725,000+ music and tennis fans expected at Glastonbury and Wimbledon
With two of the biggest summer events nearly upon us, The AA is saying it expects 144,000 Glastonbury festival goers to travel there – by car. It adds that more than half-a-million are due to watch the tennis (with 157,800 going by road).
It expects two in five fans travelling to either event will be arriving by vehicle which means its’ teams will be at the sites to help motorists. The team adds that the majority will be car sharing to get to both venues.
Organising parking and keeping fans’ cars mobile will be just part of the role played by the AA over the course of the next three weeks.
Glastonbury kicks off on 25 June with around 225,000 festival-goers attending the five day event. A recent AA survey found that two-thirds will be travelling there – either by car or motorhome.
For those arriving early, official car parks will be open from 9:00pm on Tuesday 24 June.
But the AA adds that attendees should remain with their vehicles until the festival gates open at 8.00am on Wednesday 25 June. Drivers will need to display their car parking pass upon entry.
It’s expected that routes around the South West including the M4, M5 and A39 will be busy on Wednesday 25 June as people descend on Worthy Farm. Roads are set to become busy again on Sunday 29 June and Monday 30 June as revellers head home.
Supporting Glastonbury for 25 years
The AA has supported Glastonbury for around 25 years, with dedicated on-site teams providing support to people who experience problems with their vehicles, including lost keys. The AA team also help festival-goers to find their cars at the end of the festival.
Those needing assistance during the event are advised to head to The AA’s dedicated compound by the Bronze Gate (immediate service is available to non-members wishing to join The AA while attending the festival).
Last year, AA patrols were called out to 154 festival-goers over four days, with 104 drivers opting to join The AA during the festival.
The team explain that its planning along with its tried-and-tested radio comms resulted in an average wait time of just 11 minutes for motorists requiring assistance.
‘We’re immensely proud to be a part of these flagship summer events,’ says Rob Trevethick, AA Head of Signs. ‘The AA, an iconic organisation in its own right, has supported Wimbledon for almost 100 years and Glastonbury for around 25 years.’
‘Our teams relish the opportunity to play their part and thrive in the knowledge that they’ve helped to make these spectacular summer events memorable for the all right reasons.’
Anyone for tennis?
Meanwhile, Wimbledon fortnight starts on Monday 30 June with the final day’s action on Sunday 13th July.
Last year a record 526,455 people attended across the period with more expected to visit SW19 this year. Of those attending, three in ten spectators say they will travel to the All England Club by car.
Each year The AA supports the Championships in the organisation and supervision of the car parks and the park-and-ride facility.
Courtesy roadside assistance is provided to drivers in the immediate vicinity of the event, irrespective of whether or not they are AA members. The AA has supported Wimbledon for almost 100 years.
Other events The AA will be supporting this year include: Hampton Court Garden Festival, The British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Farnborough International Airshow, Latitude Festival, Leeds Festival and the British Moto GP.
