LTA in hunt for sponsors of tennis centre

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is looking for key sponsors for the UK’s first national tennis centre, which is being built in south-west London.

Details of the packages have yet to be confirmed, but it is understood that the association wants to sign up to five top-tier commercial partners that are prepared to commit to long-term deals.

Jeff Hunter, operations director at sports marketing agency Sportsworld which is handling negotiations on behalf of the LTA, says the association is looking for brands that have an affinity with sport, a commitment to the future of tennis and boost the popularity of the sport.

He says: “The new centre will become the heart of British tennis and the brands that meet our qualifying criteria will get access to some very valuable tennis properties as part of the package.”

The LTA claims that the centre will provide the UK with its first world-class tennis facility. When complete it will house 16 outdoor courts, covering all the Grand Slam surfaces, as well as indoor courts, a gym and sports science and medical facilities.

The creation of a national centre follows a study  the LTA commissioned seven years ago, which aimed to understand why tennis in the UK is seen as more of a leisure activity than a serious sport.