£200m London boost: Welcome to Britain's biggest sporting earner

WIMBLEDON fortnight delivers a £200 million boost to the London economy, making the tennis championship the most valuable annual sporting event in Britain, according to a new study.

- Jonathan Prynn

The thousands of spectators, players, officials, event staff and media representatives who will descend on All England Lawn Tennis Club from Monday will inject millions of pounds a day into the local economy through spending on accommodation, food and drink, transport and merchandise over the two weeks.

Researchers at the sports industry research centre at Sheffield Hallam University found that the tournament’s total economic impact on London last year was £198.9 million, and it supported economic activity worth £222.4 million across the capital. The equivalent figures for Britain as a whole were £319.1 million and £367.9 million respectively.