!

[CharlieP]

Originally Posted by Didoluva

what makes you believe it will suddendly stop?!

Never underestimate the awesome power of Murphy's Law.

[hoody]

What about it?

[Didoluva]

Look at these maps ("bird's eye")... u can see Centre Court redevelopment.
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...7928&encType=1
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...7928&encType=1
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...7928&encType=1
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...8465&encType=1

[Didoluva]

(AELTC Press Release) 2 April 2009
WIMBLEDON ANNOUNCES NEW CENTRE COURT DEBENTURE ISSUE

The All England Lawn Tennis Ground plc (“AELTG”), owner of the grounds at which the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships are staged, has announced that it is issuing up to 2,500 Centre Court debentures at a price of £27,750 each for the five years 2011-2015 inclusive. The issue is expected to raise net proceeds of approximately £59.5 million.

The 2009 Championships will be the first with a retractable roof over Centre Court. When in use, the roof is designed to ensure that tennis can be played and viewed in adverse weather during the summer. The AELTG has invested significantly in the restaurant and bar areas exclusively for the use of Centre Court debenture holders. The redevelopment of Centre Court has enabled the AELTG to improve the quality of the seating with the installation of wider, upholstered seats and, since 2006, the seating capacity has increased to approximately 15,000.

Debentures were first introduced in 1920 to finance the purchase of part of the company’s present grounds and buildings and the construction of Centre Court. Since then, proceeds from subsequent debenture issues have provided funding for many significant improvements to the facilities at the grounds.

A Centre Court debenture confers the right to one reserved seat on Centre Court for every day of The Championships for the five-year period covered.

The price of £27,750 each, including VAT at the rate expected to be prevailing at the time the instalment payments are made, is made up of a nominal value of £2,000 (repayable in August 2015), a premium of £22,000 and VAT of £3,750.

Source: http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/..._02_04_09.html

[Noostairz]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/8010224.stm

[Didoluva]

21 April 2009.

WIMBLEDON UNVEILS CENTRE COURT ROOF.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club has unveiled the new Centre Court retractable roof. Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters will be the first players to play under the new structure in the Centre Court Celebration on Sunday 17 May.
BBC Sport has confirmed it will provide live coverage of the Centre Court Celebration on BBC2, while singing stars Katherine Jenkins, Faryl Smith and Blake will also perform at the event.






Source: http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/index.html

[Didoluva]

21 April 2009.

CENTRE COURT ROOF SET FOR DEBUT.

The All England Club, Wimbledon, confirmed today that its new Centre Court retractable roof is on schedule to be ready in time for the Centre Court Celebration matches on Sunday 17 May, when Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters will be the first players to play under the new structure.

Final testing of the roof and air-management system is being carried out.

The air-management system has a vital role in controlling and stabilising the internal environment within the bowl – essentially controlling humidity and preventing either condensation on the inside of the roof or sweating of the grass – either of which would make the court slippery and unsuitable for play.

Ian Ritchie, Chief Executive of the All England Club, said: “We set out to make Wimbledon the world’s premier tennis event; the tournament the players most want to win, the tournament spectators most want to come to and the tournament everyone wants to watch.

“The new Centre Court roof project has been a sophisticated engineering feat. Much of the testing is complete and we are now making final adjustments ahead of the Centre Court Celebration event on 17 May. That event is an important part of the testing procedure and will enable us to see how both the roof and air-management system actually perform under live conditions with a capacity crowd.”

NUMBERS...

8 litres per second of fresh air per person pumped into the bowl to manage the environment.

9 chiller units required to cool the air.

10 minutes (maximum) that the roof takes to close.

10 trusses holding up the roof.

16 metres - height of the roof above the court surface.

30 minutes – maximum time expected before play can start/continue after the roof is closed and the internal environment is controlled and stabilised.

43 miles per hour - wind speed up to which the roof can be deployed/retracted.

77 metres - the span of the moving roof trusses (width of football pitch = 68m).

70 tonnes - weight of each of the 10 trusses without extra parts.

100 tonnes - weight of each of the 10 trusses with all extras – eg motors, locking arms.

100 % of the roof’s fabric which is recyclable.

214 MM per second - maximum speed of truss deployment.

1,200 extra seats installed in 2008.

3,000 tonnes - combined weight (both fixed and moving) of the roof.

5,200 square metres, area of retractable roof when fully deployed.

7,500 Wimbledon umbrellas, needed to cover the same area as the retractable roof.

15,000 maximum spectator capacity.

143,000 litres per second – total amount of conditioned air that the air-management system supplies to the bowl.

290 million tennis balls – number that could fit in the Centre Court with the roof closed.

