Cost of a VIP seat at Wimbledon? Over $500,000

Wimbledon debentures are premium tickets to the world’s most prestigious tennis tournament, a kind of a bond guaranteeing a seat on Centre Court for five years. They are located in prime rows, featuring perfect views and typically also come with access to debentures-only lounges. They are also among the most expensive tickets in sports.

Debentures sold for 380,000 pounds ($510,000) this year, according to Dowgate Capital. This is triple the 116,000-pound issue price from 2024 and almost double of what they were trading at last year.

For the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which manages Wimbledon, debentures are a vital source of funding. They have been paying for maintenance and expansion since they were first sold more than a century ago. Proceeds are expected to help finance a plan to add 39 courts and an 8,000-seat stadium. Buyers eye the debentures not only as a chance to watch tennis, but also because they’re a lucrative asset. These are the only tradeable tickets at Wimbledon, allowing owners to sell the seats for individual days — or the whole debenture.


Hot seats Spread over five years and given that the tournament lasts a fortnight, the debenture works out to about 5,400 pounds per day.

M o s t f a n s e n t e r through a public ballot for tickets that cost a few hundred pounds. Those who want a che ap er option c a n wait in a queue, which can take hours or even overnight. The wealthy, however, can buy their way in. The cheapest daily rate on Wimbledon Debenture Holders, a reseller, is currently 2,390 pounds for two seats on No.1 Court, the second arena. A pair of debenture seats for the men’s final on Centre Court will cost almost 23,000 pounds.

Access to the debentures themselves is far more limited. Priority goes to existing holders who want to renew, and many debentures have remained in the family for generations. “Unless you’ve had your debentures forever, you need to pay a premium to be on the register,” said Natasha Bhatia, who founded the debenture marketplace Green & Purple. “People see the primary issue price of 116,000 pounds and think it’s a bargain, but you can’t buy at that price unless you’re already in the game.”