The Championships, Wimbledon 2024
Wimbledon 2024 was not only a sporting spectacle but also a key driver of footfall for local businesses.
The annual Wimbledon Tennis Championships, one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, draws not only tennis fans but also businesses that benefit from the influx of visitors. Using our cutting-edge geolocation and mobility data platform, VI compiled a comprehensive report highlighting the footfall patterns during the event in July 2024. Here’s what we discovered:
A surge in foot traffic around Wimbledon
Our data revealed a noticeable uptick in visits along the streets surrounding the All England Lawn Tennis Club, where the tournament takes place. Visitors primarily arrived through nearby key transport hubs and streets in close proximity experienced higher foot traffic, as expected.
One of the most significant increases was observed near Southfields Underground Station, which saw around a 10% rise in visits along key street segments in July 2024 compared to June. This trend extended to other locations like Wimbledon Park and the wider Wimbledon area, as visitors flocked to the Championships.
Heatmap Insights: The exponential rise within the Tennis Club
Our heatmap analysis clearly illustrates a significant concentration of visits within the tennis club itself. The density of movement spiked exponentially during the two-week event, as tennis fans poured into the venue to witness the action on the courts.
The ripple effect on nearby businesses
Wimbledon doesn’t just elevate the game of tennis—it’s a boost for the local economy, especially for food and beverage (F&B) businesses. Restaurants and cafes in the vicinity saw a significant surge in footfall, as visitors made use of nearby facilities before and after attending matches.
For instance, Pizza Express in Wimbledon Village saw a near doubling of visitors during the second week of the Championships. Meanwhile, Franco Manca in Southfields experienced an even more dramatic increase, with visits nearly tripling in the first week compared to its usual weekly average.
F&B sees the biggest gains, while other sectors benefit less
While F&B establishments thrived, other sectors didn’t see as much of an increase. Local convenience stores and supermarkets, for example, experienced less growth in foot traffic. This suggests that many visitors either brought their own food and drink to the event or preferred to dine out at restaurants or within the tennis club itself.
This divergence in footfall growth highlights the importance of understanding visitor behaviour for businesses looking to capitalize on events like Wimbledon. By analysing mobility data, we can see where people are going and how businesses might tailor their strategies to meet this demand.
Wimbledon 2024 was not only key sporting event but also a key driver of footfall for local businesses. Our geolocation data underscores the significant impact that major events have on surrounding areas, particularly transport hubs and the food and beverage sector. Businesses that can effectively harness this data can make better decisions on how to serve their customers during such high-traffic events.
For more insights and to see how VI’s geolocation and mobility platform can help your business track footfall data, feel free to reach out!
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