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Wimbledon To Air-Condition Grass As All England Club Makes Modernization Push

Wimbledon "is spending big," according to Murad Ahmed of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Each of the Grand Slams "are jostling for recognition as the world’s best," investing in multi-million-pound renovations and "increasing prize money for competitors." The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club "is the only major tournament to be played on perfectly manicured grass surfaces, with players dressed in white." But modernization "is coming." The All England Club is planning to create a 21st century venue that, it says, maintains the spirit of "tennis in an English garden." Wimbledon Chair Philip Brook said, "Wimbledon is widely regarded as the finest stage in world tennis. However, we recognize that to maintain our leadership position we need to work hard to improve further our facilities and that standing still is not an option." After this year’s tournament, "work will begin on building a retractable roof over Wimbledon’s Number One court," its second-largest arena, while also creating more seating and "an air-conditioning system to protect the grass." New facilities and newly designed landscapes across the grounds in West London are also planned. Last year, construction group Sir Robert McAlpine won a £70M contract for the Number One court renovations. In October, the club secured a £175M credit facility with HSBC "to cover the immediate costs" (FT, 6/26).

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