The virtuous economic cycle of SW19

Wimbledon is the best-run and most prestigious professional tennis tournament. Being one of the most bankable propositions in all of sport, it positively fends off corporate suitors.

If Wimbledon were a plc seeking to maximise shareholder value instead of a mere tennis club (the All-England Lawn Tennis Club has just 375 full members), the event would be commercialised beyond recognition; it would auction off the naming rights to Centre Court and advertising hoardings ...