(Bloomberg) -- The owner of the Wimbledon tennis tournament has offered to buy the Bank of England's extensive sports facilities in southwest London, the Mail on Sunday reported.
The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club Ltd. is seeking to acquire the prestigious 28-acre club because it wants to keep running its qualifying tournament at the venue, the newspaper said. The property, which comprises rugby, tennis and cricket facilities as well as a sports center, is a couple of miles from the club that hosts tennis's most prestigious tournament.
The Bank of England, which bought the country-club complex in the early 1900s, is selling it after lawmakers said it was too costly to maintain. The Times newspaper reported earlier this year that the cnetral bank had been reviewing its options for the center, including a potential sale.
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Active health-club chain was set to make an offer for the club, and at least 40 bidders were also said to be keen, the Daily Mail reported in October. “Community groups” have until March to submit bids and one offer from members has already been turned down, the Mail said on Sunday.
The Bank of England declined to comment to Bloomberg on the report, and the All England Club didn't immediately answer an email seeking comment outside normal business hours.
The All England Club has a contract to run its qualifying tournament at the Roehampton venue until 2030, the Mail said.
To contact the reporter on this story: Megan Durisin in London at mdurisin1@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Lynn Thomasson at lthomasson@bloomberg.net, James Amott, Natasha Doff
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