LONDON: Wimbledon officials yesterday confirmed that they are considering a proposal to build a roof on the All England Club’s Court One. The success of the roof over Wimbledon’s Centre Court has prompted tournament organisers to look at proposals for covering the second showpiece arena at the grass-court Grand Slam in south-west London.
The plan to add a roof on the 11,500-seat court would be announced publicly as early as next month. But a club spokesman said yesterday: “Our position has not changed. A roof on Court No 1 remains under consideration but there has been no final decision.”
All England Club chairman Philip Brook, asked 18 months ago about the potential for a roof on Court One, said it would be “a desirable thing” due to the changeable nature of English weather.
Unlike Centre, Court One was designed to be roof-ready when it was built in 1997. That means the associated costs will not be as severe as the huge construction on Centre Court, which was completed in 2009 at an estimated cost of £100m ($151m). REUTERS
