The All England Lawn Tennis Club, home of the Wimbledon Championships, is poised to receive a special exemption from the UK government's upcoming ban on ticket touting, a move that safeguards a vital multi-million pound income stream for the historic tournament.
What the New Law Means for Wimbledon
Legislation expected to be introduced in next year's King's Speech will prohibit the resale of tickets for sports and music events above their original face value. This crackdown on ticket touts, however, could have inadvertently impacted the sale of Wimbledon debentures, which are a cornerstone of the club's funding model.
According to reports, the All England Club has held constructive talks with the government, successfully making the case for an exemption. This is due to the unique nature of debentures and their crucial role in financing the sport.
The Multi-Million Pound World of Wimbledon Debentures
A Wimbledon debenture is a long-term, transferable security that grants the holder the right to buy a Centre Court or No.1 Court ticket for each day of the tournament for a five or ten-year period. Crucially, these debentures can be freely traded on a secondary market, often for a substantial profit.
Recent figures highlight the immense value of these assets. Bloomberg reported that a single Centre Court debenture was resold for a staggering £200,000 this year, just months after being purchased for £116,000. The starting price for a No.1 Court debenture is £76,000.
The financial scale is monumental. The All England Club has raised close to £250 million from selling 2,520 Centre Court debentures for the 2026-2030 cycle. A further 1,250 No.1 Court debentures are projected to generate over £90 million.
Why an Exemption Was Granted
Government insiders familiar with the discussions confirm that ministers recognise debentures as distinct financial instruments, separate from standard event tickets. Key factors in securing the exemption include:
- Debentures are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), treating them as investments.
- All transfers require approval from the All England Club, ensuring a controlled market.
- Critically, as a non-profit organisation, all proceeds from debenture sales are reinvested into tennis, funding everything from grassroots initiatives to facility improvements.
It is also understood that the All England Club supports the government's broader aim to ban price surges on the resale of ordinary tickets, distancing its debenture model from the practices of ticket touts.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) also offers debentures for Twickenham, but operates a different model where tickets secured by debenture holders can only be resold at face value, avoiding the premium seen in the Wimbledon market.
