There is no doubt in the minds of every tennis lover that the Wimbledon Championships is the most awaited tournament in the year across every category. The aura, the vibe, the history, the crowds, the traditions, the weather and of course, the prize money are among the many things that make players excited about the competition. Similarly, tennis enthusiasts dream to visit SW19 to watch the matches LIVE in person and those who can’t, love to watch it on different mediums.
Wimbledon is said to be a visual delight to be watched, as compared to other Grand Slams and many tournaments. This is largely because of the fact that they do not heed some of their sponsors’ demands of being advertised on the periphery of the court. Traditionally, the English thought process has been to keep the purity of the game alive with commercialism being just a tool to maintain the All England Club as well as pay players handsome prize money.
Wimbledon makes profits despite refusing more than USD $100 million
Many might be surprised to know that the Wimbledon Championships on average generate a profit of anywhere between $55-60 million each year for the All England Club. It is believed that nearly 50-60% of Wimbledon’s revenues come from global broadcast rights, which is roughly $42 million per year from UK’s BBC and in 2022, the total amounted to $246 million. It has signed a 12-year, $500 million deal including other broadcasters in countries such as USA, India and Australia.
Out of the total revenue amount of $440 million in 2022 as per the All England Club report, the other $194 million come from gate receipts, sponsorships and merchandise/on-ground sales. Going at a run-rate of $70 million per year, Wimbledon could have earned another $30-40 million easily by perhaps increasing their seating capacity of 15,000 or ticket prices. Yet, exclusivity seems to be the name of the game for the Brits as remember, the All England Club at heart continues to be an exclusive, private members club.
On the other hand, sponsorships are where Wimbledon is actually losing out the most in. On average, the Wimbledon Championships see 15 sponsors a year. However, it contributes to barely 15-20% of revenues each year. This appears to be a deliberate strategy by the organizers as they aim to control the way they organize the tournament by going for long-term partners who pay them lesser rather than corporates who pay them more but then back out after a year or two. This year, Wimbledon could lose up to $75 million as per Forbes, although it is interesting to note that apart from Rolex, some brands such as Barclays and Perry are visible much more even though the execution has been smartly done.
Wimbledon comes under fire for Barclays deal
The Wimbledon Barclays deal per year is reportedly valued at $25.5 million according to The Guardian. This has frustrated enthusiasts, environmentalists and others from different walks of life. Barclays, one of the most prominent private banks in England, is renowned to be one of the biggest creditors and lenders for fossil fuel projects in Europe. Fossil fuels are said to be the greatest enemy in combating climate change, which has resulted in protestors storming the courts or protesting outside of it.
The Grand Slam can easily earn another $500 million in revenues every year. While it is commendable that Wimbledon has a strong say in its sponsorships, honoring it as a long-term commitment respectfully, it could surely do better by researching on their ability and actions in standing up for values and the environment over profits.
