There are only ever going to be a handful of players impacted by the proximity to Roland Garros. The grass court season is so short that it should appeal to any good grass players who have bowed out before Garros semis.

I just hope it's a success. Being in London gives it a better chance than Birmingham. And makes it easier for me, personally, to go. Which is obviously the most important consideration.

 

And makes it easier for me, personally, to go. Which is obviously the most important consideration.

Enjoy.

And dont forget the second most important thing: take some pictures of the players for us

 

I don’t like this grass court revamp at all. Birmingham has been gradually thrown under the bus, now Eastbourne going the same way. Everything does not have to be in London. Piss poor.

 

This is indeed not good for the sport.

It's a business decision. LTA caved in to money power: Queens and it's city of london sponsors wanted to use women in order to occupy two consecutive weeks of the tennis calendar (without being a truly combined Masters 1000 event).

 

Let‘s see how this week turns out. What‘s more concerning: No grass court ITF‘s as a warm up for Wimbledon left. There’s the 125s but players ranked high enough for the Wimbledon Q but too low for the 125s are basically without a real chance for a good prep.

 

I mean there would have been space in Queen‘s with Zhao, Hodzic and Gillan getting in. And what was the cut-off for Ilkley Qualifying? However it is very weird how there is no grass event below Nottingham next week. They should really bring back Surbiton for next week!

 

no, nothing like that, i've paid £35 centre court Wednesday and £25 ground pass Thursday
i think its great that i can just get the tube there but yes as Eastbourne has always been popular i do think that tournament has been treated badly
my friends who (unlike me) are staying loyal to Eastbourne want Queens to be a flop (especially the ones who dont live in London!). I was pleased to see a really good crowd on TV when i watched some of the Kasatkina v Kartal match today but my theory is it will be popular the first 2 or 3 years then the crowds might drop off but who knows

 

I went today and it was packed! Grounds were sold out at least. The venue is incredible and I do think the players absolutely love it. Brits are just generally the most knowledgeable crowds around and the ticket today was cheaper than opening day in Bad Homburg for instance. So overall a day very well spent. I just wonder what state the grass will be in for the men‘s tournament a week later.

 

It helps that it is in a really nice area of London

 

What? West Kensington is a bit of a dump lol, though Queen's is on a nice street

Went yesterday and today and its great value for money - I don't see how it can't continue to be a success when Tennis is such a big sport in West London

 

I really love Eastbourne. I'd like to go to both, but not sure how the timing will work out for me.

A seat on centre court tomorrow, right at the back, is £20 + £5 booking fee.

Right at the back, on a small court like Queens, should be fine. It aint Arthur Ashe.

I suppose they are tinkering to try to get the best attendance. Eastbourne weekends are usually popular.

 

I wanted an overview over the whole arena so went to the highest point possible. I think the view is still very decent.

 

On the side of the court, which is where I've watched tennis matches from before, I find it makes a huge difference how high up I am, wanting to not be very high up, because seeing the shape on groundstrokes is important.

At Queens though, the biggest stand is at one end on both Centre Court and Court 1, so I was naturally stuck there. I actually found the view down the end better when higher up (likely there is a "within reason" clause). Unsurprising really because I can't stand the court-level camera on TV.

So you don't have to spend hundreds of pounds on a ticket, and in my opinion, you get a good view.

 

Hmmm if Gaiba gone we need a grass itf there next year in that week guess Nottingham will have a high cut off now with no itfs in that week!

 

Well, I can confirm views are fine from the cheap seats.

It's nice to be closer, sometimes, but this was a last minute whim, so I didn't want to splurge, and it was worth the trip.

Queens has the least lovely grounds of the UK tournaments I've been to - Wimbledon is outright gorgeous, and Eastbourne is very pleasant. Queens is hemmed in and has no landscaped space. It's the easiest to get to by public transport, though.

 

Ironically that is what I loved about the venue. It just sits in the middle of a very nice looking neighborhood with some people able to watch the action right from their windows. I have never been to Eastbourne or Wimbledon though, only Birmingham and Nottingham some time ago.

 

It was warmish but on and off cloudy. No rain. On a really bright sunny day, the big bank of seating facing south might be a bit squinty and baking, but it was fine today. Sufficiently exposed that even in London, suncream and sunglasses are advised, though.

 

I prefer the view from Devonshire Park Eastbourne

 

love Devonshire Park my first visit 2002 and we had a bomb scare on the streets for 2 hours bit before I was literally standing next to the court where Lindsay and Jennifer were pracitising for the doubles final!!!

 

I went today and it's even more claustrophobic and hemmed in than I remember. Had good centre court seats but all the red brick buildings make me think of Victorian hospitals I live in London but I just can't get on board with screwing over Eastbourne to have yet another event here. Eastbourne is sooo much nicer as a venue.

 

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I haven't been to Queens, but have gone to Eastbourne and it is a lovely venue! But it hasn't been very popular on TF, but I think mainly with posters who haven't actually been there and just see the big gusts of wind and seagulls.

 

How many courts can they use at Queens to play matches.?
Any way they could do a combined ATP/WTA event or is that not possible.
Maybe a 10 day 1000 event.

 

They used to have a 56 draw in the men's, maybe even a 64 further in the past.

There are 10 courts other than centre, but only 1 and 5 have any sort of seating, I think. Probably no others could be televised, either.

Running the two events together might be possible in terms of gettng matches played, but would give them no chance to sell extra tickets - the ATP event already sells out, and as noted, other than Centre Court, it's a cramped site, they really can't increase the number of spectators on site.

I'm afraid the women would be overwhelmingly shunted onto outer courts.

 

The BBC are not covering Eastbourne this year since they are covering Queens instead

 

The LTA site for Eastbourne says...

 

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I haven't been to Queens, but have gone to Eastbourne and it is a lovely venue! But it hasn't been very popular on TF, but I think mainly with posters who haven't actually been there and just see the big gusts of wind and seagulls.

I like the seagulls! You just always have to pray they don't leave a deposit on you 😂 It is a lovely venue and hugely popular with a very loyal crowd. There are always loads of kids there too despite it's reputation as being God's waiting room.

They used to have a 56 draw in the men's, maybe even a 64 further in the past.

There are 10 courts other than centre, but only 1 and 5 have any sort of seating, I think. Probably no others could be televised, either.

Running the two events together might be possible in terms of gettng matches played, but would give them no chance to sell extra tickets - the ATP event already sells out, and as noted, other than Centre Court, it's a cramped site, they really can't increase the number of spectators on site.

I'm afraid the women would be overwhelmingly shunted onto outer courts.

I don't see any way they could hold a combined event. There's nowhere near enough space for the players or spectators. I popped on to court 5 yesterday and it's insanely cramped and a lot of the seats have the view blocked by the umpires chair and pillars supporting the stand. No leg room at all and the seats are uncomfortably packed together.

 

They can theoretically use more, and I think they occasionally do when rain delays get a bit extra, but they won't plan to use the courts with no seating for main draw matches.

To run two events at once would give them extra expenses, but no extra revenue, and I think it'd be very poor for spectators.

 

They will broadcast Eastbourne and Nottingham, probably more on iPlayer as opposed to terrestrial.
BBC and LTA extend contract to broadcast the LTA’s Grass Court Season until 2027

 

They will broadcast Eastbourne and Nottingham, probably more on iPlayer as opposed to terrestrial.
BBC and LTA extend contract to broadcast the LTA’s Grass Court Season until 2027
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Sad they won't have Eastbourne on bbc 2 even if just semi and finals

 

Yes and if the inaugural event is won by a British girl (looking at you Emma), it will become an instant classic when the BBC turns on its machine!