Spectators and players will be able to enjoy Wimbledon tennis through the rain on two courts by 2019, as the iconic tennis club has unveiled plans to add a retractable roof to court number one to match Centre Court. 

The second court, which hold 11,500 spectators, is the centrepiece of the annual summer championships, alongside Centre Court where the finals are always held. 

The court will be remodelled as part of the Wimbledon Master Plan and the roof will allow a full day's play to go ahead whatever the weather. 

In order to fund the big development, The All England Lawn Tennis Club has announced that debentures, which allow spectators a seat on the number one court for the first 10 days of the championship without further payment, will cost £31,000 between 2017 and 2021.

The debentures also mean holders have the ability to buy number one court seats for each of days 11, 12 and 13 of the championships. 

The All England club estimates the debentures will raise £25m, all of which goes to the roof fund. 

Each debenture has a nominal value of £1,000, is issued at a premium of £25,000 plus VAT of £5,000. 


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Centre Court debentures for 2016 until 2020 were sold at £50,000, including VAT. 

The first payment for the debenture is due on May 27.

To register, visit www.wimbledon.com/debentures