Wimbledon runs one of the most conservative commercial programmes in sport. There is no title sponsor, on-court branding is kept to a minimum, and partners tend to stay for decades rather than seasons. The 2019 Championships show that model at work: most of the brands at the All England Club that summer had been there for years, and some for most of a century.
2019 was also a year of expansion. The club signed three new partners in categories it had not sold before, and the roster has continued to change since, most visibly in banking.
Wimbledon 2019: official partners and suppliers
| Brand | Role | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Rolex | Official Timekeeper | Since 1978 |
| Slazenger | Official Ball | Since 1902 |
| IBM | Official Information Technology | Since 1990 |
| Lanson | Official Champagne | Official Champagne since 2001; associated since 1977 |
| Ralph Lauren | Official Outfitter | Since 2006 |
| Evian | Official Water | Since 2008 |
| Lavazza | Official Coffee | Since 2011 |
| Jaguar Land Rover (Range Rover) | Official Vehicle | Since 2015 |
| HSBC | Official Banking Partner | Replaced by Barclays from 2023 |
| American Express | Official Payment Partner | New in 2019 |
| Oppo | Official Smartphone Partner | New in 2019 |
| Keith Prowse | Official Hospitality Partner | Exclusive from 2019 |
| Robinsons | Official Soft Drinks | Long-standing supplier |
| Häagen-Dazs | Official Ice Cream | Supplier |
| Pimm's | Official Partner | Supplier |
The long-standing partners
Slazenger's relationship with Wimbledon dates to 1902, making it one of the longest-running sponsorships in any sport. Rolex had been Official Timekeeper since 1978, and IBM had run the tournament's technology, from scoring data to the website, since 1990. Lanson, associated with the Championships since 1977, had been Official Champagne since 2001, and Ralph Lauren had dressed the officials, line judges and ball crews since 2006.
The later arrivals followed the same pattern of long terms: Evian as Official Water from 2008, Lavazza as Official Coffee from 2011, and Jaguar Land Rover, through its Range Rover brand, as Official Vehicle from 2015. HSBC was the Official Banking Partner.
What was new in 2019
Three partnerships began that year. American Express became the Official Payment Partner. Oppo became the Official Smartphone Partner, the Championships' first partnership in that category and one of the few with an Asian brand. And Keith Prowse, which had provided hospitality at Wimbledon since 1982, became the exclusive Official Hospitality Partner.
Each fitted the club's approach: a new category rather than a new layer of branding, and a partner whose presence is felt in services around the grounds more than in logos on court.
Where things stand now
Banking changes hands
The most significant change came in banking. In November 2022 Wimbledon announced a multi-year deal with Barclays, which replaced HSBC as Official Banking Partner from 2023, ending HSBC's 15 years in the role.
New categories
The club has kept adding categories. In 2022 Vodafone joined as Connectivity Partner and Babolat became Official Racket Service Partner. Stella Artois became Official Beer Partner in 2023, and Emirates Official Airline Partner in 2024, the first airline in the programme.
The core of the 2019 roster remains in place. Slazenger, Rolex, IBM, Ralph Lauren, Evian and American Express all continue their partnerships, which is the clearest sign of how Wimbledon prefers to do business: renew, rather than replace.
Key facts
- Event: The Championships, Wimbledon 2019
- Title sponsor: None, by policy
- Longest partnership: Slazenger, official ball since 1902
- New in 2019: American Express, Oppo, Keith Prowse (exclusive hospitality)
- Biggest change since: Barclays replaced HSBC as banking partner from 2023
Frequently asked questions
Does Wimbledon have a title sponsor?
No. The Championships have never sold title rights and keep on-court branding to a minimum.
Who replaced HSBC at Wimbledon?
Barclays, from 2023, under a multi-year deal announced in November 2022.
Which sponsors were new at Wimbledon in 2019?
American Express as Official Payment Partner, Oppo as Official Smartphone Partner and Keith Prowse as exclusive Official Hospitality Partner.
