Anyone for Tennis? The Wimbledon Centre Court Roof

When the familiar pitter-patter of raindrops interrupted the men’s final at Wimbledon in 2012, the record 16.9 million viewers who had tuned in to watch Andy Murray play Roger Federer did not have to wait for the storm to pass. Instead, the retractable roof closed over Centre Court and play continued. Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof is a true roofing innovation, but the incredible structure isn’t without its controversies. As Wimbledon 2016 hots up, we take a look.

Lawn tennis at Wimbledon has been played outdoors on grass since 1877. The game can’t be played in the rain, as there would be too many injuries from players slipping on the wet grass. However, rain is frequent in the early British summer and rain delays affect the continuity of play and the television schedules. Someone had the bright idea of solving these problems by building a roof over the most important tennis court in Wimbledon. Between 2007 and 2009, a retractable roof was installed over Centre Court. Now play could continue whatever the weather, and later into the day, as the pitch can be lit with floodlights.

A Mammoth Installation

SCX Special Projects Ltd won the contract to design and install the roof with some of the electronics involved subcontracted out to other firms. The project took two years to complete. The finished roof weighs 3000 tons and, when fully deployed, has an area of 5200 square metres. The full cost of the roof has never been disclosed, but estimates range between 80 and 100 million pounds.

The Centre Court Roof Controversy

The big controversy amongst tennis aficionados is how playing under a closed roof affects the game. There is the delay of about forty-five minutes while the roof is closed and the climate is adjusted by air conditioning, but there would be a delay anyway due to the rain. So what’s the problem? The big problem, claim the experts, is the humidity. Moisture from the breath of the 15000 strong crowd builds up and makes the air and the grass damp, slowing the ball down and affecting its spin.

In that 2012 final, Murray and Federer were fairly evenly matched, taking a set each before the roof closed. Federer came back after the break to win the final two sets and his seventh Wimbledon title. Did the more humid conditions and slower ball favour the baseline tactics of the Swiss athlete?

Big engineering projects like the Centre Court roof are bound to divide opinion. In the end though: tennis lovers get to watch tennis in the rain, physicists get to measure the effects of humidity on spin and roofers get to admire a colossal structure with a practical purpose being installed. There’s a lot to like about the Centre Court roof.

Whether you have a big commercial project or a small domestic roof that needs attention, our team of dedicated experts are here to help. You can call us on 01603 418818.