Wimbledon fans on the traditional Hill
(Picture: PA)Wimbledon fans unable to make it down to the All England Lawn Tennis Club in south London can still partake in the tradition by enjoying its “Virtual Hill”.
The Virtual Hill provides fans worldwide the chance to join in with the tradition in a social interactive experience.
The Hill is an iconic part of Wimbledon, and for many a “bucket list” experience when attending the tennis championships.
But with this year being the first since the pandemic when crowds return to full 42,000-strong capacity, some fans may miss out on tickets.
In the virtual event, participants are able to set up their own unique patch on the Hill and create their own personalised avatar.
They can also test their Wimbledon knowledge and learn more about the tennis championships and its history in daily quizzes.
In partnership with American Express, the Virtual Hill is a move by the All England Tennis Club towards metaverse experiences.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Sir Andy Murray said: “The Hill is one of Wimbledon’s most treasured traditions, and I’ve certainly hugely appreciated the atmosphere fans on The Hill add to the Wimbledon spirit.
“Making sure we create the same type of feeling and passion in the virtual world is critical to driving engagement with fans who don’t get to be here.”
Alexandra Willis, communications and marketing director at Wimbledon, said: “The Hill at Wimbledon is one of our most iconic traditions, and, in partnership with American Express, we are thrilled to be immortalising that experience through the Virtual Hill.
“Making sure we are always finding new ways to reach and engage with fans is a critical part of our strategy, so whether it is choosing your outfit, or taking on the daily missions, or simply just having a lovely picnic, we hope everyone enjoys this innovative experience in celebration of Wimbledon 2022.”
The Hill has become a popular area for fans to watch the action live while taking in the atmosphere of Wimbledon.
During the 1990s, it was widely known as ‘Henman Hill’, as British fans gathered to watch the British No.1 compete in four Wimbledon semi-finals.
It has since also been dubbed ‘Murray Mound’, reflecting the support for Sir Andy Murray at Wimbledon.
This year, the Hill is also coming to New York for three days as the iconic Wimbledon destination is set up on Brooklyn Bridge Park for three days from July 8-10.
