What is the Wimbledon Effect?
The Wimbledon effect is a social phenomenon, where viewers of sporting championships are inspired to go out and take part in that sport. As the fame of the sporting championship grows, so too does the player base. Grassroots activity in the sport seems to jump immediately preceding the championships taking place. Golf has Augusta and cricket has the Ashes, but tennis has Wimbledon – which is the most impactful event of them all.
FUN FACT: According to the All-England Club, 500,000 people typically attend the Wimbledon championships, consuming 28,000kg of strawberries and drinking 350,000 cups of tea and coffee.
For tennis club owners and managers, the Wimbledon Effect is a great opportunity to optimise your operations, update your facilities and ensure that your club is in top notch condition just in time for the biggest tennis competition worldwide.
How can club venue owners prepare for the Wimbledon Effect?
Clubs often receive a higher amount of people visiting in order to play and take an interest in tennis after a competition like Wimbledon. Clubs should look at improving or remobilising their tennis offering during this time.
Clean up the tennis courts – Make sure your tennis courts are available and ready to use.
Advertise your courts to the local community – Flyers and leaflets in your nearby newsagents or shops are ideal for advertising the fact your club has courts available.
Digital booking system – Streamline your operation and adopt a digital booking system. Allow visitors to book on to use your tennis courts, improving ease of use.
Equipment – Assess your equipment available to be hired. An influx of customers means your hireable equipment will see more use. So update your equipment and purchase more balls in the eventuality that they are lost.
Resurfacing – Many social and sports clubs have tennis courts which are currently out of use. Resurfacing can eliminate the need to replace the tennis court and can revitalise something you may have thought was out of commission. Resurfacing can cost upto £17,000.
How much does it cost to install a tennis court?
Has Wimbledon been your wake up call to adopt tennis as part of your club’s services? Then it’s important to understand what goes into building a tennis court.
Tennis court construction can be very expensive. Basic courts for all weathers can be installed affordably but will still stretch into the tens of thousands. The price is easily offset by the longterm profits of owning a tennis court. A rough estimate of the cost of installing an all weather outdoor tennis court is £45,000.
Factors affecting tennis court installation costs include: the materials used, whether it’s grass, cement, clay or synthetic surface material; the quality of the fencing and security; any added features such as lighting or water fountains. Tennis courts will require proper groundworks and drainage to manage their flood risk.
Before installing any outdoor structures or performing industrial works on your premises, clubs will need to organise an environmental survey. A professional will be able to help you to ensure you are not breaking any environmental laws when building your tennis court.
The Benefits of installing tennis courts at your club include:
- Increased long term revenue
- Attracting more visitors to the club
- Increasing the value of your club and premises
- Use the tennis courts for tennis and possibly other sports such as basketball or football or pickleball
- Relatively easy to maintain
- Providing a boost to the health and wellbeing of your community
Revisit your Insurance Policy for Tennis Clubs and Sports Clubs
By investing in comprehensive insurance coverage, prioritising regular maintenance and safety measures, and actively engaging with the tennis community, your tennis club can thrive and become a hub for enthusiasts, ensuring long-term success and profitability. Any installation or change to your premises will require a conversation with your insurance broker.
Talk to Club Insure for more guidance on insurance for tennis courts.