Retractable Roof on Centre Court - HOW IT WORKS

Type of folding fabric concertina, which allows the roof to be folded into a very compressed area when not in use.
Fabric (Tenara) is a special waterproof structural material that is very strong, highly flexible and at 40% translucent is not transparent for players/spectators but will let in natural light. Around 5,200 square metres of fabric used.
Key element of the design allows natural light to reach the grass – brought about by re-contouring the fixed roof.
An airflow system removes condensation from within the bowl to provide good court surface conditions conducive to the playing of tennis when the roof is closed.
Roof is divided into two sections, with a total of nine bays of tensioned fabric - four bays in one section and five in the other. Each of the nine bays of tensioned fabric is clamped on either side to prismatic steel trusses. There are 10 trusses spanning approximately 77 metres across the court. Ends of each truss are supported by a set of bogies that move along parallel tracks positioned at either side within the new ‘fixed’ roof.
In preparation for closing the roof, one section is parked in its folded state at the north end of the court while the other is parked at the south end.
The coordinated electro mechanical movement moves the trusses apart and, at the same time, unfolds and stretches out the fabric between the trusses over the court until the two sections meet in an overlapping seam above the middle of the court.
The arch shape to the tops of the trusses helps the structure to withstand their own dead weight and loading from elements such as snow and wind when the roof is stretched and closed over the court.
The roof has been designed to close in a maximum of 10 minutes. If the roof is being closed for rain, court covers will protect the grass in the usual way while closure is in progress.
After the roof has been closed, play can resume after a period of around 30 minutes, depending on climatic conditions.

Countdown to a new Centre Court - The Roof Timetable: CHAMPIONSHIPS ACTIVITY

2001
Centre Court Clubhouse renovated, new balconies added
Centre Court South Stand terracing replaced
Royal Box, TV/radio commentary boxes refurbished

2002
Centre Court terracing rows A-H replaced

2003
Gate 3: Demolition of old Wimbledon Museum Shop, Barclays Bank and turnstiles to make way for new Museum Building including Club offices

January 2004
Announcement of new Centre Court retractable roof, increase in capacity to 15,000, new wider padded seats (470mm seat spacing) and new restaurants/bars for public and debenture holders

2004
Gate 3: Museum, Turnstile and Club Offices building concrete structure complete to ground floor level
New ticket booths operational from Church Road

2005
Gate 3: Museum, Turnstile and Museum Building (Club Offices) concrete structure continues
Diversion of essential services under and around Centre Court
Centre Court terracing (rows J-T) replaced
Design work on the new roof, North and East Stands well advanced

2006
Enabling and infrastructure works start to strengthen the court foundations and prepare for air-management system
AELTC staff relocate to Gate 3 Museum Building (December 2005)
New Museum opens (April 2006)

2007-2009
Roof model testing carried out in Rotherham

2007
Demolition of East Stand and old Club offices
Removal of existing roof
Piling and construction of new East Stand frame and floors
East Stand rebuilt and terraces operational
No roof on Centre Court
Extra six rows of terracing completed
Centre Court restaurants/bars in situ but not open – used as rain shelters

2008
Installation of new fixed roof
East Stand building finished and fully operational
Refurbished North Stand including Centre Court Debenture Rooms operational
Completion of new public and debenture facilities within East and North Stands, including enhanced and extended dining/lounge areas for Centre Court Debenture Holders and 400-seat Wingfield Restaurant for public, 10 new hospitality suites
Capacity rises to 15,000 with addition of 1200 new seats
Installation of the first two moving roof trusses
Nº2 Court shell complete

2009
Completion of moving roof trusses
Erection and completion of moving roof
Fit fabric covering to sliding roof
Commissioning and testing of roof and environment of Centre Court.
Construction of new permanent Gatehouses at Gates 4 and 5
Retractable roof and air-management system operational.
All new wider, padded and more comfortable seats installed on Centre Court
Nº2 Court complete and operational.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The new Centre Court roof comprises two distinct roof forms: the main fixed roof to the perimeter of the Court which is surmounted by a translucent retractable steel and fabric “concertina like” structure.

The design for the fixed perimeter is modelled on the 1922 dodecahedron form which provides the distinct intimate Centre Court atmosphere with a droop down leading edge to focus spectators’ eyes to the action on the grass court. The use of the translucent fabric for the retractable element affords natural light into the arena and in part retains the open-to-air quality of the 1920’s stadium.

The relatively lightweight steel truss and fabric retractable roof is set above the fixed perimeter roof so as not to impinge on the spectators’ view and perception of the grass court in either the open or closed mode. It also retains the 1922 dodecahedron roof form when viewed from the terraces below.

