Each summer, the emerald courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club echo with thunderous rallies and roars of admiration. Wimbledon, the oldest and most revered tennis tournament, has enchanted the world since 1877, evolving into more than just a Grand Slam like its other three competitors. It’s a living monument to tradition, defined by crisp all-white attire and the indulgence of strawberries and cream. But now, this bastion of heritage stands at a crossroads. Wimbledon’s ambitious expansion plan aims to triple its footprint but has ignited fierce resistance 

For years, Wimbledon’s iconic home, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, has pursued an ambitious plan to enhance its 157-year-old grounds to enhance the tournament’s global stature. Last year, the AELTC secured planning approval for a pretty significant expansion following the purchase of neighboring land and successful negotiations with existing tenants. The substantial redevelopment will involve the addition of 39 new courts, taking the total to 71—more than twice as those at the American and Australian slams, and nearly quadruple the number at Roland Garros.

But beyond numbers, there’s purpose. At the heart of this expansion lies a key ambition: to bring Wimbledon’s qualifying rounds home. Presently, Wimbledon is the only GS unable to host its qualifiers on-site because of space constraints. Instead, it rents courts at a club in Roehampton, 3 miles away. The proposed redevelopment aims to correct that anomaly and solidify the All England Club’s status as the undisputed crown jewel of tennis.

The plans include more than just courts, though. 2 new public parks, one 23 acres in size at the southern end of the site, and another 4 acres to the north, are part of the blueprint. AELTC also proposes restoring an existing lake and building a picturesque boardwalk around it. 

Dominic Foster of the AELTC told Front Office Sports that these moves highlight the broader vision: “to not only maintain the tournament’s position at the pinnacle of sport but also provide substantial year-round public benefits.”

Yet, turning that vision into reality has proven far from smooth. A wave of local resistance has swelled, with residents raising a 6-figure fund to challenge the AELTC’s plans in court. Remarkably, the legal clash is scheduled to unfold during Wimbledon itself, casting a long shadow over this year’s Championships round.

The opposition has been anything but silent as well. A group called ‘Save Wimbledon Park (SWP)’, formed in 2021, has grown into a vocal force. Among its members are writers, record-label owners, and architects, all tennis lovers. “The huge irony is that we are all tennis fans,” Simon Wright of SWP added. “We all go to the Championships. We all like living in an area where tennis takes place. We just like Wimbledon the way it is, rather than what the club is trying to do to it.”

However, the AELTC’s expansion aspirations date back decades. In 1993, it bought land from the local council that housed a neighboring golf course. A 2018 purchase ended the club’s lease on its golf course, a deal originally set to expire in 2041. 3 years later, the club revealed its expansion proposal, including the construction of a 3rd show court and 38 additional courts on that land.

While Wimbledon is financially strong, with rising ticket sales and TV rights, the AELTC argues it’s falling behind other GS in terms of attendance. In 2024, Wimbledon drew just over 526,000 fans. The Roland Garros saw 675,000, while the US Open and AO both crossed the million mark. AELTC officials believe moving qualifiers on-site could allow them to increase qualifying ticket sales from 8,000 to as many as 40,000.

SWP is not entirely opposed to the idea of expansion. Wright counters that their opposition stems from the project’s size, concerns about community engagement, and disagreements over land agreements. The High Court will not decide whether the expansion is good or bad; it will assess if the Greater London Authority’s approval was legally valid.

The stakes are monumental this time for the All England Club. But with legal issues developing, fans will have no problems watching their favorite stars back at Wimbledon!

Where and how to watch Wimbledon live in the USA?

Tennis’s greatest spectacle is back: Wimbledon, a legendary tournament where tradition, determination, and victory meet on the grass courts. Legends and rising stars will compete for two weeks in London, aiming to add their names to the sport’s most prestigious list of winners, including Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, and recently crowned four-time Eastbourne champion Taylor Fritz. 

Wimbledon is more than strawberries and cream. It’s a ruthless dance on slick green turf, and 2025 is brimming with anticipation. Fans across the US need not worry, they’ll catch every serve, every volley, every roar.

ESPN remains Wimbledon’s American fortress. Since taking over from NBC in 2012, it has held exclusive rights through a long-standing deal with the AELTC, running through 2035. 

Viewers can also watch the action unfold via ESPN, ABC, and their respective sister channels. With the Tennis Channel’s in-depth coverage added to the mix, fans have a wealth of options.

Looking for complete immersion? ESPN+ is your court-side companion as well. Covering everything from marquee matchups to hidden-court gems, it starts at $11.99/month, or bundled with Disney+ and Hulu for $16.99/month. Prefer a yearly plan? That’s available too, at a discounted rate.

With seamless access to Wimbledon’s world-class action, only one question remains: who will lift the grass court glory on Centre Court this July?