Wimbledon will be given an exemption from the tougher approach to ticket resale for its “bond” tickets, the Guardian understands, in what would be a victory for the organizers of the annual tennis tournament.
Championship organizers All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) had previously said ministers’ proposed ban on reselling tickets for more than face value would prevent the club from reinvesting bond proceeds into the maintenance of its facilities.
Bonds guarantee the ticket holder a seat on Center Court or No 1 Court for every day of the tournament for five years, along with the use of certain restaurants and bars. The holder may sell or transfer the ticket if they are unable to attend Wimbledon, allowing them to recoup some of the costs, which could be up to £116,000.
Nearly 3,800 bond seats are available from Center Court and No 1Court for a five-year period starting next year, and these can be bought and sold privately or through a stockbroker.
Bonds are classified as transferable securities and their issuance requires a formal application process, which is regulated by the city’s watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority.
They were first issued for Wimbledon in 1920, when they financed the purchase of the current ground and the construction of Center Court.
The championships organizer has said the bond program is always oversubscribed and that Wimbledon has a general admission fee that is lower than other international tournaments. In 2025, a daily grounds pass cost £30, giving access to lower courts and public viewing areas.
The AELTC received £61.7 million for the first installment of the 2,520 bond issue for the period 2026-2030, with further installments in February 2025 and February 2026, according to its most recent annual report. The company said it would use bond proceeds to pay off part of a loan.
Under government proposals, reselling tickets for profit on the secondary market should be banned, as part of a long-awaited crackdown on touts and resale platforms such as Viagogo and StubHub.
Last Thursday, a string of high-profile musicians, including Radiohead, Coldplay and Dua Lipa, released an open statement calling on Keir Starmer to fulfill Labor’s manifesto pledge to end “extortive and pernicious” websites used by ticket sellers to exploit music fans.
The plan would prevent anyone from selling a ticket for more than they originally paid, although resale platforms would be allowed to charge fees on top of that price.
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The expected measures also come after large numbers of Oasis fans complained about exorbitant prices for the band’s reunion tour.
An AELTC spokesperson said: “We support the Government’s measures to protect fans and we are confident that the Government recognizes the vital role that Wimbledon’s bond program plays in the continued success of the Championships.
“All the money raised by the Wimbledon bonds will be reinvested in the development of our world-class facilities to ensure we maintain our place as one of the sport’s top events.”
The Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport was contacted for comment.
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