The roof is designed to provide appropriate playing conditions when the roof is deployed in adverse summer weather conditions; specifically:

Light – the translucent Tenara fabric will permit adequate levels of light for play in most daylight conditions; where natural light fails to meet the levels required, it is supplemented by a bespoke design sports lighting system (permanently installed on the trusses), which has been designed to provide compliant light conditions both for play and for media coverage. There are 72 indirect, truss mounted sports luminaires and 48 direct truss mounted sports luminaires. On the turf, horizontal lighting level is 3,200 lux and on the vertical (for service and shots in the air) is 1,900 lux.

Wind – the roof can be safely deployed in wind conditions of up to 43 mph (69 kph).

Rainfall – the roof is designed to be weathertight. Rainfall on the fabric roof is rapidly dispersed to the two sides as the top profile of the roof is a curve; at the sides the water falls into gutters and then into the main surface water drainage system.

Internal environment – the air systems are designed to firstly control and then stabilise the internal bowl environment at the specified levels (24 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C, with 50% +/- 10% relative humidity based on ambient conditions of 27 degrees C with 72% RH; if ambient temperatures rise, the bowl temperature will be maintained provided ambient RH levels fall), to prevent condensation on the inside of the roof or sweating of the grass, and to provide a fresh air allowance into bowl of eight litres/second/person.

Seats – the new seats are padded and more comfortable. The seats are wider and the spacing between them (centre to centre) has also been increased.

Source: http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/..._21_04_09.html

[Didoluva]

21 April 2009.

BBC TO BROADCAST CENTRE COURT CELEBRATION.

BBC to broadcast tennis legends return to Wimbledon for Centre Court roof celebrations

BBC Sport will provide live coverage of Wimbledon’s Centre Court Celebration which will launch the new Centre Court roof, on BBC2, Sunday 17th May, 3.30pm – 5.00pm.

Tennis stars Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters and Tim Henman will play a combination of men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles for an increased capacity crowd under the new Centre Court roof.

Sue Barker will present live from Wimbledon with Andrew Castle and John Lloyd providing expert commentary on the matches.

Extended live coverage of the matches, as well as live music from Katherine Jenkins, Faryl Smith and Blake will be available on the BBC Red Button and BBC Online www.bbc.co.uk/tennis between 2.30pm and 6.00pm.

Source: http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/..._21_04_09.html

[Didoluva]

21 April 2009.

KATHERINE JENKINS, FARYL SMITH AND BLAKE TO JOIN AGASSI, GRAF, HENMAN AND CLIJSTERS FOR A CENTRE COURT CELEBRATION.

Singing stars Katherine Jenkins, Faryl Smith and Blake will join Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters as part of the All England Club’s A Centre Court Celebration event on Sunday 17 May 2009 to test the new Centre Court roof.

A capacity crowd of 15,000 is expected for the event, which will feature (in order) a mixed doubles, men’s singles and ladies’ singles.

Tickets priced at £35.00 sold out within five minutes of going on sale, but the BBC have confirmed that the event will be covered (UK) on BBC 2 from 3.30-5.00pm (see BBC press release for details).

Event Timings

12:00 noon - gates open.
2:30pm - programme scheduled to start – roof to close (depending on weather).
6:00pm - event scheduled to finish.
Security/Transport/Catering

Only one small hand bag (15”x 12” x 6”) per person will be allowed into the grounds, subject to search, to speed up entry. No picnic hampers or hard sided cases allowed.
Limited left luggage facilities outside the grounds only.
Use public transport where possible. No public Park and Ride service.
Limited public car parking and catering available.

Source: http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/..._21_04_09.html

[Didoluva]

MORE ABOUT A CENTRE COURT CELEBRATION...

The All England Club, Wimbledon, have announced that a star line-up of Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Kim Clijsters and Tim Henman will become the first to play tennis under the new Centre Court roof as part of its A Centre Court Celebration event on Sunday 17 May 2009.

The event is designed to test the new roof and air management system with live tennis in front of a capacity crowd of 15,000.

Event Name "A Centre Court Celebration".
Date Sunday May 17.
Location: Centre Court, The All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon.
Players Andre Agassi, Stefanie Graf, Kim Clijsters and Tim Henman.
Format Men’s singles, a ladies’ singles and a mixed doubles match all played to the pro set format – the first to 8 games, with a tie-break at 8-8.
Schedule of play Gates scheduled to open at 12:00 noon. Programme scheduled to start at 2:30pm. Event scheduled to finish around 6:00pm.

Tickets
Tickets for the event are now sold out.
Travel Use public transport where possible. No public Park and Ride service. Limited public car parking and catering available.

Security
Only one small hand bag (15”x 12” x 6”) per person will be allowed into the grounds, subject to search, to speed up entry. No picnic hampers or hard sided cases allowed. Limited left luggage facilities outside the grounds only.

