This summer, sport lovers and immersive experience enthusiasts will have the unprecedented chance to travel back four decades to relive one of the greatest tennis tournaments of all time – the 1980 Wimbledon Championships.
Set against the adrenaline-fuelled and nail-biting narratives of one of the most celebrated sporting events of a generation, attendees will be able to venture behind the scenes, experiencing the distinctive culture and lifestyle of the time.
The virtual time capsule will be based around evocative moments from the 1980 Fortnight, such as Björn Borg’s titanic battle with John McEnroe, widely regarded as one of the finest and most engrossing Grand Slam finals in history, Evonne Goolagong’s surprise win over Chris Evert Lloyd, and a whole host of other intricate details such as the debut of ‘Cyclops’, the grandfather of electronic line-calling.
This world-first experience is a collaboration between The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), and sports event producers Rematch, and seeks to prove that the combination of sport, theatre and cinema is a winning one.
Mick Desmond, Commercial & Media Director, AELTC, commented: “We’re immensely proud and excited to be leading the way for sport with this innovative project, where guests can experience the cherished nostalgia of the 80s and Wimbledon’s place within that epic summer in a way never before imagined. Not only do we hope to provide something for die-hard fans who were there at the time, we hope to engage a new generation of event-goers in the magic of the Wimbledon experience.”
Arranged across five exclusive sessions on 28, 29 and 30 June as the inaugural event at the newly opened Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, tennis fans and non-sport fans alike will get a new perspective on the eve of the 2019 edition of The Championships.
Richard Ayers, CEO at Rematch, commented: “This is a ground-breaking new development in the live experience of sport. To be launching the concept with such an iconic partner as Wimbledon is an honour for Rematch. Together we will bring to life The Championships 1980 in a phenomenal new way that explores the moment as never before. Every aspect is driven by meticulous attention to detail and innovative production techniques. With highly creative programming and multifaceted elements to surprise and delight our guests, we believe this is going to be one of the hottest tickets this summer.”
