First Wimbledon Tennis Tournament Kicks Off on July 9, 1877
The Wimbledon Championships, the oldest tennis tournament in the world, has come a long way since its inception in 1877. Originally a modest event with a small audience and minimal profit, it has now grown into a multi-million dollar event generating around $500 million in revenue annually.
The first Wimbledon Championships, held on July 9, 1877 at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London, saw 22 participants take part, each paying a one guinea entry fee. The inaugural tournament, which attracted around 200 spectators, made a profit of just £10. Fast forward to today, and more than half a million fans are expected to attend the championships this year.
In the first Wimbledon Championships, Spencer Gore, a 27-year-old Old Harrovian and ex-Surrey country cricketer, emerged victorious. He defeated William Marshall in the finals with scores of 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. The winner's prize money back then was £12, which is approximately £1,300 in today's money. In stark contrast, the prize money for the winners of the men's and women's singles in the current Wimbledon Championships stands at £3 million each, a rise of £300,000 from last year.
The Wimbledon Championships remains the only grand slam event played on grass. During the fortnight of the tournament, more than 200,000 portions of strawberries are consumed, and over 276,000 glasses of Pimms are served. The entrance fee for spectators in the first Wimbledon Championships was a shilling. Today, the tickets range from £25 for a ground pass to £140 for a Centre Court seat.
The evolution of Wimbledon from a small-scale event to a global sports and entertainment powerhouse is evident in its financial success. In 2013, the Wimbledon Championships made a surplus of £35,107,812. Ninety percent of this surplus (£31,596,829) was handed over to the Lawn Tennis Association to be used to develop British tennis.
The ladies' championships were not introduced until 1884. Today, the Wimbledon Championships is a truly international event, with players from over 50 countries participating each year. As we celebrate another year of this historic tournament, it's fascinating to reflect on its journey from humble beginnings to its current status as one of the most prestigious and profitable sporting events in the world.
[1] BBC News, "Wimbledon: From £10 profit to £500m," 2017, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/40560615 [2] The Telegraph, "The history of Wimbledon," 2018, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/wimbledon/the-history-of-wimbledon/ [3] The Guardian, "Wimbledon prize money: how it has changed over the years," 2018, https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2018/jul/08/wimbledon-prize-money-how-it-has-changed-over-the-years
Tennis, being the sport contested in the Wimbledon Championships, has seen a significant evolution since its introduction in 1877. The champion of the inaugural tournament, Spencer Gore, walked away with a meager £12 prize money, a stark contrast to the £3 million received by the winners today.
The Wimbledon Championships, originally a humble event generating just £10 in profit, has now grown into a multi-million dollar event, with ticket prices ranging from £25 to £140 for Centre Court seats.