ANDRE AGASSI
“I am honoured to be invited by the All England Club to take part in this landmark occasion. I have great memories of playing at Wimbledon and to be amongst the first to play under the new Centre Court roof is really exciting.”

Andre Agassi began his professional tennis career in 1986 at the age of 16. His performance on the court earned him 60 career men’s singles titles, including eight Grand Slam singles championships. Agassi is the only male player in the world to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal. Agassi retired from his tennis career following the U.S. Open in the summer of 2006. In 1994, Agassi founded the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation which is dedicated to transforming U.S. public education for underserved youth. Agassi is married to former tennis superstar Stefanie Graf, and the couple have two children.

STEFANIE GRAF
"There is no tennis venue more special to me than Centre Court at Wimbledon. It just doesn't get any better. I couldn't be more honoured to play there again with my husband Andre, and tennis greats Kim and Tim. It will mean so much to return to Wimbledon and see so many familiar places, relive so many wonderful memories."

Stefanie Graf graced the tennis courts, and built a career that spanned 17 years and 902 victories. She announced her retirement from tennis in 1999. Graf won 22 Grand Slam singles titles (seven at Wimbledon, six at the French Open, five at the US Open and four at the Australian Open). In 1988, Graf won all four Grand Slam singles titles, the Olympic gold medal and 96 percent of her matches. Graf was ranked No.1 for a WTA-record 377 weeks, including 186 in a row. Stefanie Graf is the founder of Children for Tomorrow, a non-profit organization focused on helping children and their families who are victims of war, persecution or organized crime. Graf is married to Andre Agassi, and the couple have two children.

TIM HENMAN
“Wimbledon’s Centre Court was always a special place for me and it’s just great to have the chance to play there again with the likes of Andre, Steffi and Kim. I think it will be a really fun day for everyone and the new roof is going to make it a fascinating experience.”

Tim Henman was born on the 6th September, 1974, in Oxford, England. Tim joined the Tour in 1993 rising to the Top 30 in 1996. In the same year he became British No 1 and won the Doubles Silver Medal at the Atlanta Olympics. By the time he reached a career high of No.4 in 2002, the combination of his Davis Cup exploits and four Wimbledon singles semi-finals meant he was firmly established as the home supporters’ favourite. In total he won 11 ATP singles titles. Keen to see tennis as part of a wider social fabric, Tim was Chairman of the ATP Charities Programme in 2000 and founded his own charity, Kids At Heart, also in 2000. Off court, Tim is a fine golfer and supports Oxford United Football Club. He married Lucy Heald in December 1999 and they have three daughters. Henman was created an OBE in the UK New Year’s Honours List 2003.

KIM CLIJSTERS
“To be asked to be part of this unique event with Andre and Steffi and Tim is very exciting and a real privilege. It has been ten years since I played Steffi at Wimbledon. My first and only match against her in my career. It was quite an experience. I was very nervous to play against my idol and because of the rain the match took two days to finish. The new roof will prevent that this time around.”

Kim Clijsters was born on 8 June 1983 in Bilzen, Belgium. She turned professional in August 1997 and during her professional career, won 34 WTA singles titles and 11 WTA doubles titles. She won the WTA Tour Championships singles title in 2002 and 2003 and the US Open singles title in 2005. Clijsters was twice a singles runner-up at the French Open and a one-time runner-up at the Australian Open. She also reached two Wimbledon singles semifinals. In doubles, she won the French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2003. Clijsters retired in May 2007 and is now married to American basketball player Brian Lynch who is based in Clijsters' hometown of Bree. They have one daughter who was born on 27 February 2008.



Source: http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/celebration/index.html

[Indian Forever]

Very nice cant wait , any plan for a similar roof for court one?

[Didoluva]

Hmm... the organization at the AELTC have said that one thing at a time, so let's just try this new, renovated Centre Court and see how the new roof and air conditioning system deal with the requirements.

[plank007]

Nice one, they've runied centre court.

[djay]

yeah the roof should have gone on number one

[BeestonLad]

Unbelievable that it took 5 years

[london lad]

Video here

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?...de=3139088&c=3

[NothingBetterToDo]

Good grief, how many steel beams do they need? were they trying to cram as many up there as physically possible??

It should have been way more open and airy, i think it looks terrible.

Also, won't the shadows it casts be a problem for the players?

[Didoluva]

Originally Posted by NothingBetterToDo

...Also, won't the shadows it casts be a problem for the players?

The shadows won't create any inconveniences. Remember the roof is traslucent, so any possible "darkness" generated by the steel structure will just "vanish" before reaching either the crowd or the court surface.

[Gherkin]

So the steelwork is translucent?