From London to Manhattan: The Grass Court Landing in Central Park

For the first time, the All England Club is transplanting its legendary turf to the heart of New York City, turning a seasonal rink into a premier tennis destination.

The Wollman Rink, usually a staple of New York’s winter skyline, is undergoing a radical transformation this June. From June 26 to 29, 2026, the space will host "The Wimbledon Court," a fully functional grass surface installed and maintained by the same groundstaff who curate the hallowed lawns at the All England Club in London. This marks the fifth year of Wimbledon’s summer programming in New York, but the first time the public will have access to a real grass court within Central Park.

The Schedule and Access

The event kicks off with a high-profile exhibition on Friday, June 26. Andre Agassi and Genie Bouchard are set to face off against James Blake and Caroline Wozniacki in a doubles match that serves as the marquee ticketed event. While the ballot for those specific seats—and the opportunity for lucky fans to play on the grass themselves—has already closed, the park gates remain wide open for the rest of the weekend.

Following the Friday afternoon exhibition, the venue shifts to a walk-in model. Entry is free to the public, subject only to capacity limits at the gate. Visitors can wander through the rink to find tennis clinics, purchase British-themed refreshments like strawberries and cream, Pimm's, and Lanson Champagne, or pick up official tournament merchandise. The atmosphere culminates on Monday, June 29, when giant screens will broadcast the opening day of the actual Championships from London, allowing fans to watch the world’s best on a live feed while sitting on the very surface the professionals covet.

Logistics for Attendees

Located at 830 5th Avenue, the site is accessible via the park entrances at West 59th Street and Center Drive or East 59th Street and 5th Avenue. There is no onsite parking, and organizers are urging attendees to rely on public transit or rideshare services, which will drop passengers at the aforementioned entry points. The event will proceed rain or shine, so visitors should plan accordingly given the open-air nature of the venue.

Why it matters

The move to bring an authentic grass court into the middle of a bustling urban park is a calculated play by the All England Club to deepen its footprint in the American market. By creating a physical, playable bridge between London and New York, Wimbledon is evolving from a distant, two-week television event into a tangible, experiential brand. For tennis enthusiasts, this signifies a shift in how major sporting properties view global engagement; it is no longer just about broadcasting matches, but about exporting the "Wimbledon magic" to the streets of global cities. If successful, this popup model could set a precedent for other grand slams seeking to maintain fan loyalty across different time zones.