The All England Club has launched a takeover bid of a neighbouring golf club that would expand its capacity by 73 acres if it is approved.
Earlier this week The Daily Mail confirmed that a £50 million bid has been made to purchase the Wimbledon Park Golf Club. A 750-member club that has an annual membership fee of up to £1425. Notable members include Piers Morgan and Ant and Dec. The bid is double what Wimbledon launched three years ago, which was rejected.
Should the takeover get approved, some members of the club could receive £100,000 each in compensation. Although this would only be applicable to those that has been a member of the club for ten years or more. The proposal will go to a vote at some stage. Under current rules at the venue, 75% of voters would need to approve the sale in order for it to go ahead. Three years ago, 58% voted no in regards to the 25 million bid.
“It is clear that under the Articles of the Company, consideration would only be due to members of more than 10 years’ standing. We know that this issue is causing unrest and can assure you that any final proposal that is put to the voting members will include a more equitable allocation of proceeds.” Club chairman Jenny Gaskin recently wrote in a letter.
Should it get approved, it would enable the qualification tournament to be held at the same venue as the grand slam. It currently takes place three miles away at the Roehampton Club. An facility that has 10 grass-courts as well as four synthetic grass courts.
At present Wimbledon can only accommodate 40,000 spectators per day. Something they hope to expand to keep in line with the development of the other grand slams.
“It is important we maintain our place at the pinnacle of the sport given the competitive environment within which we operate,” an All England Club spokesperson told The Daily Mail.
2017 attendance records at grand slams
Australian Open – 728, 763
US Open – 691, 143
Wimbledon – 473, 372
French Open – 472,000 (estimated)
It is not a case about if Wimbledon will acquire the new land, but when. In 1993 the All England Club paid the local council £5.2 million for a leasehold of the golf course. That lease will expire in 2041, meaning the venue will automatically become their own property no matter what. Although they prefer to start working on the venue earlier than that date.
Negotiations are ongoing and it is unclear as to when there will be a final decision in regards to the bid.
